The clinical and forensic psychologist, whose referrals often came from the courts, always told clients to visit without a second thought if they were in a bad place.

So Dr Sowden is sad to now be leaving the Border and transferring solely to her Melbourne practice.

"This is a huge thing for me, because I've had the privilege of looking after people here for nearly 30 years," she said.

"I'd stay and there's no reason for me to leave other than I need to be close to my daughters and granddaughters in Melbourne."

Dr Sowden undertook research at the University of Dundee in Scotland and Dalhousie University in Canada before moving to Albury with her husband Lanning in the 1980s.

"We thought we were only going to stay for a short time ... I started working in psychology," she said.

"I became a forensic psychologist in my 50s, and I'm now 60 going on 70.

"Clinical and forensic psychology is specialist and it's multifaceted.

"I was a member of the children's court in NSW for 15 years, as an authorised clinician.

"I was doing a lot of sentencing reports for people who had been criminally convicted and working with people coming out on parole to make sure there was no recidivism."

Dr Sowden agreed there was a lack of specialist mental health practitioners regionally and said the community had been through a tough time recently.

"It's been very hard for the community, particularly given the border closures, and the community were exceptionally brave in managing that," she said.

"These needs have always been here ... fortunately, the community has more support now in the area of mental health.

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"I think what's had a major impact is the closing down of the manufacturing industry.

"Many young people who would have moved into manufacturing have not been able to gain employment."

Dr Sowden recognised the work of her practice manager over the past six years, and said she would still be seeing Border clients via Telehealth.