Psychological Evaluations for Immigration
What to Expect
An Immigration Evaluation begins once your attorney recommends that you and/or other family members (e.g., a child, a spouse) undergo a psychological evaluation.
The Immigration Evaluation itself includes:
- A thorough clinical evaluation usually involves one meeting that lasts approximately 1-3 hours. The clinical interview itself consists of questions about yourself and your immigration case.
- During the evaluation process, we administer validated and reliable testing measures that are used to assess your current or recent symptoms to support clinical diagnosis. We also include behavioral observations, clinical assessment, and interpretation of symptoms using DSM-5 diagnosis.
- We make recommendations for treatment and referrals as needed.
- We will then write a report and send it to your attorney by recollecting the results from the assessment tools, which are scored, interpreted, and then integrated into the narrative.
Services and Fees
All services are available in English and Spanish. Evaluations are currently being conducted online via telehealth.
U Visa: assess psychological impact after being the victim of a violent crime (eg., armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon) -- $1,000
VAWA/Domestic Violence: assess psychological impact of domestic violence relationship -- $1,600
Asylum: assess psychological impact of persecution or torture in home country based on membership of particular social group, political opinion, race, religion, national origin -- $1,600
Extreme Hardship: assess potential physical, psychological and financial hardship on eligible family member of undocumented immigrant were the applicant to be deported -- $1,600
Contact
To schedule an immigration evaluation, please contact us at info@radicaldepthspsychotherapy.com or (707) 200-1042
meet the team
zoe barnow, psyd
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Radical Depths Psychotherapy - a group psychotherapy and assessment practice in California. I am passionate about working with the unique hardships of the immigrant experience. I earned my doctoral degree at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA and have been working with victims of trauma for over 12 years. Over the course of my career, I have worked with many undocumented and monolingual Spanish-speakers who have experienced complex trauma, many of whom were recent immigrants. I also have specialized training in working with the LGBTQ+ population.
I have more than seven years experience conducting psychological immigration evaluations. I have attended various trainings on evidence-based methodology for forensic psychological assessment in immigration court. Further, I am a member and mentor for the Bay Area Asylum Mental Health Project, a group of mental health providers who support the training and administration of psychological evaluations for asylum seekers pro bono.
I have completed over 100 immigration evaluations and now train and supervise clinicians learning to do this important work.
chandrika zager, lcsw
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I hold a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and a Master of Public Health from UC Berkeley, combining perspectives from both fields in my approach to mental health care.
For over two decades, I have dedicated my Social Work practice to serving immigrant populations across the Bay Area, specializing in culturally responsive psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and mental health assessments. As a bilingual practitioner (English/Spanish), I have extensive experience working with monolingual Spanish-speaking clients navigating complex trauma and systemic barriers to care.
I have completed specialized training in immigration evaluations through the San Diego Psychological Association with Dr. Mariela Shibley and received additional training with Dr. Barnow. I provide comprehensive immigration psychological evaluations integrating trauma-informed practices with deep cultural understanding to support clients through their immigration journey.
Kaci schmitt, lpc, lmhc, lpcc, ncc
Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington, Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California
I have lived in the Pacific Northwest since 2013. I received my master’s degree in counseling from Oregon State University in 2017. In addition to providing immigration evaluations for Radical Depths Psychotherapy, I also have worked full time in my own private practice since 2020, where I am a Level 2 trained IFS therapist.
I received training in conducting immigration evaluations from the Immigration Evaluation Institute in 2023, and I have engaged in ongoing training and consultation since January 2024 with IMPACTTM, a nonprofit organization based in the Pacific Northwest, as well as with Zoe Barnow, PsyD, with Radical Depths Psychotherapy. As part of ethical practice and requirements, I participate in ongoing continuing education regarding trauma, diagnostic assessment and evaluation, and working with immigrant populations, among other subject matters related to clinical mental health. I am passionate about providing services to marginalized populations and have done so since my first career working as an English teacher in Title I schools, including with English language learners.