GroundingHearts, Inc. · Clinical Services
Clinical Evaluations​​
Comprehensive, culturally responsive mental health evaluations conducted by a licensed mental health clinician with over 12 years of experience of clinical interviewing, assessment, evidence-based treatment planning, documentation, writing, and report delivery.
WHY A CLINICAL EVALUATION
More than a document
Supports Legal Proceedings
Evaluations provide attorneys, courts, and advocacy organizations with the clinical documentation needed to support legal cases, petitions, and hearings.
A clinical evaluation is a professional clinical assessment that can shape legal outcomes, immigration cases, treatment plans, and a person's access to care.
Conducted effectively, it is one of the most powerful tools available to clinicians, attorneys, and advocates.
At GroundingHearts, evaluations are conducted by Viergelyn Chery-Reed, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor with over 12 years of clinical experience and deep familiarity with the cultural, intersectional, and systemic factors that shape a person's psychological history and presentation.
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Every evaluation is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and individually tailored. The result is a professional document that tells the full story with clinical precision and human dignity.
Strengthens Immigration Cases
Immigration evaluations document psychological harm, trauma, and hardship — essential for U-Visa, VAWA, Asylum, and cancellation of removal petitions.
Guides Clinical Treatment
Diagnostic and psychosocial evaluations clarify presenting concerns, inform treatment planning, and ensure appropriate levels of care.
Culturally Affirming, and Grounded
Each evaluation considers the whole person — identity, culture, immigration history, and systemic context — not just a checklist of symptoms.
Confidential & Compliant
Conducted in compliance with Massachusetts licensing standards, HIPAA, and professional ethics. Reports are thorough, defensible, and professionally written.
THE PROCESS
What to Expect
Most evaluations follow a consistent arc from initial contact to a complete comprehensive report delivery. Here is what the process looks like below:
1.
Initial Contact
Reach out by email or phone with a brief description of the evaluation type needed and any relevant deadline (additional cost for rush delivery). Referrals from attorneys, advocates, or clinicians are welcome. I respond within 48 business hours to all direct email inquiries.
2.
Intake & Consent
You'll complete intake paperwork and a written informed consent specific to the evaluation type. For legal evaluations, the referring attorney or advocate is part of this process. A consultation will be scheduled to understand evaluation needs and if I am the best to complete the request.
Payment is collected prior to the evaluation session.
3.
The Evaluation Process
The evaluation process itself typically runs 90 minutes to 2 hours per meeting, depending on type and complexity. Most evaluations can generally take 2 to 3 sessions. It may include structured clinical interviews, evidence-based assessments, review of collateral records, collateral contact, and clinical information gathering.
4.
Comprehensive Report Delivery
A comprehensive written report is delivered within an agreed-upon time frame from the final evaluation meeting. Reports are provided in PDF password-protected format and may be released to attorneys or courts as authorized.
Rush turnaround (3-5 business days) is available for an additional fee.
EVALUATION TYPES
All evaluations offered within scope
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All clinical evaluations provide a structured, evidence-informed process that translates an individual’s lived experience into clear, clinically grounded documentation for legal, medical, or institutional use. The evaluation focuses on forensic interviews, assessing psychological functioning within the context of life experiences and stressors, and delivering detailed reports that are organized, accurate, and aligned with the relevant standards of the requesting entity.
The clinical evaluator is not a therapist; they hold an objective, neutral stance with clinical integrity and precision—collaborating with professionals as needed to deliver timely, well-supported evaluations that clearly document psychological impact.
Contact directly for custom or complex evaluation requests.
Comprehensive Mental Health & Diagnostic Evaluation
Diagnostic clarity · Treatment planning · Clinical referral
A comprehensive mental health evaluation provides a thorough clinical picture of a person's psychological functioning, history, and presenting concerns. It may include formal diagnostic assessment, structured clinical interview, review of records, and standardized screening tools. The resulting report identifies diagnoses where applicable, documents symptom history and severity, and makes clinical recommendations , supporting treatment planning, referrals to higher levels of care, disability determinations, or other clinical purposes. Who this is for Individuals seeking diagnostic clarity, clinicians needing a second clinical opinion, treatment programs requiring intake evaluations, disability or accommodation applicants, and anyone whose presenting concerns require comprehensive clinical documentation.
Competency & Forensic Evaluation
Legal proceedings · Criminal & civil matters · Expert opinion
Forensic mental health evaluations assess psychological functioning in the context of legal proceedings. These evaluations address specific legal questions — including competency to stand trial, mental state at the time of the offense, capacity determinations, mitigation assessments, and civil competency matters. The report produced is a formal clinical-legal document written for use in court, by attorneys, and by judges. Viergelyn brings her clinical expertise and cultural fluency to forensic evaluation, ensuring that the full psychosocial context of the individual is represented in the written opinion. Who this is for Criminal defense attorneys, public defenders, civil attorneys, judges, and individuals referred by the court. Also appropriate for mitigation assessments in sentencing proceedings and civil capacity evaluations.
Immigration Psychological Evaluation
U-Visa · VAWA · Asylum · Hardship
Immigration mental health evaluations document the mental health impact of trauma, persecution, domestic violence, crime victimization, and hardship on individuals navigating the U.S. immigration system. These evaluations are a critical component of many immigration petitions and hearings. Viergelyn has particular expertise working with Afro-Caribbean, Latine, and BIPOC immigrant communities — conducting evaluations with cultural humility, fluency in relevant cultural contexts, and sensitivity to the compounding layers of trauma that many immigrants carry. Reports are written to meet the evidentiary standards of immigration proceedings. Evaluation types include U-Visa (crime victim certification support), VAWA (Violence Against Women Act — domestic violence), Asylum and Withholding of Removal (fear of persecution), Cancellation of Removal (extreme hardship), and general hardship evaluations for family-based petitions.
Fitness for Duty Evaluation
Return to work · First responders · Military & professionals
A fitness for duty evaluation assesses whether an individual is psychologically capable of safely performing the essential functions of their role. These evaluations are most commonly requested for first responders, military personnel, healthcare workers, educators, and other professionals following a critical incident, leave of absence, or behavioral concern. The evaluation addresses current psychological functioning, risk factors, and readiness to return to a specific work context — producing a professional report with clinical recommendations for the referring organization or employer. Who this is for Employers, HR departments, EAP programs, law enforcement agencies, healthcare organizations, and military commands requiring a clinical assessment of an employee's or service member's readiness to return to duty following mental health concerns, critical incidents, or extended leave.
*Superbill for possible insurance reimbursement provided upon request. BCBS is accepted for some evaluation types; confirm prior to scheduling.
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**Clinical mental health evaluations are conducted with strict impartiality. An attorney referral or court order is typically required. Contact directly to discuss the specific legal question and whether the evaluation is within scope.
***Immigration evaluations are completed in close coordination with immigration attorneys. Attorney referral strongly preferred. Reduced fee options may be available for low-income individuals — please inquire.
CLINICAL SERVICES - INVESTMENT OVERVIEW
Rates & Typical Ranges
Evaluation fees reflect the time required for the clinical interviews, report writing, record review, and professional consultation. All fees are discussed and confirmed prior to scheduling. Payment is collected in full before the evaluation session unless other arrangements are made.
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Most evaluations can be done in three 90-minute to 2-hour meetings. If more meetings are needed for cases that are more complex or have more details, as the first meeting will suggest, there will be an extra cost to make sure that all of the clinical interviews, assessments, and information are gathered.
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Rates range from $1,000 to $1,800.00.
Extra fee for rush delivery (3–5 days)
Please ask about our sliding scale, which is available on a case-by-case basis for people and families living with low incomes.