About Martha Palacio-Vallejo, MSW, LICSW

As a native Spanish speaker and experienced forensic mental health evaluator, I conduct assessments in clients’ primary language, ensuring accurate expression of emotions, experiences, and trauma. This enables more thorough and credible evaluations for submission to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or immigration court.

Working in Arizona’s border towns, I have firsthand experience helping immigrant families navigate complex psychosocial and cultural challenges. My evaluations reflect each individual’s unique circumstances, including trauma exposure, acculturation stress, and mental health conditions.

Before focusing on immigration cases, I conducted a variety of forensic assessments:

• Mental health evaluations for abused children
• Risk assessments and DUI evaluations for adults
• Emergency psycho-diagnostic evaluations for individuals with mental health crises
• Supervision of master-level clinicians and oversight of unaccompanied minor shelters

  I hold an MSW with a specialization in forensics from Boston College, and a strong background in psychology and neuroscience of trauma. My training includes:

· Forensic assessments for adults and children with mental health problems

· Evaluations for victims of sexual abuse and violence

· Advanced training in PTSD, substance abuse, and co-morbid disorders

· Ongoing professional development in mental health affidavits for immigration court

This extensive education equips me to integrate clinical expertise with legal requirements, providing assessments that are both scientifically rigorous and legally relevant.