Beyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation Podcast

Holding space for trauma day after day takes a toll—and without intentional self-care, even the most mission-driven clinicians can burn out. This episode explores the emotional cost mental health professionals endure in immigration evaluation work, unpacking vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and the subtle ways burnout creeps in.  You'll learn how to recognize subtle warning signs, establish s...

Psychoanalytic thinking transforms psychological U.S. immigration evaluations. It gives clinicians deeper insights into their clients so they can write more credible reports. Instead of fixating on surface-level symptoms or narrowly diagnosing distress, Dr. Mariela Shibley unpacks how her psychoanalytic training allows her to hear what's left unsaid —revealing unconscious defenses, emotional patte...

How do I write a psychological immigration evaluation report in 4 hours or less?  Efficient workflows, streamlined case interviews, and faster report writing—this episode dives into how to simplify every step of the immigration evaluation process. Learn how to book new clients, clarify immigration case types, schedule case interviews with intention, and reduce no-shows to appointments.  Dr. Shible...

Fear isn't always a response to trauma—it can be the trauma. For immigrant communities, the constant threat of detention, deportation, and separation doesn't just provoke anxiety—it creates real-time psychological harm that mirrors PTSD. This episode dives into the emotional toll of living in chronic fear, how it affects families and children, and why mental health professionals have a powerful, o...

Legal outcomes in immigration cases often depend on the precision and credibility of psychological evaluations. From hardship waivers to asylum and cancellation of removal, courts and immigration officers rely on these evaluations to determine whether someone's suffering meets the legal threshold for relief—but not all reports are created equal. In this episode, immigration attorney Ginger Jacobs...

Shortcut training to learn how to do immigration evaluations isn't just ineffective—it's unethical.  Many mental health professionals believe they can master these complex evaluations through a single workshop or just by reviewing a sample report. But without a deep understanding of legal and psychological nuances, evaluators risk producing weak, misleading reports that can lead to case denials an...

Setting fees for immigration evaluations can feel like a balancing act between fair compensation and client accessibility. This episode dives into practical strategies for pricing your services, managing payment plans, and handling rush requests—all while maintaining empathy for clients facing financial hardship. Learn why flat fees often work better than hourly rates, how to set clear payment pol...

Most mental health professionals struggle with marketing, especially when it comes to connecting with immigration attorneys. Your website, networking approach, and even how you introduce yourself can make or break your success in this niche. Learn practical, proven strategies to position yourself as the go-to expert for immigration evaluations, ensuring attorneys see you as a trusted resource rath...

Immigration psychological evaluations play a critical role in immigration cases. Dr. Mariela Shibley discusses how these psychological assessments bring objectivity to a biased system, support immigrant families, and even change legal outcomes.  This episode is a detailed overview of what immigration evaluations and reports are, how mental health providers can conduct these evaluations, and how th...

There are key differences between conducting forensic evaluations and immigration evaluations. If you're a mental health professional eager to add immigration evaluations to your practice, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Shibley explains that while both fall under the umbrella of forensic psychology, immigration evaluations require a unique approach, from understanding referral questions to wri...

In the current political climate, with millions of undocumented people and their families living in chronic stress and fear, mental health professionals are uniquely positioned to help immigrants. But many psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental health providers don't know how. In this episode, I discuss how mental health professionals can support undocumented individuals in...