ABOUT US
Sandstone Psychological Practice was first envisioned by Drs. Christina Aranda and Janell "Nellie" Mihelic when they were two exhausted psychology interns at a university counseling center in Oregon. Christina and Nellie instantly bonded due to their love of in-depth relational therapy, use of humor and play, and being first time moms. They would get through the rigor of the day (and missing their little girls) by dreaming about their futures and the kind of private practice they would create if they could. Although they loved working at a university, they wanted a work environment that offered the ability to truly balance being a psychologist and a parent.
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They envisioned a clinic where: client care and respect was of the utmost priority, one's cultural context mattered, social justice and rights for all were to be defended, work-life balance was not just tolerated but fostered, competition was rejected for support and collaboration, training and mentorship was a way of paying it forward, play and camaraderie was the norm, "team" and "prioritizing self" were not mutually exclusive, and coffee was readily available and acceptable at all hours of the day without judgement.
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Christina and Nellie allowed themselves to dream- and with teamwork, family support, and the help of Google, they turned their vision into step-by-step action. The first step in the process was choosing the name Sandstone, which instantly made the dream tangible. (Read below why they chose this name and the meaning behind it.) They chose Nevada due to the high need for mental health providers in this region, not to mention that it is where Nellie was raised and received her doctorate.
Since opening in 2014, Sandstone has served thousands of clients and has grown into a 13+ clinician, 2-suite clinic that offers therapy, assessment, and training opportunities. Insurance and pro-bono is accepted whenever possible as part of Christina's and Nellie's commitment to social justice and the belief that mental health should be accessible to all; It should not only be accessible to the minority who can afford self-pay. Sandstone has received the "Best Mental Health Clinic in Henderson" award for the past four consecutive years. Christina and Nellie are grateful for anyone who has ever put their trust in their hands, and for the many involved who have helped turn a dream into reality.
SYMBOLISM OF "SANDSTONE"
We chose the name Sandstone for our practice for several reasons. Not only is it the Nevada State Rock that provides some of Nevada’s most breathtaking scenery, but we also view sandstone as a metaphor for the human experience.
Sandstone is created from tiny grains of sand and minerals that, when joined together, make a strong, unique, and evolving structure. It reminds us that something substantial and powerful can come from the tiniest of grains. People are similar, in that every experience and interaction with the world impacts us, molding and shaping who we are.
Sandstone represents a summation of a person’s life experiences. Our contexts can strengthen us like a grand sandstone landscape, and it can also at times feel like an eroding force that wears us down. Similar to sandstone, humans can be both strong and also very fragile. However, we differ in that we can choose to change or improve ourselves to match our personal visions. For some, this could mean taking steps to lead a healthier lifestyle or trying different ways of communicating with others. For others, it may mean trying counseling for the first time to process past trauma.
Sandstone Psychological Practice was created to help people become the strongest, healthiest, and happiest versions of themselves. We hope that Sandstone serves as a reminder that the smallest changes can soon add up to help shape you into the person you want to be – one step (or grain of sand) at a time.
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- Christina & Nellie