Mid-Atlantic Evaluations
at Grounded Growth Counseling
Immigration psychological evaluations that help tell your story.
Contamos con intérprete de español sin costo adicional
Immigration Psychological Evaluations
Helping you stay in the country you now call home,
and stay together as a family
Appointments available within 2 weeks.
If your attorney asked you to get a psychological evaluation, it is because your story matters to your case. Not just the paperwork. What actually happened to you, and what it would mean for your family if you had to leave.
My job is to listen carefully and then write a report that helps the court understand.
$850 standard fee · Report in 5–10 daysSpanish interpreter at no extra cost
Contamos con intérprete de español sin costo adicional.
What this evaluation is really about
For most people who call me, this is not about a form. It is about whether a family gets to stay together.
Maybe you have built a whole life here. A job, a home, children in school, a community that knows you. Maybe your spouse, parent, or child is a U.S. citizen, and the thought of being separated from them is what keeps you awake.
Maybe going back is not just hard. Maybe it is dangerous.
The immigration system asks for proof of these things. Not just that leaving would be sad or difficult, but that the harm would be real and serious. That is a hard thing to prove with documents alone.
That is what a psychological evaluation does. It takes what you have lived through and what you are afraid of, and puts it into a form the court can weigh and respect.
Your family is part of this case
In hardship cases, the question is not only about you. It is about what happens to the people who depend on you.
A child who would lose a parent. A spouse who would lose the person who helps them manage a health condition. A family that would lose its income, its stability, its safety.
I look at all of it, and I write about all of it. Because the court needs to see the whole picture, not just one person standing alone.
USCIS-Appropriate Reports
I provide evaluations for many kinds of immigration cases. Each report is written to explain how your experiences have affected your mental health and daily life.
You are asking for a hardship waiver, and your family would suffer greatly if you had to leave.
You are applying for asylum because you were harmed or threatened in your home country.
You are filing under VAWA because of abuse by a partner or family member.
You are seeking a U visa or T visa related to crime or trafficking.
Your attorney has told you a psychological evaluation would support your case.
If you are not sure, you can ask your attorney or contact me with questions.
Cost
Standard evaluation and report: $850
This includes your meetings with me, the clinical testing, and the full written report.
Half at your appointment, half when the report is ready. If that structure does not work for your situation, tell me.
Payment plans are available, and I would rather work something out than have you go without the evaluation your case needs.
Timing
Most reports are finished within 5 to 10 days of your last meeting.
Rush report (report needed in less than 5 days of evaluation appointment): Add $100
Contamos con intérprete de español sin costo adicional
What your report includes
A 10–20 page written narrative covering your history, your current symptoms, and how your situation meets the legal standard for your case type
Standardized clinical testing — validated tools that screen for PTSD, depression, and anxiety, so your symptoms are documented with recognized measures and not just described
A clear diagnosis and clinical reasoning, stated in the language USCIS expects
Direct connection to your legal standard — for hardship cases, the specific factors that show extreme hardship; for asylum, the psychological evidence of persecution; for VAWA and U/T visas, documentation of abuse or victimization and its effects
My credentials and qualifications, so there is no question about whether the report carries weight
About Your Evaluator
Leana Sykes M.Ed, LPC, ACS
I am a licensed therapist who has strong training in counseling and family therapy. I work with both children and adults, so I see how home, school, work, and immigration problems all fit together. When I complete an evaluation, I look at your history, your feelings, your health, and how your situation affects your family. Then I write a clear report that your lawyer can use for your immigration case.
I know that many immigrants have faced trauma, unfair treatment, or language barriers. I will listen to your story with respect and patience, and I will ask questions in a simple way, making sure that you understand each step. My goal is to make you feel safe while I help you share the information that is important for your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
It is a structured evaluation by a licensed mental health professional (such as a psychologist, counselor, or clinical social worker) that looks at your history, current symptoms, and daily functioning in the context of your immigration case.
The clinician meets with you (often over 1–3 sessions, in person or via secure telehealth), may use questionnaires or tests, and then writes a detailed report explaining any emotional or psychological difficulties and how they relate to your immigration situation.
This report is not regular therapy notes; it is a forensic‑style document designed specifically to answer the legal questions in your case (for example, hardship to a qualifying relative, impact of past abuse, or consequences of deportation).
-
In hardship waiver, cancellation of removal, and some family‑based cases, the evaluation helps show how your removal or continued instability would cause “extreme hardship” to you or your qualifying relative, beyond what the law considers “normal” difficulty.
In trauma‑related cases like asylum, VAWA, U or T visas, the evaluation documents the abuse, persecution, or crime you experienced and its psychological effects (such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety), giving the court objective evidence of what you have been through.
Judges and immigration officers often rely on these evaluations to understand the full human impact of a decision; a clear, professionally prepared report can make your story easier to see, believe, and legally interpret.
-
When you request an evaluation, we will explain what will happen, how many meetings you will have, and when your report will be ready.
We want you to know what to expect so you are not worried or confused, and we combine care for you as a person with strong skills in writing an evaluation, so your story is told clearly and respectfully.
-
You will recieve a 10–20 page narrative describing your history, current symptoms, and how your situation meets USCIS hardship standards
-
Our evaluations start at $850. There is an additional fee of $100 if your report is needed less than 5 days after your evaluation appointment
-
Typically, 50% of your evaluation fee is due on the day of your evaluation, and the remaining 50% is due when your report is ready.
Other payment plans are available for special circumstances.
-
You can reach us anytime via our contact page or by calling/texting 856-477-3142. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.
-
Leana Sykes, M.Ed, LPC will complete your evaluation. Leana is a highly trained trauma-informed therapist who has been expertly trained in writing immigration evaluations.
-
First, you will meet with Leana Sykes, where you will explain your situation. She will ask you questions related to they type of case you plan to file, take that information, and write your evaluation based on that information. This process can take place over 1 or 2 one-hour sessions.
The, Leana will take her time to write a clear and comprehensive court-ready report that answers the questions your judge will have regarding your type of case.
You will receive you report in about 5 days from your evaluation meeting. You can receive your report in less than 5 days for an additional fee.
-
No, and be careful with anyone who tells you otherwise. No evaluation can guarantee an outcome. What a strong evaluation does is make sure the decision-maker fully understands your situation. Attorneys consistently find that cases with a solid psychological evaluation are more compelling than cases without one.
-
This report is written to be shared with your attorney and filed with your case, so it is different from private therapy. I will explain clearly at the start what goes in the report and what does not. You will never be surprised by what you read in it.
-
Most people do. It is expected, and it is not a problem. We can pause, take a break, or stop and continue another day.
-
Whenever you are ready. If your attorney has given you a filing deadline, it helps to reach out early so we have room to work at a comfortable pace.
If you are not sure yet, that is okay
You do not have to be ready to schedule to reach out. Plenty of people call just to ask what the process looks like, or how much it costs, or whether an evaluation would even help their case. Some decide to move forward. Some do not, and that is a fine outcome too.
Questions?
Call or text: 856-477-3142
Email: info@groundedgrowthcounselingnj.com
Or use the contact form — I usually respond within one business day.