A thorough psychological evaluation can be one of the most important pieces of an asylum case. We take that seriously.
Asylum seekers must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. A psychological evaluation documents the mental health impact of that persecution and the trauma the applicant has experienced. It puts a clinical face on what the applicant has been through and gives the adjudicator a clear picture of the human cost of returning them to danger.
This is careful, thorough work. We do not rush it and we do not treat it like paperwork.
Who Conducts the Evaluation
Shylah Ridgway, LCSW/LICSW, is our primary immigration evaluator. She is licensed in Oklahoma, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Texas, and Utah and has experience producing evaluations that meet the standards attorneys and adjudicators expect. She understands both the clinical and legal context of this work and takes it seriously.
Demetria Bonds, LMSW, also works in our immigration evaluation practice and collaborates with Shylah on cases. Reach out for current availability.
Immigration evaluation work is a growing area of our practice and we are intentionally building our team's capacity in this space.
How to Get Started
Fill out our contact form and let us know you are inquiring about an asylum evaluation. We will follow up to discuss the process, timeline, and fees.
What the Evaluation Covers
The evaluation includes a thorough clinical interview, mental health history, trauma history, assessment of current psychological symptoms including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and a detailed report connecting the applicant's mental health presentation to their experiences of persecution. The report is written in a format appropriate for submission with an asylum application and useful to the representing attorney.
For Attorneys
If you are an immigration attorney looking for a reliable evaluator for asylum cases, we welcome referrals. We understand the weight of this work and the importance of getting it right. Turnaround time, clear communication, and professionally formatted reports are things we take seriously. Visit our attorney referral page or reach out directly.