Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Evaluations

Pivot Therapeutic Services, LLC provides compassionate and comprehensive VAWA pychological evaluations that document the impact of abuse in clinical terms, helping judges and USCIS understand what is at stake for the people in each case. 
VAWA is a humanitarian protection that allows survivors of domestic violence, emotional abuse, or extreme cruelty to apply for legal status independently, without relying on their abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child.
National Domestic Violence Website

What is the Violence against women act (VAWA)?

Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), survivors of domestic violence or abuse by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can file an immigration petition on their own behalf, without relying on or alerting their abuser. A VAWA psychological evaluation is a critical component of that petition: a clinically grounded document that provides USCIS and immigration judges with a clear, professional picture of who the survivor is and what they have experienced.

 

 



 At Pivot Therapeutic Services, evaluations are prepared by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with specialized experience in immigration cases. The evaluation is submitted as part of the waiver application and carries significant weight in the final decision.
  • I’The survivor's mental health and current psychological functioning
  • The nature, pattern, and duration of the abusive relationship
  • Trauma symptoms consistent with the reported abuse (i.e. PTSD, Depression, Anxiety)
  • The anticipated psychological consequences if immigrant relief is denied
  • Standardized assessment results where needed
A strong evaluation documents:

What to expect

The evaluation process is straightforward, confidential, and designed to be as comfortable as possible for the qualifying relative.  STEP 1: Initial Consultation After you reach out, we will begin with a brief consultation to explain the process, answer questions, and gather background information from you and/or your attorney.  STEP 2: Clinical Interview I conduct a thorough clinical interview, in person or via telehealth, with the qualifying relative. This session typically lasts 60-120 minutes and covers mental health history, relationship history, family circumstances, and the anticipated impact of the immigration outcome.  STEP 3: Psychological Assessment When appropriate, standardized psychological assessments may be administered to document current symptom levels and functioning. These include, but are not limited to the PHQ-9 (measuring depressive symptoms), the GAD-7 (measuring anxiety symptoms) and the ACES (measuring childhood trauma experiences.  STEP 4: Written Report A detailed written evaluation is prepared, formatted to meet legal and evidentiary standards. Reports are delivered with a fast turnaround- typically within 5-7 business days of the completed review. You do have the option to request a quicker turnaround during the initial consultation. There may be a need for a shorter interview for me to ask clarifying questions as I am writing the report.

For Survivors and families

You deserve to be believed!
The immigration system asks a great deal of survivors: to relive their experiences, to put words to pain, to trust strangers with their most private stories. We approach that trust with care and a trauma-informed approach. We are experienced working with survivors from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, and we prioritize making the evaluation environment feel safe, respectful, and unhurried.

For immigration attorneys

A reliable evaluation partner
We know that a psychological evaluation is only as useful as it is well-written, defensible, and timely. Our reports are structured for legal use, organized, clinically grounded, and clear for adjudicators who may have limited mental health background.
  • Services available in English
  • Will work with interpreters
  • Telehealth available in MO, OR, KY, and KS
  • In-person available in the greater St Louis area
  • No referral required to schedule
  • Consistent report format across all cases
  • Responsive communication with legal teams
  • 5–7 business day turnaround as standard
  • Available for expedited timelines; contact us to discuss
  • LCSW credentials accepted by USCIS

frequently asked questions



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