A Cochrane family is excited to move forward with the next steps for turning a historical home into a mental health therapy office.
“We live in Cochrane and we love Cochrane and it is going to be neat to have an office here, I think it will serve the community better,” said Michelle Copithorne, who will be the owner and operator of the office.
While the sales paperwork has yet to be official, Copithorne presented her intentions on what her and her husband wanted to do with the historical home to the town at the last council meeting.
The family is proposing to turn the house into a mental health therapy office, while restoring the rooms and keeping the “character” of the 1911 house. Once official, Dr. Carl Adrian will offer assessment and therapy sessions on a referral basis.
“We saw the potential of the property – we saw the place and character and thought it could be amazing,” Copithorne said.
“I stumbled across the listing about six months ago, originally me and my husband were looking in Calgary but we relish in the fact that we will be able to set up in Cochrane.”
Dr. Adrian currently works at Foothills Medical Centre but wants to expand his services so that he will be able to help more people. As previously reported by the Cochrane Eagle, the new mental health house could not come at a better time as mental health needs are on the rise.
The Cochrane Addiction and Mental Health Clinic has seen an increase in numbers over the last five years, with 160 new patients since April 2013, according to Alberta Health Services.
“Cochrane is suffering and there is a great need in the community and we want to let people know it is OK to step forward,” Copithorne said.
“We want to bring hope, clarity and empowerment. Being diagnosed gives you hope and then you can make the change you need to function in society.”
While council heard the proposal and it was unanimously supported, Copithorne said there are still several steps to take before the doors will be opened. Once the sale is finalized then the family needs to get the proper development permits from the town and then start the restoration process.
“We want to keep as much as the character of the house as possible but we will also have to get everything up to the building code,” Copithorne said.
Once the doors are ready to open Dr. Adrian will start working with family doctors in the community and the Cochrane Addiction and Mental Health Clinic to start getting referrals. The plan for the clinic is to also bring in therapists and social workers, focusing more on therapy versus medication.
“We will be fulfilling a need for mental health and restoring a piece of history – it is a win-win all around,” Copithorne said.
The house is currently on the corner of William Street and Ross Avenue and is known as the McNamee House. The family is hopeful if everything goes smooth to have the doors open by next July.
