Immigration Evaluations
We work with dozens of law firms in the Houston & Katy areas and with clients across the U.S. to provide timely, comprehensive, and invaluable immigration evaluations which greatly complement their legal case for residency.
We work collaboratively with our clients’ attorneys to provide such immigration evaluations, which include in-depth assessment(s) relating to the mental health status of the immigrant as well as the US citizen(s) whom would be faced with hardship. This includes a review of the symptoms, any applicable diagnoses, and a thorough review of the outcomes of deportation across a spectrum of areas (economic, medical, community, etc.).
We provide comprehensive immigration evaluations for cases of:
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Extreme Hardship (Waivers, Provisional Waivers, and Cancellation of Removal)
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Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
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U-Visas
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Competence
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Asylum
Some common areas include: PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Parental Issues, Learning Disabilities and Cognitive Impairments. Immigration evaluations can be utilized in cases of political asylum, extreme hardship, or spousal abuse cases when psychological factors may be significant.
As part of conducting these services, we consider actual hardships combined with abstract hardships to determine the result of the aggregated individual hardships. This analysis is part of our complete evaluation service, which can be a powerful piece of evidence to demonstrate and prove the extreme hardship that the qualifying individual would suffer in the face of deportation.
We have conducted numerous client sessions both in-person and online, and helped helped clients all over the United States. If you are unable to set an in-person interview (preferred), we can work with you to identify a mutually convenient time to meet online.
ADD/ADHD Testing
We provide comprehensive assessment services for adults and adolescents (ages 10+) experiencing attention problems.
Using the latest Integrated Visual and Auditory (I.V.A.) continuous performance test in conjunction with other diagnostic procedures, we can comprehensively assess individuals with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The basic components of a stand-alone ADD/ADHD assessment include a clinical interview, developmental history, administration of standardized measures, and a report with rendering of diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Standardized measures refer to tests that allow the results to be statistically compared to age-based norms, a very important factor in identifying the presence of ADD/ADHD. The process and components of the assessment depend on the age of the client (see below) and complexity of the case.
ADHD Assessment in Adolescents
In the case of adolescents, the clinical interview will involve the parent as well. Standardized measures tap self-reports (if the client is an older child) and collateral information provided by parents and teachers. Depending on the complexity of the presenting problem, there may be a need to distinguish between ADHD and some other diagnosis. Among children and teens, ADHD symptoms frequently overlap other conditions (such as depression, anxiety, or a learning disorder), and careful differential diagnosis is needed to determine the correct diagnosis.
We understand that the process is about much more than simply determining a diagnosis. There is typically significant anxiety regarding the potential diagnosis, and subsequently the process can be a difficult time for many families. We strive to make the process as comfortable as possible, as well as help recognize the child's strengths, determine interventions, and when appropriate, work with the school to provide the best educational setting possible for your child's success in life.
An evaluation provides a better understanding of a person's strengths and weaknesses in cognitive, academic, social and emotional functioning. Recommendations will be provided to help increase the child's functioning, as well as to suggest accommodations and interventions.
ADHD Assessment in Adults
In the case of adults, the assessment process involves a combination of a clinical interview, a standardized self-report, and collateral information from other individuals such as spouses and parents. An accurate developmental history is an essential part of the assessment because a positive ADHD diagnosis requires childhood onset. Depending on the age of the adult client, this may be quite challenging to identify. Parents of an older client, for example, may not have accurate recollections of childhood symptoms, they may be deceased, or there may be other problems in taking an accurate developmental history. Also, as with adolescents, differential diagnosis can be quite challenging since ADHD symptoms overlap those of other disorders. Nevertheless, with multiple sources of objective and subjective data and careful differential diagnosis, a reliable clinical picture can be obtained.
Adult evaluations are common. Many adults want answers to lifelong struggles, and need appropriate standardized testing in order determine a diagnosis for medication management, or are needing a diagnosis for services while in college. We can help in all these areas.