T Visa Mental Health Evaluations: Supporting Human Trafficking Survivors in Their Legal Journey
T Visa applicants can benefit from a mental health evaluation to document the lasting effects of trafficking. Learn how this report can support your immigration case.
Key Takeaways
A T Visa is available to survivors of human trafficking who are helping law enforcement or prosecutors in the investigation or prosecution of their traffickers.
A mental health evaluation by a licensed therapist helps document the emotional and psychological impact of trafficking, including long-term trauma symptoms like fear, anxiety, difficulty trusting others, or emotional numbness.
This evaluation can strengthen your case by adding clinical evidence of how your experience continues to affect your daily life, relationships, and ability to function.
At Nueva Vida Therapy, we provide evaluations in both English and Spanish, using a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach to help survivors feel safe and respected throughout the process.
We offer virtual sessions across California, Oregon, and Arizona, and in-person appointments in Chula Vista, CA.
What Is a T Visa?
The T Visa is a special immigration option for individuals who have survived human trafficking. It allows eligible individuals to remain in the U.S. for up to four years (with the possibility of adjusting status later), as long as they cooperate with law enforcement and meet specific legal criteria.
T Visa applicants must show that they experienced trafficking and that returning to their home country would cause them serious harm. Many times, that harm includes lasting emotional and psychological trauma.
Why Is a Mental Health Evaluation Helpful?
Survivors of trafficking often experience long-term emotional effects that are hard to explain in legal terms. A licensed therapist can help by:
Documenting trauma-related symptoms (e.g., anxiety, fear, depression, nightmares)
Providing a clinical diagnosis that supports the emotional impact of trafficking
Offering expert insight into how trauma affects the brain, relationships, and sense of safety
Writing a formal report that your immigration attorney can include in your T Visa application
This report becomes part of the legal documentation that helps support your petition.
What Is Included in the Evaluation Report?
The evaluation includes:
A summary of your personal history and trafficking experience (as you feel safe sharing it)
Clinical symptoms and emotional responses observed and reported
A mental health diagnosis (when criteria are met)
An explanation of how trauma continues to affect your well-being and daily life
The therapist writes the report in a trauma-informed, sensitive, and nonjudgmental way. Your safety and comfort are prioritized throughout the process.
Will I Have to Share Everything?
No. You are never required to share every detail of your trafficking experience. The therapist will guide the conversation with care and respect, and you are always in control of how much you choose to say.
The evaluation focuses on your emotional experiences and how they continue to impact you today—not just the events themselves.
English & Spanish Appointments Available
We provide bilingual evaluations in English and Spanish to ensure that you feel safe, understood, and supported during this vulnerable process.
Serving California, Oregon, and Arizona
Nueva Vida Therapy proudly offers virtual T Visa evaluations across:
California
Oregon
Arizona
We also offer in-person sessions in Chula Vista, CA for those who prefer face-to-face support.
📞 Schedule Your Appointment
If you are applying for a T Visa or supporting someone who is, we are here to help.
📱 Call or text: (619) 728-9330
🌐 Visit: www.Nueva-Vida-Therapy.com
