"Still, there are times I am bewildered by each mile I have traveled, each meal I have eaten, each person I have known, each room in which I have slept. As ordinary as it all appears, there are times when it is beyond my imagination.”
— Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Immigration
Moving to another country is difficult. Even if it was for positive reasons (ie. job, love, family) the subtle cultural distinctions that go unnoticed because you are adjusting to fit into a new culture can be tiring, and in times of personal or cultural stress can result in carrying additional emotional weight in our busy lives. CJ has traveled they path and understands the mix of both joy and melancholy that comes with such a change.
Asylum, Domestic Violence and Extreme Hardship Assessments
CJ provides clinical assessments for immigration cases, including asylum, domestic violence (VAWA) and petitions for extreme hardship waivers. Having worked through the immigration process himself, he is very aware of the importance of solid and reliable documentation.
CJ generally meets with each client twice, for a total of about 3 hours. During these sessions he discusses psychological symptoms, as well as gathering information about their lives, relationships and any other pertinent information.
Unlike many other types of psychological immigration evaluations, CJ's assessments are relatively in-depth (generally projected to be around 15 pages in length). Not only does he document psychological symptoms, but also considers the lived experiences and personal situation of each client.
For each assessment, CJ's assessments also highlight the factors that make the case unique, such as country conditions, impact of medical issues when in a developing country, as well as impact on children of being separated from a parent.
Apart from his own immigration experience and standard psychological education, CJ has completed advanced formal training in Asylum, DV, and extreme hardship assessments.