The Private Practice Landscape Has Changed.
Do you know what you're up against?
A Frank Conversation About the Post-Pandemic Practice Landscape in Canada.
What is happening in the psychological care market across Canada is not a passing disruption. It is a fundamental market shift affecting every aspect of private psychological practice, from the nature of the work and the demand for our specialized skills, to the operational costs and strategic decisions we must now make.
The 2026 RAE Institute Market Observation Report tells you exactly what changed, what it means for your practice, and what the path forward looks like for those who are paying attention.
The report includes:
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Part 1 - The Fundamental Market Shift
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Releasing August 2026
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Parts 2 & 3 - The Economics of the Mission & Adaptive Stewardship in Action
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Releasing September 2026
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What This Report Covers
Prepared by Janet Ryan-Newell, CEO and Clinical Director of RAE Institute, Family Solutions Group and Kells Psychology, and Dr. Hendriatta Wong, COO of RAE Institute and Insight Psychological Inc., this report synthesizes published market research, industry financial benchmarks, direct experience, and observable changes in the Canadian mental health services market, particularly between 2020 and early 2026.
Its insights are intended as an evidence-based briefing for owners and leaders of psychological and counselling practices across Canada.
Releasing August 2026
The pandemic-era ease of client acquisition is unlikely to return. If your practice has been feeling the squeeze — slower intakes, crowded directories, referral networks that aren't working the way they used to — this section explains why, and what the data says about where things are headed.
Part 1 covers:
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The post-pandemic demand correction and the market timeline from 2020 to 2026
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Why Canadian practices are feeling the pinch
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The regulatory and workforce context
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The rise of AI and competing digital channels of service, and what that means for regulated psychological professionals
Practices without clear differentiation, strong referral networks, or recognized brand presence will increasingly struggle. This section gives you the full picture of why.
Understanding the Problem is Only the Beginning.
At RAE Institute, we don't just understand the theory of mental health business. We live the reality. We have the experience, the history, and the systems specifically designed for regulated mental health and psychological services practices.
If what you read in this report raises questions about where your practice stands on risk exposure, financial sustainability, clinical systems, or business infrastructure — the RAE Clinical Advantage and Business Advantage programs were built for exactly this moment.
We bridge the gap between clinical excellence and business sustainability, providing the infrastructure you need to protect your brand, your clinicians, and your clients. Our systems are refined in the trenches of active agency leadership, built to respond to the unique intersection of care and commerce.
Don't just run a practice. Lead a protected, sustainable agency.
