Dr. Damaris Galarza, Psy.D
Dr. Damaris Galarza is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Licensed Psychologist with a doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology from Alliant International University, awarded in 2017. With over a decade of experience in both the forensic and clinical fields, Dr. Galarza specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and psychological evaluations. Since 2012, she has worked with diverse populations, including underserved communities and forensic groups, providing individual, couples, and group therapy. Her therapeutic expertise includes addressing trauma from both the perspectives of abusers and victims, aiming to foster healing and healthy relationships. Dr. Galarza also conducts psychological evaluations for a variety of legal matters, including fitness for duty, immigration (U-visa, Extreme Hardship, Violence Against Women Act, Political asylum and T- Visa), personal injury, and surrogacy. Her empathetic, non-judgmental approach creates a safe space for clients to explore and resolve past traumas, ultimately empowering them to build healthier relationships with themselves and others.
Services:
Individual & Couples Therapy
$200 Individual sessions
$275- Couples sessions
Immigration Evaluations
Extreme And Exceptional Hardship
Applying for a hardship waiver becomes essential when the separation from a relative living in the United States poses a threat of significant harm. The immigration evaluation aims to comprehensively assess the potential extreme and exceptional hardships you may face, providing the necessary documentation to support your waiver application.
Spousal Abuse, or VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)
Undocumented immigrants facing abuse from a US citizen spouse can seek legal separation through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The goal during the evaluation is to establish the mental, emotional, or physical abuse suffered, providing the necessary evidence to support your petition for legal status independent of your abusive spouse.
U-Visa
Designed for victims of crimes that occurred within the United States, the U-Visa offers protection to those who have experienced domestic violence, physical or sexual exploitation, kidnapping, trafficking, rape, or serious misdemeanors. The immigration evaluation focuses on documenting the trauma and hardships endured, reinforcing your eligibility for the U-Visa.
T-Visa
Similar to the U-Visa, the T-Visa is specifically for individuals who were trafficked into the United States. The immigration evaluation is tailored to substantiate the circumstances of trafficking, providing a comprehensive account that supports your application for the T-Visa.
Fee discussed at the time of consultation
Surrogacy Evaluations
Surrogacy psychological evaluations are a critical component of the surrogacy process, aimed at ensuring the mental and emotional well-being of individuals or couples seeking to become parents through a surrogate, as well as the surrogates themselves. These evaluations are designed to assess the psychological readiness of all parties involved, including the intended parents and the surrogate, to navigate the complex emotional, ethical, and legal aspects of surrogacy.
For intended parents, the evaluation explores their motivations for choosing surrogacy, their ability to provide a stable, supportive environment for a child, and their emotional preparedness for parenthood. For surrogates, the evaluation examines their understanding of the surrogacy process, their emotional stability, and their motivations, ensuring they are mentally prepared for the physical and emotional challenges of carrying a child for another family.
The evaluation include interviews, psychological testing, and assessments of family dynamics, as well as discussions about expectations, potential challenges, and coping strategies. Ultimately, these evaluations aim to ensure that all parties involved are emotionally equipped to handle the demands of surrogacy and that the process will be as positive and successful as possible for everyone involved.
Fee discussed at the time of consultation