The Opportunity I Almost Missed Because I Didn't Feel Ready

Almost 15 years ago, an immigration lawyer asked if I would conduct a mental health evaluation for an asylum case.

And I said no.

At that point, I’d been in the field a few years and felt pretty confident in my skills as a therapist, but I knew virtually nothing about immigration cases. The work sounded intriguing and important, and also very much outside my comfort zone.

So when the lawyer asked, my immediate reaction was that someone else would be better suited for the job.

Thankfully, he didn't let the conversation end there.

As we continued talking, he helped me understand the role mental health professionals can play in immigration cases. He explained that lawyers, judges, and immigration officers often rely on therapists to help them understand the psychological impact of trauma and other difficult experiences.

He shared that when a therapist documents trauma and mood symptoms, it provides powerful evidence for a case and can actually help protect asylum seekers and help families stay together.

I’d never heard of anything like this before.

Like many therapists, I had always viewed my work through the lens of the therapy room. I knew how to help clients process difficult experiences. I knew how to assess symptoms and form a clear clinical picture of what they’ve been through and how it’s impacted their lives.

What I hadn't realized was that these same skills could also be used in another setting with a different kind of impact.

Fortunately for me, this lawyer worked across the hall from my office, and over time, I kept asking questions and learning more. At some point, my curiosity and excitement became greater than my anxiety and self-doubt.

So finally, I took a deep breath and jumped in.

My first step was a weekend training on documenting trauma for asylum seekers. I remember nervously sitting in a room with psychologists and medical doctors, feeling like a complete imposter. Then, the instructor said something that has stayed with me ever since:

Lawyers need our expertise. Not because we're legal experts. Because we're mental health experts.

This idea was surprising and powerful for me.

Lawyers and decision makers need someone who can assess psychological functioning, document the effects of trauma, and help explain what a person has been through from a clinical perspective.

And sometimes we have more expertise than we realize. 

Looking back, I now see that when I was starting out, I didn’t recognize myself as “an expert” because I was only talking to other professionals with the same expertise. For example, in a room full of therapists, my knowledge may not feel all that extraordinary, because we all know a lot of the same things.

However, once I started working on immigration cases, I realized that none of the other professionals in the room knew about PTSD or the psychological impact of familial separation or what dissociation or hypervigilance looked like. Suddenly, it was clear I was the only one in the room who could really explain the psychological components of the client’s story and daily life. 

I think many therapists assume they need to feel completely ready before exploring something new. We tell ourselves we'll take the next step once we know more, have more experience, or feel more confident.

But when I look back on my career, some of the most meaningful opportunities arrived long before I felt ready for them. Immigration evaluations were certainly one of these.

If I had waited until I felt fully prepared, I probably never would have gotten started. Instead, I learned. I got support. I gained experience. And over time, I discovered some of the most meaningful work of my life.

Looking back, I'm so grateful that lawyer continued the conversation. If he hadn't, I might have missed out on a level of personal and professional growth that I’d never imagined. And I suspect many therapists are closer to this kind of shift than they realize. 

Sometimes, we have to take a leap in order to realize how prepared we actually are.

If you'd like to learn more about immigration evaluations and whether this could be a good fit for you, download our free ebook, 5 Signs That Immigration Evaluations Are for You.