Psychological Services.
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Free 15 Minute Phone Consultation
If you want to start your healing journey with me, please use the contact form to message me. You can also email me to arrange an initial phone consultation (drjuliebadaracco@gmail.com). The free phone consultation takes about 15-20 minutes. During the consultation, I will ask why you want to start your therapy journey now, how we might work together to address your concerns, and answer your payment and insurance questions.
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Individual Psychotherapy
I provide individual psychotherapy to adults who are struggling with depression, anxiety, complex trauma (e.g., history of childhood abuse, domestic violence, military service, sexual assault, war & persecution), major life transitions, time and stress management, identity development, and women's issues. See below for more information about my work.
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Immigration Evaluations
I have been providing psychological evaluations for USCIS since 2017. I specialize in conducting thorough psychological evaluations with diverse populations in English, Spanish, and with interpreters. Additionally, I have extensive experience working with immigration lawyers. I will work with you and your lawyer to ensure that you have the best and most appropriate evaluation for your or your family member's immigration case. See below for detailed information about the types of immigration evaluations I conduct.
Individual Psychotherapy.
Therapeutic Approach. I am trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), narrative therapy and psychodynamic therapy. I take a collaborative approach to therapy, as I want to ensure that you are getting what you need out of your therapy experience. I realize that many therapeutic approaches/treatments were not created with diverse populations in mind, so I work to tailor therapy to fit your unique cultural lens, values, and identities. My goal is to create a safe and non-judgmental space to help you identify and process emotions while creating healthier thought patterns and behaviors, which will ultimately lead to a healthier and more rewarding life.
In-Person vs. Online Therapy. I provide both in-person and virtual therapy. My office is located in the Mission Valley area of San Diego (near Fashion Valley Mall). Both modes of therapy have been proven to be effective. Given your symptoms, concerns, and scheduling, we can discuss which mode of therapy is right for you.
Duration of Treatment. I typically begin with weekly 45-60 minute psychotherapy sessions. Once you have reached some of your goals and are feeling better we can taper down to biweekly and monthly sessions. Life gets in the way sometimes, so I don’t require people to attend weekly appointments. However, weekly sessions do allow for more focused care. I tend to work with individuals who have significant histories of trauma and are looking to process these traumas. This type of work requires a strong relationship where you feel safe with me and have the coping skills to begin this work. Therefore, I typically work with people long-term (6+months). I do not require everyone to do long-term work. We can discuss the duration of treatment in more detail when we identify treatment goals.
Scope of Practice. Although I am trained to work with children and couples, I do not work with children or couples. Since I am an independent psychologist, I am not able to treat severe mental illnesses, such as individuals experiencing acute suicidal ideation, psychosis, mania, have an elevated risk of violence, or are incapacitated due to a mental health disorder. I do not prescribe psychiatric medication. If any of these become an issue while we work together, I will refer you to the appropriate setting.
Immigration Evaluations.
N-648 Form, Medical Certificate for Disability Exception. This form is for applicants with a physical, developmental, or mental disability that prevents them from learning English or U.S. history/civics. The disability has to last or be expected to last 12+ months. I conduct a thorough cognitive evaluation, including cognitive testing and a clinical interview, to determine the applicant’s cognitive capacity, current mental health status, and ability to learn complex information.
Hardship Waiver. A qualifying relative who is a citizen or resident of the United States is evaluated to determine if and how they would suffer extreme hardship if they were separated from their relative who does not have US residency or citizenship.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). A person who has suffered abuse by their U.S. citizen/resident spouse or family member can apply for lawful status without their spouse’s petition. The evaluation is focused on the nature, severity, and frequency of the abuse that occurred in the relationship and how this impacted the applicant.
U-Visa. Victims of qualifying criminal activities who are willing to assist law enforcement with the investigation are evaluated to determine how the crime impacted the applicant’s past/current mental health.
T-Visa. Victims of trafficking are evaluated to determine the extreme hardship they would face if removed from the U.S. and how the trafficking impacted them.
Asylum. Applicants who have been persecuted in their home country due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group are evaluated to determine how the persecution impacted their psychological functioning.
