Janell Anderson, LCSW

She was supposed to be our “reunification” therapist with my partner’s alienated child. She quickly picked the parent she liked and wouldn’t even let him speak. She then told the judge the child doesn’t need to be reunified with her father. The only person she talked with was the mother, the alienator. She didn’t even speak to the child. I later found out Janelle was personal buddies with the other parent and they did rodeo together. Fair, right? The most disadvantaged person in this situation is now a child who cannot see her father who had legal joint custody until Janelle decided mom’s new boyfriend should be the child’s dad, not her bio dad. So unprofessional. She shouldn’t have a license. Incompetent and corrupt is an understatement.

I agree with everyone else that has left reviews! She is very bias, but its not just on the side of the mother... I am the mother, and have a case of very severe mental abuse and emotional abuse from her father's wife, but they are rodeo people. Therefore, she favored them, and opened the door for unbelievable manipulation on my daughter. My poor daughter has been tormented with the actions that her father and stepmother have now formed because of the power Janelle gave them. The Rodeo has now been used as a weapon to manipulate my daughter. I will never forget the day I told her this was going to happen... I wish there were other options for help and care.

Janell has provides sound support for a very difficult time for our child. She has shown to be truly a advocate for the child, and hold accountability to parent(s). She has demonstrated time and time again by being professional and keeping accurate notes and dialog with both parents. She has found creative ways to help parents rebuild communication and work for what in the best interest of the parents. I have a strong belief that she has help several parents improve themselves in order to be better co-parents for their child, including myself. Unfortunately since this is such a power subject i do believe that many parents who have been held accountable to improve are may hold a negative feeling towards her and are more likely to leave a negative comment/review. Those who have worked to improve and become better co-parents are more likely no to leave a comment as they already have had a successful outcome. Janell has shown to be there for the child(ren) and help parents Co-parent.

I’m not sure who is giving Janell the 5 stars and why. They must’ve been the favored parent by her. Janell is no parent mediator. More like she’s an manipulative instigator. Because of her and her bias opinions she can make you lose your kids. She’s not in it for “what’s the best interest for the child(ren)” How the Elko County Courts are still using her, is beyond me. A complete stranger that doesn’t care, is not someone who should be in this position. I could say so much more. She is part of the corrupt court system we have.

Janell lacks the ability to stay neutral. She quickly chooses the parent she likes and doesn't report anything positive about the parent she doesn't like. The information that she puts into her reports lack the follow up with other family members, school, doctors or other providers. The reports are mostly written in regards to her opinion.

Janell is everything the other reviews said and worse. It seems every day is opposite day with her. If you verbally disagree with her assessment(which will be completely opposite of her thoughts, actions, opinion, and words the whole time you work with her) she will use her power as leverage to give the other party even more of her support in court. She does the complete opposite of what is best for the child, especially when she is friends with the family of the other parties significant other. She is biased and will side with the mother no matter how non-compliant the mother and not showing up. I encourage those who posted reviews before and after this post to report her to the board of social workers. This must stop for the safety of our children and their well-being. Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way, and I don't want anyone else to have to go through this. We need more advocates and Janell needs to be held accountable for her lack of care for the children of Elko.

Janell is THEE WORST “advocator” anyone could recommend. As she is lucky to be the only one is town. No opportunity to choose a different advocator. She’s VERY BIASED. She thinks she’s placing kids where they “should belong” but rather, causing more problems with the parents due to her favoring one parent over the other. ELKO COURT SYSTEM, FIND A NEW ADVOCATOR!!!!! Janell is NO ADVOCATOR, more like she is MANIPULATIVE and the Judges don’t know what’s really going on behind closed doors in her office!

I would not recommend her to my dog. She is completely biased and will tell you one thing then backtracks and goes a different way. Will agree with you in private then when in meeting with other parent completely goes against you

I dont think this woman deserves even 1 star! She is completely biased. Forced us to pay for multiple co-parenting and active parenting classes. Then advised us to go against everything we had paid a TON of money to learn. She makes different rules from one visit to the next depending on her mood. This woman does not care for your personal life or current marriage at all. She only cares about making your ex happy even if it cost you your current marriage or reeks havoc to your personal life. She is a HACK and should not be allowed to practice. She has caused more harm than good in my case.

Janell is very unprofessional! Every single phone meeting/conversation we have scheduled with her, she has been at least 30 minutes late to. She is also super hard to get a hold of, and doesn't respond or return phone calls promptly at all. As stated in other reviews, she never remembers anything about our case, and we have to constantly remind her of important facts. She also is very biased and one sided. When she has her mind made up, that is it, there's really nothing else that you can do at

If I could give her a zero I would. Janell is unprofessional, does not have the best interest for children. She wanted me to change my child custody (week on off) to a 5/4 with a severely autistic child that needs routine and eat all 850 a month babysitter cost!! Janell did not care about my special needs child or his needs and wants just her own. Uses things out of context, she is EXTREMELY bias!!! Do NOT use her! Wait up Elko county judges and STOP using her STOP sending people to her please.

This was a court ordered advocate situation. She met my wife and I, met us with our kids and my son. Met my son's mother and step dad, met them with my son and their kids. She met with all of us together. Each time we had to remind her of every detail of the case. She told us what she was going to recommend to the judge in her letter and we told the kids. Then she totally changed what she told us in her letter to the judge. So my son was furious with her, and our other kids were heartbroken.

My experience was awful. I would not recommend her to a person I disliked! She is not an unbiased advocate. I had to remind of of the same things over and over and over as if she couldn't remember what we discussed from one appointment to the next. She chastisted me for not taking her "support" as gospel without allowing for personal differences in parenting styles. Note: this was NOT a situation where the children were in danger. When she wrote the report, she left me out of it completely

How can you advocate for a child without even meeting the child?

She's one sided and biased. She sides with the party most like her. She takes forever to get things done. I would not recommend her at all.

Awesome!