TTP #54: Cecilia Briseno – Immigration Hardship Evaluations

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. I’m so fortunate to be talking with Cecilia Briseno today all about immigration and hardship evaluations. I actually knew very little about these evaluations, so this was an illuminating experience for me. It was also just so touching to hear how these evaluations are close to Cecilia’s heart and carry on her family’s legacy of giving back. Here are just a few things that I learned: * What an immigration/hardship evaluation actually is * Where to go first to find referrals for these evaluations * How to structure your interview and assessment process for these evals * Typical fees for these assessments Cool Things Mentioned in This Episode * Cecilia’s practice: Brightside Family Therapy * Cecilia’s training for Immigration Hardship evals: www.hardshipevaluationtraining.com (enter code “Jeremy” during checkout to get $250 off of her training!) Podcast Sponsor This podcast is powered by Q-interactive, Pearson’s iPad based system for testing, scoring and reporting. Experience unheard of efficiency and client engagement with 20 of our top tests delivered digitally. Learn more at helloq.com/home. About Cecilia Briseno Cecilia Briseno is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice, Bright Side Family Therapy, in Arlington, TX. Cecilia has a total of 17 years of experience in social work in a variety of settings and roles. Cecilia received her BSW and MSSW from the University of Texas at Arlington. It was during her graduate internship that she studied the model of therapy that she still uses today, Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). Following the completion of her Master’s program, Cecilia went on to study Marriage and Family Therapy in a doctoral program at Texas Woman’s University, which helped her to broaden her knowledge of SFT and family systems. Cecilia has found her niche in working with couples primarily while also working with families navigating through the immigration process. When appropriate, Cecilia provides evaluations explaining the hardships they face when separated from their loved ones. She is now also providing training for clinicians interested in working with immigrants. By first having her client’s paint a detailed picture of their desired future, Cecilia is then able to help them explore past and present successes, no matter how small, in order to start attaining the future they desire. The beauty of the approach Cecilia uses is that this process often times helps the client to see that they are closer to their desired future than they realized, increasing hope and motivation. About Dr. Jeremy Sharp I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and grew to include nine licensed clinicians, three clinicians in training, and a full administrative staff. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents. As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide