A Bangor mental health clinic with more than 1,000 clients is closing in August, according to the clinic’s owner.
Dirigo Counseling Clinic will close Aug. 8 due to owner Alan Algee’s retirement, he said. Most of the clinic’s providers plan to go into private practice and will bring their clients with them.
The closure comes amid a shortage of mental health professionals in Maine and nationwide. More than 260,000 Mainers lived in areas with mental health provider shortages as of December 2024, according to health policy research organization KFF.
“I am not optimistic about the future of our profession in light of the dramatic changes in the regulations” around mental health care, Algee said. “I believe that this will reshape how we deliver mental health services and to whom.”
Dirigo provides counseling services for kids and adults at three locations in Bangor. It partners with many agencies, including multiple local hospitals, according to its website. The organization has provided services for 21 years to more than 10,000 people and has 33 employees, Algee said.
“We are working with our employees, and our community partners, to make sure that continued services are available to our clients who need them,” Algee said.
Jim LaPierre, the executive director of Brewer counseling organization Higher Ground Services, said Dirigo’s closure is a loss for the community, describing it as one piece in a much larger provider shortage.
“My concern is for the Greater Bangor community, for folks getting the services that they need, and that is becoming increasingly difficult” as demand for mental health care rises and providers dwindle, he said.
“My waitlist is terrible … the demand is always going to be higher than what we can meet.”
BANGOR, Maine — August 8 will be the last day of operation for Dirigo Counseling Clinic, leaving over 1,000 patients scrambling for continued care. The closure, announced by owner Alan Algee, underscores a growing crisis in mental healthcare access—a problem that feels particularly acute in Maine.
A Shrinking Safety Net
The closure of Dirigo Counseling Clinic highlights the increasing difficulty of finding mental health services, especially in rural areas.
- Dirigo Counseling Clinic, serving over 1,000 clients, will close on August 8 due to owner retirement.
- Maine faces a significant shortage of mental health professionals, with over 260,000 residents lacking adequate access to care as of December 2024.
- The closure is expected to exacerbate existing waitlists and strain remaining mental health resources in the Greater Bangor area.
Algee’s decision to retire comes as regulatory changes are casting a shadow over the future of the profession. “I am not optimistic about the future of our profession in light of the dramatic changes in the regulations,” Algee stated. “I believe that this will reshape how we deliver mental health services and to whom.” Fortunately, most of Dirigo’s providers are transitioning to private practice, intending to continue serving their existing patients.
A Statewide Shortage
The situation in Bangor isn’t unique. Maine is grappling with a widespread shortage of mental health professionals. Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reveals that more than 260,000 Mainers resided in areas designated as having a shortage of mental health providers as of December 2024. This scarcity is placing immense pressure on existing services.
Jim LaPierre, executive director of Higher Ground Services in Brewer, described Dirigo’s closure as a significant loss for the community. “My concern is for the Greater Bangor community, for folks getting the services that they need, and that is becoming increasingly difficult” as demand surges and the number of available providers dwindles, he explained. LaPierre’s own organization is feeling the strain, with a “terrible” waitlist and consistently higher demand than they can accommodate.
Dirigo Counseling Clinic has been a fixture in Bangor for 21 years, providing counseling services to both children and adults across three locations. The clinic has served over 10,000 people and employs 33 individuals. Algee emphasized that they are actively working with employees and community partners to ensure continuity of care for their clients.
