Services
Refugees, Newcomers, Survivors of Torture and Immigration Evaluations & Reports - Ottawa
Now providing virtual sessions all over Ontario
MN Psychotherapy Services Ottawa
Refugees, Newcomers, Survivors of Torture and Immigration Evaluations & Reports Services
My extensive experience and expertise involve working with refugees who have been tortured, prosecuted, or fled violence. I also am an immigrant and went through the process of immigration.
In the event that you have experienced trauma, including genital mutilation, partner violence, political, religious, or war-related tortures, or persecution based on sexual and gender identity issues (LGBTQI+), or gender-based violence, I can help you process those horrific experiences.
You may be unfamiliar with counselling and psychotherapy, but they are powerful tools that can help you generally deal with trauma and improve the quality of your life.
Also, I provide mental health evaluations and assessments or forensic assessments to support refugee claims, appeals, Pre-removal risk assessments, and Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications. I am qualified to perform these assessments. I am trained to conduct VAWA evaluations, asylum evaluations and hardship evaluations.
In addition, I attend IRB hearings to support you during this stressful time.
All services are free if you qualify for Interim Federal Health Plans.
Call me today for a free consultation and find out how I can help you resettle as smoothly as possible in Canada.
Here is the link to Immigration Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html
Evaluation and Treatment of Survivors of Torture and Refugee Trauma
Refugees and asylum seekers often face delayed mental health services, treatment, and care due to systemic barriers. Delays in treatment and care can increase the impact of resettlement services and may lead to poor long-term outcomes.
Refugees, Newcomers, Survivors of Torture and Immigration Evaluations & Reports
I provide client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally-responsive and linguistically appropriate services, including individual and group therapy. The health consequences of torture and refugee trauma are multifaceted, and include physical, emotional, and social dimensions.
Evaluation Process
An immigration evaluation is a psychosocial assessment conducted by a licensed and trained mental health professional to evaluate an individual’s mental health status in relation to their immigration case. These evaluations are typically done at the request of immigration lawyers or government officials to determine whether an individual is able to handle the stress and demands of immigration or to assess whether an individual has a mental health condition that would make them eligible for asylum or other forms of relief.
The evaluation may include an assessment of the individual’s current mental health status, as well as a review of their past mental health history. Childhood history, relationships, employment, traumas they experienced. The evaluator may also administer psychological tests, conduct interviews, and review relevant medical and legal records. The evaluator will then provide a written report of their findings and opinions to the immigration lawyer or government official who requested the evaluation.
The evaluation can take up to 6 hours in complex cases.
An immigration evaluation may be requested in cases where an individual has a history of mental health issues or has experienced trauma related to their country of origin. The evaluation may also be requested in cases where an individual has been diagnosed with a mental health condition that may make them eligible for asylum or other forms of relief.
It’s important to note that immigration evaluations can be complex, and it is important to work with a qualified mental health professional who has experience in this area.
Types Of Evaluation
- Asylum evaluations: These evaluations are used to assess whether an individual has a credible fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
- Violence Against Women evaluations: These evaluations are used to determine whether an individual has a credible fear violence or torture if they were to return to their country of origin.
- Credible fear evaluations: These evaluations are used to determine whether an individual has a credible fear of persecution or torture if they were to return to their country of origin. If you belong to certain social groups such as LGBTQ+, political, etc, this evaluation would be appropriate.
- Hardship evaluations: These evaluations are used to determine whether an individual has a mental health condition that would make them ineligible for removal or deportation.
Trauma evaluations: These evaluations are used to assess the impact of past traumatic experiences on an individual’s mental health, and to determine whether they may be eligible for relief based on their trauma. - Evaluation for torture survivors. This is a type of evaluation which is based on The Istanbul Protocol. The Istanbul Protocol is a set of guidelines for the documentation of torture and its consequences. It was developed by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and is intended to be used by medical and legal professionals, human rights investigators, and other relevant personnel in the documentation of torture and its effects. The Protocol includes guidelines for medical evaluations, legal investigations, and the collection of forensic evidence. It is intended to provide a standard methodology for the documentation of torture and to ensure that the documentation is reliable and admissible in legal proceedings.
It’s important to note that the specific type of evaluation conducted will depend on the individual’s circumstances, the type of immigration case they are involved in, and the specific questions or concerns that need to be addressed.
FAQs
An evaluation for refugees, newcomers, survivors of torture, and immigrants is a psychological assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional to evaluate an individual’s mental health status in relation to their refugee, newcomer, survivor of torture, or immigrant status. The evaluation may be requested by immigration lawyers or government officials, or may be initiated by the individual themselves.
The evaluation typically includes an assessment of the individual’s current mental health status, as well as a review of their past mental health history. The evaluator may also administer psychological tests, conduct interviews, and review relevant medical and legal records. The evaluator will then provide a written report of their findings and opinions.
The goal of the evaluation is to determine if the individual has a mental health condition that may be related to their refugee, newcomer, survivor of torture, or immigrant status, and to assess the potential impact of these experiences on their mental health. This can help determine if an individual has a need for mental health treatment and support, as well as if they may be eligible for any forms of relief such as asylum, refugee, or humanitarian protection.
It’s important to note that these evaluations can be complex, and it is important to work with a qualified mental health professional who has experience in this area.
The immigration evaluation process can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the type of evaluation being conducted. However, some general steps that may be involved in the process include:
- Initial contact: This may involve a phone call or an in-person meeting with the individual or their representative to discuss the purpose of the evaluation, the evaluation process, and to answer any questions they may have.
- Intake assessment: This may involve an initial interview with the individual to gather information about their current mental health status, medical history, and relevant background information.
- Psychological testing: This may involve administering standardized psychological tests to assess the individual’s cognitive abilities, personality, and any symptoms of mental health disorders.
- Interviews: This may involve conducting interviews with the individual, their family, or others who know them well, to gather more information about their mental health status and experiences.
- Record review: This may involve reviewing relevant medical, psychological, and legal records related to the individual’s mental health status.
- Report writing: This may involve writing a comprehensive report that summarizes the findings of the evaluation and provides recommendations for treatment, support, or any other forms of relief.
- Feedback session: This may involve an in-person or phone session with the individual, their representative, or their legal team to discuss the findings of the evaluation and answer any questions they may have.
It’s important to note that the specific process may differ depending on the context, type of evaluation and the professional conducting the evaluation. The duration of the evaluation process can also vary, but it usually takes several days to several weeks to complete.
The information included in an evaluation report will vary depending on the specific circumstances and the type of evaluation being conducted. However, some general information that may be included in the report includes:
- A summary of the individual’s background information, including their current mental health status, medical history, and relevant background information.
- A description of the psychological tests that were administered and the results obtained.
- A summary of the findings from any interviews or record reviews that were conducted.
- A diagnosis, if one is made, of any mental health disorders or conditions that were identified during the evaluation.
- A description of any symptoms or behaviors that were observed during the evaluation and an assessment of their impact on the individual’s daily functioning.
- A discussion of the relationship between the individual’s mental health status and their refugee, newcomer, survivor of torture, or immigrant status.
- Recommendations for treatment, support, or any other forms of relief that may be appropriate for the individual’s specific circumstances.
- Information about the qualifications and credentials of the evaluator, as well as any relevant professional associations or licenses.
It’s important to note that the specific information included in the report will depend on the context, type of evaluation and the professional conducting the evaluation. The report will be written in an objective and professional manner, and the evaluator will take care to protect the individual’s privacy and confidentiality throughout the process.
Referrals are self-made or referred by an immigration lawyer or other professionals.
No, there are often no follow-up services after an evaluation. The evaluator should not be in conflict of interest with the client to provide therapy after the evaluation. However, at the end of the evaluation, the professional who conducted the evaluation will typically provide feedback to the client and any relevant parties (such as a referring therapist) about the results of the evaluation. This may include an interpretation of the results, recommendations for further treatment or support services, and any other relevant information.
It can take up to 6 hours
The interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) for refugees would cover the cost if you are eligible for the coverage. Otherwise, it is paid privately or by your immigration lawyer’s office.
Once the evaluation is sent to your lawyer, you need to discuss with the lawyer how they will use it in court. The evaluation does not guarantee any outcome. It can help but also it may not help.
