Immigration
Leaving your native country is rarely easy…
… even less so if you’re leaving it under duress.
… or feeling as though you have to adapt to the United States.
Even if you were escaping the unimaginable… war, terrorism, gang violence, or an abusive spouse… the transition can be difficult.
Navigating a new life in the United States…
… can be overwhelming and anxiety-provoking.
Even under the best of circumstances, the immigration process and the transition from one culture to another is often a stressful experience.
It can be further complicated when you arrive and don’t get the support you needed or expected from family and friends.
I am here to facilitate your immigration process…
I’ll help you make sense of your experiences.
Feeling lonely and depressed is a normal response to moving to another country. Maybe you are having a hard time finding people you feel comfortable with.
The friends and family you have here haven’t quite made you feel welcome. You yearn for the familiar faces and routines of your home country; and, yet, perhaps going home is not an option for you at the moment. Worrying about your parents, children you may have left behind.
Has it been worth it?
Things happened and you had to leave your home country. You keep them bottled inside, you’ve learned not to burden others with your story, best to just keep moving on… but bits of your history surface in small ways, realizing you can’t keep it down any longer, you miss the way you used to be, open, fun-loving, trustful of others…
With the utmost respect and confidentiality, I am here to listen…
… and help you make sense of your experiences. I can help you feel that your emotions are normal given what you experienced.
Processing emotions and putting your particular story in perspective can be such a relief! You don’t have to keep carrying the scars of old. Recuperating you is possible!
I also conduct immigration mental health evaluations.
If your attorney has suggested that you obtain a report from an immigration evaluation therapist, you’ve come to the right professional.
I have worked with individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds…
… and I’m experienced in conducting mental health assessments for waivers, U & T visas, asylum, Violence against Women Act (VAWA), spousal abuse, special immigrant, juvenile, and other immigration cases.
More on mental health evaluations…
The in-person evaluation typically involves an in-depth clinical interview and the use of some psychological assessments.
Typically, I will assess your current psychological symptoms to gain a deeper understanding of your past and current living situation. I then write a comprehensive report for presentation to your lawyer and the court.
My interview with you will typically evaluate pre- and post-migration experiences (e.g., discrimination, persecution, harassment, war, trauma); the presence of psychological symptoms and disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety); and the potential psychological impact of being denied residency in the United States.
I charge $1500 for evaluations. Additional fees may apply if asked to testify in immigration court or urgency needed for the evaluation.
Let me be your ally!
You deserve to find here that happiness and sense of safety that eluded you in your native country.
I would be happy to speak to you about any questions you have about this process.
For your free 20-minute phone consultation, please call me at (804) 424-3118, Ext.1.