Shows
Beyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastU.S. Immigration Law for Clinician Evaluators with Immigration Attorney Jacob Sapochnick Part 1Immigration evaluations that actually help clients start with understanding what attorneys need. This episode dives into exactly how clinicians can collaborate effectively with immigration attorneys to write legally impactful psychological evaluations. Mariela speaks with attorney Jacob J. Sapochnick about what USCIS and immigration courts are really looking for in hardship evaluations, the legal meaning of “extreme hardship,” common pitfalls clinicians accidentally fall into, and how private practice professionals can position themselves as trusted partners—not advocates. If you're a clinician offering or considering psychological immigration evaluations, this is your legal lens into better reports, stronger attorney partnerships, and more referr...2025-07-2923 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow Legal Blind Spots Can Sabotage an Immigration Evaluation ReportA routine U Visa evaluation turns into a high-stakes scramble when a client’s DUI history is revealed mid-interview—shifting the focus from trauma assessment to evidence of rehabilitation. Clinicians conducting psychological immigration evaluations must understand the legal nuances behind each case or risk producing unusable reports. This real-world scenario illustrates how quickly an immigration evaluation’s purpose can change, why direct communication with attorneys is crucial, and how misunderstanding a referral question can jeopardize a client’s immigration outcome. For mental health professionals in private practice working with US immigration cases, this episode is a critical reminder...2025-07-0809 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow Therapists Make High-Income, Flexible PracticesBurned-out clinicians are getting time back while growing their income by shifting from traditional therapy models to psychological immigration evaluations. This episode tells the story of a therapist who reduced her caseload from 20 weekly therapy clients to just 2 immigration evaluations per week, maintaining her income while regaining her work/life balance. We explore how this pivot into U.S. immigration work created a flexible, low-overhead, high-impact private practice. You’ll hear how immigration evaluations allow therapists to use their clinical skills in meaningful, life-changing ways—helping families stay together and supporting vulnerable clients without the chronic exhaustion of ba...2025-06-2410 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastNew U.S. Immigration Rules for N-648 in 2025: What Mental Health Professionals Must KnowUS Immigration implemented major policy changes to the N-648 disability process on June 13, 2025. Mental health professionals conducting psychological immigration evaluations must now meet stricter standards and ensure clinical consistency to avoid serious consequences. We unpack how these changes impact the documentation of cognitive, psychiatric, and developmental disabilities, what counts as “extenuating circumstances” for late submissions, and why inconsistencies —even unintentional ones— can now derail entire naturalization cases. You’ll also learn how USCIS officers are instructed to scrutinize N-648 forms, what triggers fraud concerns, and how to handle complex scenarios involving multiple evaluators or prior conflicting diagnoses.From b...2025-06-2025 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation Podcast5 Easy Steps to Writing an Immigration Report for Psychological EvaluationsWriting immigration evaluation reports doesn’t have to be overwhelming—these 5 streamlined steps will help you write psychological evaluation reports faster, stay organized, and deliver clear, effective documentation that supports your client’s case.In this episode, you’ll learn a method that transforms report writing from a dreaded task into a structured, manageable process. You'll discover how to align your intake with your report structure, create a searchable log of past reports for easy reference, use templates without risking copy-paste errors, and build a library of clear, non-jargon descriptions for common diagnoses and assessments. We also d...2025-06-1914 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastThe Emotional Toll of Seeking Asylum – With Filmmaker Cady VogeA Honduran family’s journey from the 2018 migrant caravan to unexpected refuge in Seattle reveals the hidden emotional toll of asylum, separation, and survival—and the rare support that helped them heal. Filmmaker Cady Voge captures it all in All We Carry, blending firsthand footage, intimate storytelling, and hard truths about what it really means to flee violence and rebuild.We explore what didn’t make it on screen, how joy and grief often collide in migration stories, and why faith, friendship, and community can shape recovery just as much as policy. Cady also shares the behind-the-scenes decisi...2025-06-1044 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastWhy Self-Care Matters for Mental Health Professionals Doing Immigration Evaluation WorkHolding 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 sustainable habits, and protect your emotional health without losing your sense of purpose. Whether you're a psychiatrist conducting evaluations, a therapist holding space for trauma survivors, or a social worker navigating systemic injustice, this conversation offers both practical tools and a d...2025-05-1315 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow Psychoanalytic Thinking Deepens Immigration EvaluationsPsychoanalytic 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 patterns, and developmental histories that deeply shape a client’s trauma response.Whether working on VAWA, hardship waivers, or cancellation of removal cases, clinicians can harness this perspective to create more impactful psychological immigration evaluations.Learn how stoicism, minimization, and resilience can...2025-04-2912 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow to Write Immigration Evaluation Reports in 4 Hours or Less EthicallyHow 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. Shibley shares her favorite time-saving strategies, including structured intake guides, templates, and even typing reports during interviews. You’ll also hear how to set client expectations around payment, deliver reports securely and with confidentiality, and avoid common...2025-04-1520 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow Mental Health Professionals Support Immigrant Families Living in FearFear 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, often untapped tool to respond: immigration evaluations.You’ll hear about what it means to be an “active witness,” how clinicians can translate trauma into language the legal system understands, and why being trained in evaluations...2025-04-0112 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastWhy Immigration Attorneys Rely on Psychological Evaluations: Legal Insights from Attorney Ginger JacobsLegal 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 shares what mental health professionals need to know to write evaluations that hold up under scrutiny. She explains how too much narrative detail can backfire, why vague language can trigger requests for evidence, and why collaboration between clinicians and atto...2025-03-2543 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastGreat vs. Basic Reports: Mistakes That Make or Break an Immigration CaseShortcut 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 and devastating consequences for immigrant families. This episode uncovers why conducting immigration evaluations require extensive training, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous learning. Dr. Shibley shares her personal journey, the challenges she faced, and the ethical...2025-03-1810 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow Mental Health Providers Can Set Their Fees as Immigration EvaluatorsSetting 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 policies, and when offering pro bono services might make sense for your practice. You’ll leave with actionable insights to build a sustainable and impactful evaluation practice.If you found this episode helpful, subscribe to our podcast and share it w...2025-03-1111 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow to Market Your Services as an Immigration EvaluatorMost 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 rather than just another provider.In this episode, we break down the essential steps to make your services stand out, from optimizing your website and crafting the perfect outreach message to leveraging networking opportunities and using social media effectively. Whether...2025-03-0421 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastIntro to Immigration Evaluations: What They Are, How They Differ from Other Psychological Assessments, and Why They MatterImmigration 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 they make an impact on immigration cases.Learn how mental health professionals can help level the playing field and provide hope for those navigating the complexities of immigration.Ready to Make an Impact?2025-02-2513 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastDifferences Between Immigration Evaluations and Other Forensic AssessmentsThere 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 writing reports for a different type of audience—USCIS officers and immigration judges.If you’re a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker who wants to start writing immigration evaluation reports or you’re already writing these reports, you need to understa...2025-02-2517 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastHow can Mental Health Professionals Help Undocumented Immigrants in this Political Climate?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 today’s uncertain and often hostile political climate. From how to discuss documentation status in therapy sessions with immigrants to writing affidavits of support for immigration cases, you’ll learn the action steps you can take to help immigrants and their...2025-02-2516 minBeyond Borders: The Immigration Evaluation PodcastTrailer2025-02-2300 min
The Testing Psychologist Podcast486. Immigration Evals as Advocacy w/ Dr. Mariela ShibleyWe’re talking about money again, everyone! My guest today, Carla Titus, has nearly 20 years of experience as a financial professional and CFO that she brings to the discussion.2025-01-2049 min
Health Uncovered with Mercedes Cook23. Learn About Psychoanalysis, Misconceptions and How You Could Benefit From It with Dr. Mariela ShibleyWhat comes to mind when you think of psychoanalysis? While you may be familiar with traditional talk therapy, today's episode delves into the deeper, often misunderstood world of psychoanalysis.Joining me today is Dr. Mariela Shibley, a seasoned psychologist and psychoanalyst based in San Diego. Dr. Shibley will explain what psychoanalysis really is and how it differs from traditional talk therapy. We'll tackle some common misconceptions about this therapeutic approach, give you a peek into what a typical session might look like, and discuss who might benefit most from this type of therapy.I am...2024-05-0240 min
Diving into HealingImmigration Trauma: Help this Diverse Population and their FamiliesDr. Shibley discusses how she became involved in psychological evaluations for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and immigration court and how mental health professionals can play an important role in helping this diverse and often disempowered population of immigrants and their families.
Dr. Mariela G. Shibley is a clinical and forensic psychologist with a private practice in San Diego, California. In addition to specializing in issues related to acculturation, immigration, and trauma, she is a leading expert in conducting psychological evaluations for USCIS and Immigration Court. She has conducted and supervised over 2,000 such evaluations and provided...2022-08-2538 min