I am overjoyed to announce that one of my inspirational clients has been granted asylum in the United States of America. This individual, who just so happens to be a transwoman, demonstrates what it means to be a woman by exhibiting profound internal strength, mental endurance, a passion for life, the ability to rise up through the darkest despair, and an uncanny ability to hold her head up high through some of the most excruciating moments of existence. Transwomen are so severely mistreated, abused, and tortured all over the world — the United States is not an exception. However, there are certain laws and rights that do protect transwomen, transmen, and others who do not subscribe to a binary gender.

​After suffering from verbal abuse, physical violence, sexual violence, severe childhood neglect, torture, threats, and hate crimes — without even minimal protection from law enforcement (they actually were perpetrators of assault) nor safe family members, this asylum-seeking transwoman has received that what she already deserved as her birthright — asylum in the United States. Like all of the colorful hummingbirds who stop at East Bay Area Therapy for a short sip of nectar, may she fly!

East Bay Area Therapy provides psychological evaluations for immigrants with various types of legal immigration cases not limited to U Visa, asylum, the extreme hardship waiiver (I-601A, I-601, I-929), VAWA, T Visa. All services are provided by Grace Pacheco, M.A., MFT, a liicensed psychotherapist in the state of California who is fluent in both English and Spanish languages. She commonly works with interpreters who speak languages from around the world and has access to interpreters who speak Mayan indigenous languages (Mam, K'iche'), Brazilian Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Tagalog, Hindi, Arabic, and more. 

To learn more about psychological evaluations, click the button below:
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Adios Anxiety Group will be starting on March 11, 2019 at East Bay Area Therapy in the city of Pinole, CA. The group will be held on Monday evenings from 6:00PM to 7:30PM. This group incorporates education & research about anxiety, mindfulness meditation training, building coping skills, and relaxation exercises. It is designed for those struggling with stress, anxiety, and panic attacks.

The therapeutic group will be facilitated by Grace Pacheco, M.A., MFT #90751, a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and those living with moderate to severe levels of anxiety and trauma-induced mental health issues.
Please note that the office is located on the second floor of a building up a flight of stairs. Those with mobility impairments who would like to access to this Adios Anxiety Group are absolutely welcomed to coordinate with Grace Pacheco, M.A., MFT.

This is an LGBTQIA+ affirming practice.

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

After payment, you will receive an e-mail containing administrative forms, office policy agreements, directions & parking information, and the door code.

Thank You,
Grace Pacheco, M.A., MFT

Oasis Legal Services is hosting a free Asylum Law Training on Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 9am to 12pm. The training will cover the basics of Asylum Law, how to represent clients in affirmative asylum interviews, and include a discussion with licensed psychotherapist Grace Pacheco, M.A., MFT, regarding the use of psychological evaluations in asylum cases. We would love for you to join us.

Oasis Legal Services proudly provides quality legal immigration services to under-represented low-income groups with a focus on LGBTQIA+ communities. We provide comprehensive legal services to assist LGBTQIA+ immigrants, including screening for immigration relief, affirmative asylum, residency, citizenship, and family petitions.

We are building our Pro Bono Attorney Program and will have information at the training about how you can participate."

Oasis Legal Services is a new non-profit immigration firm, whos staff tirelessly works to secure a safe haven in the united states for gay, lesbian, and transgender asylum seekers, fleeing violence, torture, and hateful treatment in their countries of origin. their staff members speak fluent Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Japanese. I was initially introduced to oasis legal services through attorney Dustin Bankston, owner of Bankston Immigration Law Office in El Cerrito, California, who worked with Oasis staff members, at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, in Berkeley, California.

I had the pleasure to join this team of immigration attorneys, volunteers, language interpreters, board accredited representatives, executive board members, and other essential figures, vital in maintaining the success of  this unique and cutting-edge specialty firm. 

In my role as a licensed mental health clinician, i meet many of their clients, who undergo psychological evaluations, for whom i provide a formal written report, which is utilized for their immigration cases. more often than not, i uncover severe incidents of victimization, hate-based targeting, experiences of torture, severe abuse and neglect, and other paralyzingly traumatic experiences. i conduct a comprehensive screening for various mental disorders, of which the primary findings are Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and other trauma-based anxiety disorders, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 

Oasis Legal Services held a team meeting to increase connection among their many diverse collaborators, share inspiration, plan for their exciting next steps, and champion the group for social justice. it was a pleasure to meet new team members, and reunite with some old friends.

for more information on Oasis Legal Services in Oakland, California...
www.oasislegalservices.org
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