Earl Nielsen, PhD

Dr. Earl Stewart Nielsen earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Communications from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1971. He went on to complete his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1979. During his graduate training, he completed a child and adolescent internship at Children’s Behavioral Services in Reno and an adult internship at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center.

Dr. Nielsen began his professional career in 1972 as Director of the Winnemucca Mental Health Center, working as a psychiatric social worker. Following the completion of his PhD, he was hired in 1979 as a psychologist at the Adolescent Treatment Center in Reno and became its Director in 1980. He subsequently served as Director of Adolescent Services for Northern Nevada in 1982 and Director of Clinical Services for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Northern Nevada in 1984.

In 1985, Dr. Nielsen transitioned to academia as an Associate Professor in the clinical psychology graduate program at the University of Nevada, Reno. That same year, he began independent practice, and by 1986 he co-founded Psychological Consultants, LLC in Reno, which has since grown into a prominent private practice with a focus on child and adolescent treatment and, later, forensic psychology.

Since 2011, Dr. Nielsen has provided psychological services to the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center and, from 2012 to 2018, to the Fort McDermitt Tribe through the Indian Health Service.

Dr. Nielsen is married and has three adult daughters: Amanda, a licensed clinical social worker; Kate, a professional artist; and Laura, a licensed psychologist who currently works alongside him at the Tribal Health Center. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, traveling, and vacations in Ruby Valley and Santa Catalina Island.