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You can reach us directly at (775) 682-8609. We return calls within two business days. When we call you back, we will have some standard questions for you to help us ensure that we get you the help that you need! If we determine that we can meet your family's needs, we will set up an appointment for you. 

The SIERRA Families program teaches skills to improve emotion regulation and relationships among families.

Our program offers free (grant-funded) services for parents and families with a child between the ages of 0 and 10 years. Our services are designed for parents who have children with mild to moderate behavior problems that are disrupting family functioning. We can also help parents who are struggling with their own stress or mental health and such concerns are impacting their ability to parent.

Visit our services webpage to learn more about the types of care we offer.

Consider the following questions in self-assessing your eligibility for services from SIERRA Families:

• Do you feel stressed or overwhelmed as a parent?
• Are you struggling to manage your child's behavior?
• Is your child under the age of 10?

Prior to your first appointment, you will be sent a link to fill out questionnaires to help us better understand how you and your family are functioning.

During your first meeting with an assigned provider, you will complete intake paperwork. Please bring your child to your first meeting. You will fill out standard forms similar to what you would complete at a doctor’s office.  You will participate in an interview in which the provider will ask you (and your child, if old enough) questions about your family and treatment needs. You will then learn about the treatment options that we offer, which focus on teaching you skills to help mange your emotions, improve communication with your child and family, and to manage your child's difficult behaviors, with the ultimate goal of developing and sustaining healthy, positive parent-child relationships.

If you cannot attend a scheduled appointment, please call (775) 784-6668 to cancel at least 24 hours in advance.

SIERRA Families is located on the first floor of the Effie Mona Mack Building on the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno campus in room 124.

The mailing address is:

Psychological Services Center
Department of Clinical Psychology
Mail Stop 0298
University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno
1664 N. Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89557

Parking for Psychological Services Center clients is on the second level of the Brian Whalen Parking Garage.

You will need to obtain a parking pass from the clinic assistant or your therapist before parking in this lot.

Look for the white "Psychological Services Center" signs. These are the first three parking spots on the south end of the garage near the elevators. If all three spots are full, public parking is available on the first floor of the garage.

Please place the guest parking pass on the left side of your dashboard to avoid receiving a parking ticket. Unfortunately, we cannot reverse parking tickets.

1. Leave the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex on the first floor and get on the sidewalk heading east.
2. You will arrive at a large sidewalk running north to south. There is a large N sign on this sidewalk to the right, turn towards this sign and head past it (heading south).
3. Follow the sidewalk and keep following it as it descends down a ramp between two red brick buildings. Keep going till after you descend a small flight of stairs. Continue heading south until you see a grass square with a small stand of trees. If you have walked to the Ansari Business building, you have gone too far.
4. Across from the grass square, there is Effie Mona Mack. There is an entrance on either the North or East side. Enter through either entrance, and the Psychological Services Center is on the first floor in room 124.  
5. Please knock, as we keep the door locked for privacy. Wait outside until someone answers.

The Psychological Services Center is closed whenever the University is closed (e.g., holidays, snow days). During breaks and summer, hours can be limited.

The clinic is closed on the following days during the year:*

• New Year's Day (January 1)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
• Presidents' Day (third Monday in February)
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
• Juneteenth (June 19)
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• ÁùºÏ±¦µä Day (last Friday in October)
• Veterans' Day (November 11)
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
• Family Day (fourth Friday in November)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

*Clinic closure means no appointments will be held.

During winter break (typically mid-December to early-January), the clinic has reduced service availability.

SIERRA Families is not equipped to offer treatment to individuals who need immediate emergency intervention.

For immediate emergencies, call 911 or the Crisis Call Center/National Crisis/Suicide Line: 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1 or you can text the keyword ANSWER to 839863)

If you are in crisis or believe you may harm yourself, you can also contact the .

You also can go to the following locations for assistance:

Some additional relevant resources are as follows:

• : 24/7/365 National child abuse hotline, dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
• : The Family Resource Center connects children, teens, and adults to needed resources such as Food Programs, Employment Assistance, Adult Literacy & English Classes, Financial Literacy/Credit Counseling, Utility Assistance, Shelter/Housing, and Medical/Dental/Mental Health Services.
• : Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows offers free meals, tutoring, arts, sports, and computer programs for children.
• : The Solace Tree provides grief and loss services for children, teens, and young adults.
• : Promotes the health, safety and well-being of children, adults and seniors who are vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation. The agency provides an array of protective and supportive services to families and individuals to enhance their quality of life by ensuring they are optimizing their self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
• : Provides programs and services at no charge to youth and their families in our community. The organization supports young children to young adults, so that they can thrive within their schools, their families and their neighborhoods.