Immigration Psychosocial Evaluations
Asylum Claims
VIDA Counseling & Wellness provides bilingual, culturally responsive psychosocial evaluations for appropriate immigration matters, using trauma-informed clinical interviews and professional documentation, without promising legal outcomes.
Extreme Hardship Waivers
Psychosocial evaluations examining the potential emotional and psychological effects of separation on qualifying family members, as relevant to the referral question.
VAWA Self-Petitions
Trauma-informed evaluations exploring reported experiences of abuse, emotional well-being, and psychological impact, approached with sensitivity and respect.
U & T Visas
Psychosocial evaluations addressing relevant psychological and emotional effects of reported experiences of qualifying victimization or trafficking.
Meet Maria Garcia Velasquez, LCSW
Maria Garcia Velasquez is a bilingual English/Spanish Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed practice and cultural responsiveness.
Rooted in Culture. Guided by Compassion.
As a Latina and first-generation immigrant originally from Guatemala, Maria recognizes the importance of understanding each person's cultural background, family experiences, language, and lived experiences. These perspectives inform her commitment to approaching every evaluation with compassion, curiosity, and professional integrity.
With a background in clinical social work and school-based mental health services, Maria brings an understanding of the many factors that can influence emotional well-being and psychological functioning.
Through VIDA Counseling & Wellness, she provides psychosocial evaluations for appropriate immigration matters and clinical evaluation services within her qualifications and scope of practice. Her approach emphasizes thoughtful assessment, culturally informed clinical interviews, and clear, professionally documented findings.
Clinical Qualifications
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) specializing in trauma-informed, culturally responsive psychosocial evaluations for appropriate immigration matters and clinical evaluation services within scope of practice.
Case Inquiry Process
01
Initial Attorney Inquiry
Attorneys contact VIDA with the general evaluation type and requested timeline. No sensitive client details are needed in the initial inquiry.
02
Referral Review
VIDA reviews the requested service, relevant clinical questions, scheduling, and whether the referral falls within the clinician's qualifications and scope.
03
Scope and Scheduling
If the referral is appropriate, the parties confirm the scope, fees, consent process, records handling, and scheduling before proceeding.