Janell “Nellie” Mihelic, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist & Founder of The Thought Loft
Dr. Janell Mihelic is a licensed psychologist and the founder of The Thought Loft. She was co-owner of Sandstone Psychological Practice, a large group practice that served the southern Nevada community for over a decade. She also is the co-author of Tackling Test Anxiety, an online course that provides support to students struggling with test anxiety. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as the Assistant Director of Clinical Training for UNLV’s Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, where she is deeply invested in mentorship and training the next generation of psychologists.
Dr. Mihelic has been licensed as a psychologist since 2014. She works with adolescents and adults navigating a wide range of concerns. There are many approaches to therapy. Dr. Mihelic believes that fit between therapist and client is critical to treatment outcomes. Dr. Mihelic’s treatment approach is flexible. She tends to mostly lean on psychodynamic and interpersonal theory and interventions. These theories emphasize increasing insight (e.g., “how did I become this way?”), understanding past and current relationship dynamics, and uses the therapeutic relationship and therapeutic space to help a person better understand themselves and what they want for their life. Dr. Mihelic works to create a warm, strength-based, affirming space for healing and insight. Dr. Mihelic is also well trained in CBT, ACT, and DBT treatments and can use those as requested or clinically indicated.
Dr. Mihelic also specializes in comprehensive psychological, diagnostic, and academic assessments. She works with various educational institutions providing assessment services to their students, specifically focusing on outlining inclusive learning opportunities. She also conducts pre-employment and pre-surgical assessments.
Dr. Mihelic’s professional journey began with a passion for advocacy, eventually leading her to complete her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the UNLV. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Oregon (UO) and post-doctoral fellowship at UNLV’s Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Dr. Mihelic has been licensed since 2014.
Originally from a small town in Kansas, Dr. Mihelic has called the Las Vegas desert home for a few decades. She is a mom of two school-aged children (plus too many beloved pets) and finds joy in reading books, watching summer storms, going on road trips, listening to interesting podcasts, and enjoying all things cozy—especially when accompanied by a good boba tea.
Jennifer Terranova
Psychological Testing, Psychoeducation, and Psychosocial Support
Jennifer Terranova is a psychometrician specializing in psychological testing, psychoeducation, and psychosocial support. She plays a key role in the assessment process, assisting in the administration of psychological tests to clarify diagnoses related to developmental, cognitive, behavioral, and mental health conditions.
Jennifer’s approach to testing is highly interpersonal, prioritizing rapport, clinical observation, and strengths-based assessment to ensure meaningful and accurate diagnoses. She believes that psychodiagnostic testing is not just a diagnostic tool but a therapeutic process in itself, providing validation, understanding, and a clearer path forward.
Jennifer is also dedicated to parenting education and consultation and has developed a structured program to help parents implement evidence-based strategies tailored to their family's needs. Her approach focuses on fostering proactive and empathic parent-child interactions, strengthening relationships, and creating a supportive home environment. In addition to individualized parent support, she facilitates workshops for parents of neurodivergent children, equipping them with practical tools to navigate parenting challenges effectively.
Her path to psychology has been dynamic and diverse. After graduating from the International School of Berne, Switzerland, she earned a B.A. in Psychology from UNLV. Before entering graduate school, she served as executive director of a nonprofit providing transitional housing for homeless women and children and worked as a freelance writer for resort and casino publications. She later pursued a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at UNLV, focusing on neuropsychological assessment under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Allen. After several years of intensive study, she made the difficult decision to step away from the program in 2015 following the birth of her daughter, whose special needs became her priority. However, she remained deeply connected to the field and has worked in psychological testing since 2011, bringing extensive experience in child and adult assessment to her role.
Originally from Massachusetts, Jennifer frequently travels to Colorado, where her parents and one of her sons live, while regularly visiting her home state to see family. She is a mom of five, with four grown children and one still in elementary school, and is a proud grandmother who enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. She loves cooking, baking, reading, singing, and playing piano, even if she admits her musical skills could use some improvement. Family is central to her life, and she brings the same warmth and dedication to her work that she does to her personal life.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Rosella is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who works with both adults and teens. She’s especially drawn to supporting those navigating anxiety, mood disorders, life transitions, and the complex terrain of interpersonal challenges. Another part of her work also focuses on helping individuals struggling with addiction—looking beyond the behavior to explore the deep emotional pain and trauma that often lie underneath. Rosella’s approach is warm, collaborative, and rooted in person-centered care. While she is informed with CBT and DBT practices, her work is primarily grounded with an interpersonal psychotherapy lens.
Rosella started with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Cal Poly Pomona, where her studies primarily focused on how social forces such as family, culture, history, and community impact mental health. She later moved to Las Vegas to earn her Master’s in Clinical Social Work at UNLV, where she began immersing herself in clinical training.
Rosella’s clinical foundation was shaped in intensive outpatient settings. At Boulder City Hospital, she was part of the Partial Hospitalization Program, supporting people living with schizophrenia and complex mood disorders. Later, she worked at Destinations for Teens, guiding adolescents through emotional regulation and identity development. Her time spent alongside the Clark County Drug Court system added another dimension to her clinical lens—working with individuals caught in cycles of addiction and legal consequences. Through motivational interviewing and a trauma-informed approach, she supported clients in reducing relapse and recidivism by helping them reconnect with themselves and reimagine what’s possible.
In 2018, Rosella became a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and by 2020, a fully licensed LCSW. She soon transitioned from intensive outpatient work to focus on individualized psychotherapy at Sandstone Psychological Practice, where she could slow down and reconnect with what drew her to the field: genuine connection, presence, and meaningful healing. Rosella believes therapy is more than technique—it’s a relationship built on safety, trust, and respect. She meets each client where they are, offering a steady, human presence and holding space for insight, growth, and transformation.
Rosella is originally from Los Angeles. In her personal time, she enjoys watching sports, finds peace in gardening, and loves live music. She considers herself to be a “foodie” who loves exploring new foods and restaurants, especially when she gets to experience this with family and friends. Most importantly she absolutely just loves spending time with her little family of three. Motherhood has been one of her favorite and humbling journeys, even when this comes with its own set of humor and challenges.
Rosella Redd, LCSW
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Aeriel Halstead is a postdoctoral fellow who believes that the right therapeutic fit can help you to answer meaningful questions, find increased alignment with the life you value, and connect to community. She provides services to adolescents and adults and has strong expertise in assisting those who have experienced interpersonal violence (domestic violence, sexual assault), trauma (including identity based and religious trauma), identity development and exploration, relationship concerns, and LGBTQ+ affirming care.
Dr. Halstead's approach focuses on fostering a warm and supportive therapeutic relationship that combines the expertise of your lived experience with expertise from psychology. She believes in evidence-based practices and uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy combined with feminist-multicultural approaches. This empowers you to develop the life you value even when faced with difficult circumstances.
Dr. Halstead began by earning dual baccalaureates in Psychology and Communication Studies at UNLV. She went on to earn her Master's in Psychology and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Brigham Young University where ger research generally focused on interpersonal relationships and the prevention of intimate partner violence. She completed her psychological internship at the UNLV's Counseling and Psychological Services on the Trauma Rotation. In the course of her training, Dr. Halstead has worked in a domestic violence shelter, state prison, VA, and college counseling centers fine-tuning her generalist training with expertise in trauma.
Dr. Halstead was born and raised in Las Vegas and has a deep commitment to the community. She is a biracial, bisexual, cisgender woman who grew up on the eastside of the valley as the second oldest of five children. In her free time she enjoys watching broadway shows at the Smith Center, dancing salsa, and savoring any good meal that she does not have to cook. She believes that enjoyment is a radical act of resistance and does what she can to reduce suffering for herself and others through the pursuit of pleasure: that includes joyful participation in advocacy and social justice.
Aeriel Halstead, Ph.D.
Our neighbors
For most of us, maintaining mental health is a group effort. Most of us require support and collaboration with others. Therapists are not different. We share our space with some incredible therapists. Their names and websites are linked here for your convenience as another referral source for quality mental health treatment.