Our Story
Meet the Founders
Meridian Counseling was founded by Sandra Kushnir, LMFT, in 2017. Sandra, a first-generation American, came from a family that immigrated from Ukraine in 1990 following the USSR's collapse. They settled in Salt Lake City, UT, seeking a brighter future and opportunities that Sandra, as a Jewish woman in Ukraine, could only dream of. This journey ignited in her a determination to pursue her big dreams, a passion to prove herself, and a love for creativity.
Initially, Meridian began as Sandra’s solo private practice. However, her unwavering commitment to destigmatizing mental health, making it affordable, accessible, and less intimidating, led her to envision more for Meridian. She recognized an opportunity to pioneer one of California's first fully insurance-based therapy practices, driven by her desire to offer therapy to young professionals and students who couldn't afford private pay rates.
As Meridian started accepting insurance, it became evident that there was a significant demand for in-network therapy services. Between 2017 and 2020, the program's size doubled and then tripled, showcasing its positive impact.
During this transformative period, Sandra's fiancé, Kevin Lehtinen, made a bold career move, leaving his role as a control systems engineer at Hyperloop One to join Meridian full-time. It was a leap of faith transitioning from engineering to the mental health space, but both Kevin and Sandra shared a vision of making the world a better place by increasing access to mental health care. With Kevin's engineering background and unwavering dedication, Meridian rapidly grew into one of California and Utah's largest mental health companies, currently serving thousands of clients monthly!
Meridian takes immense pride in being one of the few female and clinician-owned and founded mental health start-ups. What sets us apart is that we've entirely bootstrapped the company, never seeking external investment, even as we compete with tech giants backed by millions, sometimes billions, in funding.
Our philosophy centers on the belief that good care begins with quality providers. Our mission is clear - to deliver the highest quality care to as many people as possible while upholding our field's integrity and resisting the allure of big tech and profits at the expense of exceptional care. We hold ourselves and our providers to the highest clinical standard of care.
Additionally, Meridian has achieved recognition as a CARF-accredited program and earned approval from CAMFT as a CE training program for therapists.
Chief Clinical Officer
Nancy Le is the Chief Clinical Officer at Meridian Counseling, where she leads clinical strategy, program development, and quality assurance across the organization. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to intentional, compassionate, client-centered care, with a focus on elevating clinical excellence as services continue to grow.
Nancy began her career in Silicon Valley, providing direct care to veterans navigating complex trauma and substance use following incarceration. She earned her Master’s in Counseling Psychology and became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Early in her career, she trained alongside postdoctoral clinicians, developing a strong foundation in trauma-informed, psychodynamic, and evidence-based care while working within complex systems.
She later earned her Doctorate in Education. During this time, she worked in a Beverly Hills private practice alongside a psychiatrist, supporting clients in therapy while they received medication management. She also worked with UCLA student-athletes as they adjusted to the academic and athletic demands of competing at the Division I level, helping them navigate performance anxiety and develop emotional regulation skills.
Nancy went on to serve in leadership roles in Silicon Valley, where she oversaw clinical programs supporting high-acuity, justice-involved populations. She led multidisciplinary teams, developed and scaled programs, managed budgets, and implemented systems that strengthened both client outcomes and clinician support. Her leadership philosophy aligns closely with Meridian Counseling’s belief that high-quality client care begins with empowered, well-supported clinicians.
At Meridian Counseling, Nancy initially returned to direct care as a clinician before quickly stepping back into leadership. She has played a key role in strengthening clinical standards, supporting team development, and aligning care delivery with best practices.
As Chief Clinical Officer, Nancy is passionate about building sustainable systems that support both clinicians and clients, ensuring that care remains ethical, effective, and deeply human.
Our Values
Our Mission
We are a modern therapy practice focused on top-tier clinicians.
“Great care starts with great clinicians.”
Connect With Us
We love connecting and collaborating! If you're interested in discussing PR opportunities, speaking events, training sessions, or brand collaborations with our founders, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
We're excited to hear from you and explore how we can work together to create something amazing