Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Gandy.
Hi Kelli, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My heart was always in labor and delivery. I became a licensed nurse in 2010, in the aftermath of the recession, when hospitals were not hiring new graduates. This was pre-pandemic—before nurses were suddenly “healthcare heroes” and hospitals were offering sign-on bonuses that sounded like game-show prizes.
Since the hospital doors were not exactly swinging open for me, I ended up working at a state psychiatric facility in Ohio—the same place where I had completed my psychiatric clinical rotation. It was not where I expected to begin my career, and honestly, it was not part of my plan at all. But once I was there, something clicked. I connected with the patients, wanted to understand the stories behind their symptoms and behaviors, and realized that I had found my place.
When I later moved to Las Vegas, I obtained a position in labor and delivery. It did not take long for me to realize that although I loved caring for women during such an important time in their lives, mental health remained my passion and professional home. I often volunteered to care for patients who also had psychiatric diagnoses because I felt especially comfortable supporting their mental health needs alongside their obstetric care. Those experiences helped me recognize the importance of integrating mental health into every area of healthcare. A psychiatric diagnosis is only one part of a person’s story, and understanding her history, fears, and individual needs can make a meaningful difference in helping her feel safe and supported.
Following this, I eventually accepted a position as a mental health registered nurse within the prison system, and I have remained in the mental health field ever since. Working in correctional psychiatry gave me a much deeper understanding of how trauma, substance use, poverty, instability, and limited access to care can shape a person’s life long before they enter the justice system. It also reinforced something I have always believed: people respond differently when they feel genuinely heard rather than simply managed.
I later became a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and founded Wellness Collective LV, a psychiatric practice serving adults in Nevada and through telehealth in multiple states. I provide psychiatric evaluations and medication management for anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar-spectrum disorders, grief, and other concerns that can make it difficult for people to function, move forward, or simply feel like themselves.
Today, I balance private practice, correctional mental health, and raising my daughter as a single mother. My long-term goal is to help create systems that address not only psychiatric symptoms, but also the practical barriers involving basic necessities many of us take for granted—having identification, reliable transportation, access to medication, a working phone and charger, a safe place to sleep, and the ability to attend follow-up appointments. For someone returning to the community after incarceration, the absence of even one of these resources can prevent access to healthcare, employment, housing, insurance, and the support needed to move forward.
My career did not begin where I thought it would. Looking back, what felt like a detour was actually the beginning of everything.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road—but I am not sure the smooth road was ever the one meant for me.
I entered nursing during a recession, when hospitals were not hiring new graduates, and my career began somewhere completely different from where I had imagined. Since then, I have moved across the country, changed specialties, worked in demanding psychiatric and correctional environments, pursued advanced education, and learned how to trust myself when the next step was not always obvious.
One of my greatest challenges has been balancing ambition with real life. I am building a private practice while continuing to work in correctional mental health and raising my daughter as a single mother. There are days when I move between being a provider, business owner, employee, and mom—sometimes within the same hour. It has required sacrifice, creativity, and a willingness to keep moving even when I did not feel completely ready.
I have also had to learn that caring deeply about people does not mean I can fix every system surrounding them. Working in mental health, particularly within correctional settings, means regularly seeing people affected by trauma, poverty, substance use, incarceration, and gaps in care. It can be frustrating to know what someone needs while also recognizing the limitations of the system. That frustration, however, has become part of what motivates me to advocate for better continuity of care and more practical support.
Building Wellness Collective LV brought another learning curve. Being an excellent clinician does not automatically teach you how to run a business. I had to learn credentialing, marketing, finances, compliance, and operations while continuing to provide quality care. There was no magical moment when I suddenly felt completely prepared. Much of the growth came from taking the next step, learning what I did not know, and adjusting along the way.
The struggles have made me more resourceful, more compassionate, and more willing to question whether the way something has always been done is actually the best way. The road has not been smooth, but it has been meaningful—and every unexpected turn has brought me closer to the work I am supposed to be doing.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Wellness Collective LV is an adult psychiatric practice offering evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma-related conditions, bipolar-spectrum disorders, grief, insomnia, and other concerns that can make everyday life feel harder than it needs to be. I see patients in Las Vegas and offer telehealth services across multiple states.
I created Wellness Collective LV because I wanted psychiatric care to feel more personal and less clinical—in the cold, “Here’s your prescription, see you in three months” kind of way. Medication can be extremely helpful, but it is rarely the entire answer. Sleep, relationships, trauma, work, physical health, finances, and what is happening at home all affect mental health. We have to look at the whole person.
I think I am best known for making people feel comfortable enough to be honest. Many of my patients have spent years feeling misunderstood, judged, or told they are “too much.” Others know something feels off but have never had anyone slow down long enough to help them make sense of it. I listen, look for patterns, explain what I am seeing in plain language, and work with each person to create a plan that fits their real life—not some imaginary version of life where they have unlimited time, money, support, and zero responsibilities.
Trauma-informed care is a big part of how I practice. Instead of only asking, “What is wrong?” I also want to understand, “What happened, and what did you have to do to survive it?” Many behaviors that look unhealthy today began as ways of coping or staying safe. Understanding that can help people replace shame with self-awareness and begin making meaningful changes.
What sets Wellness Collective LV apart is the combination of clinical knowledge, honesty, and genuine human connection. I am straightforward with my patients, but I am also warm, relatable, and willing to use humor when it fits. Mental healthcare can be professional and evidence-based without feeling stiff or intimidating. Patients should be able to ask questions, share concerns about medication, disagree with a recommendation, or admit they are struggling without feeling judged.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Wellness Collective LV truly reflects who I am and how I care for people. Our tagline is “Nurturing growth, cultivating wellness,” and that is exactly the goal. I am not here to promise a perfect life or convince anyone that medication will solve every problem. I want to help people better understand themselves, make informed decisions about their care, and build lives that feel more manageable and meaningful.
Most importantly, I want readers to know that seeking psychiatric care does not mean something is fundamentally wrong with you. Sometimes it simply means you have been carrying too much for too long—and you are ready to find a better way forward.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Las Vegas is that it gives people room to reinvent themselves. It is a city full of people who came from somewhere else, took a chance, and decided to build something new. There is an energy here that makes big ideas feel possible, which has been especially meaningful while building my practice.
I also love that there is always something to do. We have incredible food, entertainment, family activities, and beautiful outdoor spaces just beyond the city. Las Vegas is so much more than the Strip, and I have enjoyed discovering that side of it while raising my daughter here.
What I like least is probably the heat—because once it reaches 115 degrees, “but it’s a dry heat” stops being a convincing argument. The city can also feel transient, which sometimes makes it harder to develop a true sense of community. However, that has encouraged me to be more intentional about creating connections and contributing to the kind of community I want my daughter and my business to grow within.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wellnesscollectivelv.com
- Instagram: @wellnesscollectivelv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellnessCollectiveLV/
