The Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology is preparing to leave its longtime northwest Milwaukee campus for a larger home at the Summit Place office complex in West Allis.
The private graduate school, which has operated for roughly 30 years at 9120 W. Hampton Ave., plans to relocate to 22,000 square feet at 6737 W. Washington St. in time for the fall semester. The move marks an expansion from its current footprint of about 18,000 square feet and will consolidate operations that are currently spread across three floors.
“This move is not really just a move about real estate,” said Dr. Brian Smothers, who has served as president for about three years. “It’s one that really aligns with our institutional values and mission to create more psychologists for the state of Wisconsin.”
Founded nearly 50 years ago by Milwaukee-area mental health providers concerned about workforce shortages, WSPP has increasingly focused on expanding enrollment and training capacity as demand for behavioral health services grows statewide.
The school recently increased its incoming cohort size from 15 students to 20 students annually and has been adding faculty expertise aimed at addressing mental health needs across Wisconsin.
“There’s a major need, and there’s a workforce gap,” Smothers said. “Because of that, we need to take in more students. We need spaces that can accommodate training.”
Mental health providers nationwide have struggled to recruit psychologists and therapists, a trend local commercial real estate brokers say is driving expansion plans across the industry.
“We’ve worked with a number of mental health organizations and providers that are looking to expand throughout the state and the U.S.,” said Brandon Ciebell, vice president at Colliers, which represented the school in its property search. “The biggest challenge that we hear over and over again is just, ‘We can’t find enough providers and psychologists.’”
Smothers said a key priority was finding a location with a stronger campus atmosphere and collaborative environment for students and faculty.
“Having a space all on one floor, and having other campus-like amenities in the building, like a café, a gym, other collaborative meeting spaces, really builds the sense of community and identity,” he said.
The new layout will also place the school’s mental health clinic at the center of student training operations. The school operates an active mental health clinic where students begin supervised clinical work during their second year in the program.
Unlike some graduate programs that have incorporated virtual learning, WSPP plans to maintain an in-person training model centered on close faculty supervision.
“We believe in close mentoring relationships in person,” Smothers said. “Training to be a mental health provider is kind of a whole-person transformation. You’re really starting to devote your life to the betterment of your neighbors, and that type of change really takes a lot of close supervision. It would be really hard to do all of that virtually.”
Credit: Google Maps Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology’s current campus at 9120 W. Hampton Ave.
The school draws roughly two-thirds of its students from southeastern Wisconsin institutions including UW-Madison, Marquette University, Carroll University and UW System campuses, while the remaining third come from across the country.
School leaders are also working to expand internship opportunities within Wisconsin in hopes of retaining more graduates in-state after training. Psychology doctoral students complete internships similar to medical residencies, and Smothers noted that students often remain in the states where they complete those placements.
“We don’t have as many internships in Wisconsin as neighboring states like Illinois, Michigan or Minnesota,” he said. “Part of our mission after we get into Summit is to start building internship sites across our state.”
Colliers real estate advisor Molly Spoerl said Summit Place stood out because of its mix of nonprofit tenants and community-focused organizations, as well as a growing presence of businesses throughout West Allis.
“It was that combination that was really unique and creates an environment that’s going to support collaboration, accessibility and ultimately enhance how they serve their students and the community,” Spoerl said.
The relocation also comes with significant infrastructure investments. Smothers said the school is implementing new training technologies, including computerized simulations, standardized patient programs and emerging artificial intelligence tools designed to support clinical education.
The school is continuing fundraising efforts tied to the project and is seeking donor support through naming opportunities connected to the new facility.
