Medical Hardship Question - Do I need counseling appts, too?

[Eternal Spring 10]

Hi, friends. I really appreciate your thoughts on this. I have a very rare genetic metabolic disease. My husband's attorney told me that because of my illness, my husband has a good chance of being approved for I-601A. However, the lawyer would like for me to have 10 appointments with a mental health counselor, in order to increase my husband's chances of being approved (my disease can cause intermittent symptoms that not only affect my body, but also my mental health). I'm concerned because I can't afford this. Is there anyone else here who has a medical condition that was able to have the I-601A approved, due to the medical condition itself, without having to see a mental health counselor, as well? (I have no objection to seeing a mental health counselor, my concern is that it's going to cost $1,200--that's far more than I can afford right now, since the attorney is already so expensive). Also, in case you're wondering, I take medication to help lessen the severity of the symptoms of my metabolic disease, but I am not on any medication for mental health symptoms (which come and go anyway, so I'm not sure that medication would be warranted for the mental health symptoms in my case), and I have only seen a counselor once as a teenager, when I had a psychiatric evaluation, and was not diagnosed with a mental health illness at that time.

Edited May 3, 2016 by Eternal Spring

[jpiz777 3]

Hi, friends. I really appreciate your thoughts on this. I have a very rare genetic metabolic disease. My husband's attorney told me that because of my illness, my husband has a good chance of being approved for I-601A. However, the lawyer would like for me to have 10 appointments with a mental health counselor, in order to increase my husband's chances of being approved (my disease can cause intermittent symptoms that not only affect my body, but also my mental health). I'm concerned because I can't afford this. Is there anyone else here who has a medical condition that was able to have the I-601A approved, due to the medical condition itself, without having to see a mental health counselor, as well? (I have no objection to seeing a mental health counselor, my concern is that it's going to cost $1,200--that's far more than I can afford right now, since the attorney is already so expensive). Also, in case you're wondering, I take medication to help lessen the severity of the symptoms of my metabolic disease, but I am not on any medication for mental health symptoms (which come and go anyway, so I'm not sure that medication would be warranted for the mental health symptoms in my case), and I have only seen a counselor once as a teenager, when I had a psychiatric evaluation, and was not diagnosed with a mental health illness at that time.

I assume that it's going to cost you $120 per session? See if they can put you on a payment plan.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Hardship letters need varies points and I agree with your lawyer that the counseling sessions would be good additional documentation to submit.

[canadian_wife 1,795]

Alternatively, it could be viewed as just attending the sessions for the waiver. It seems odd that you did not need any mental health session prior to filing for your husband.

good luck

[Eternal Spring 10]

Yes, that's what I'm worried about, canadian_wife. What if it looks odd to the Immigration official who examines my husband's I-601A, that suddenly I would enter counseling when I've never done that before? Meanwhile, I've been getting medical treatment for my metabolic disease since I was a teenager, and I am now in my late 30's. I take medication regularly for my metabolic disease. My last hospitalization for it was over 10 years ago, though (but this is only because my medication works pretty well--if I couldn't get access to this medication anymore, I would get very ill and would have to be hospitalized at least once a month).

[Jawaree 717]

I say have your treatment doctor gravely explain your illness

& get print out on the disease from reputable studies done.

Mental health arguments are now seen as a way to

pay a pysce for saying the right thing...it'll be like

padding, merits in mental health proofs are those who have

be in mental health treatments prior to the immigration process

& been on meds for a long time.

You can show how your husband help with the illness by

taking you to the doctor, running errands, keeping the home

in order (and if you got kids) he's is provider/protector etc

Do you have a church home get a letter from pastor too

[Eternal Spring 10]

I say have your treatment doctor gravely explain your illness

& get print out on the disease from reputable studies done.

Mental health arguments are now seen as a way to

pay a pysce for saying the right thing...it'll be like

padding, merits in mental health proofs are those who have

be in mental health treatments prior to the immigration process

& been on meds for a long time.

You can show how your husband help with the illness by

taking you to the doctor, running errands, keeping the home

in order (and if you got kids) he's is provider/protector etc

Do you have a church home get a letter from pastor too

Hello, Jawaree, and thank you very much for your advice. Yes, my primary care doctor has been treating me for 20 years now, and she wrote a great letter, she believes it's a grave hardship if I had to live in Guatemala or if I had to live here by myself, because my husband does take care of me whenever I suffer "attacks" from my disease. It's a good idea to get print-outs about the disease, I will do that. We are getting letters from multiple pastors (we have attended various local churches within our denomination), including my parents' pastor (who has been my pastor before and has known me for more than 10 years), and the very helpful part is my parents are also in poor health (my dad has the same disease that I do, it's genetic), so my parents' pastor is familiar with my disease.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

I have a medical condition. (Not severe) I also went to a mental health counselor. It has helped me alot, but my work pays for it so I did not incur any cost. I did not attend 10 sessions prior to submitting my waiver though. That seems like alot. She did write a letter of her findings and my appointments.

[Eternal Spring 10]

I have a medical condition. (Not severe) I also went to a mental health counselor. It has helped me alot, but my work pays for it so I did not incur any cost. I did not attend 10 sessions prior to submitting my waiver though. That seems like alot. She did write a letter of her findings and my appointments.

Thank you, LionessDeon. Do you remember how many appointments you had to do, prior to submitting the waiver?

[LionessDeon 2,060]

4-5. Also I want to share that our waiver has not been approved as yet. We are still awaiting a decision. You could check with United Way or Catholic Charities in your city or county to see what they offer.

[Eternal Spring 10]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[mondix 12]

See if there are any counseling centers in your area that offer sessions on a sliding scale based on income. Do a Google search in your areas for "low cost psychotherapy" or "mental health counseling sliding scale."

If there is a graduate school or university nearby you can try the school of social work website. There might be resources there for you or ones they can point you to.

Many social work graduate students often in preparation for their licensure take internships and offer services though centers that provide counseling on a sliding scale. At least here they do.

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

[mondix 12]

Also - needing therapy to deal with the impact of these crazy processes on your health and wellbeing is valid and real. Anyone having to deal with the emotional trauma of this process could probably benefit from a little talk therapy, and I'm sure many have, including myself. It's just some of us aren't on the position of having to prove it. If therapy is something you want to add to your petition, be open-minded about how it could actually benefit you in real life, not just with your petition. At least then it might feel a little less fake in your heart.

Edited May 3, 2016 by mondix

[mondix 12]

See if there are any counseling centers in your area that offer sessions on a sliding scale based on income. Do a Google search in your areas for "low cost psychotherapy" or "mental health counseling sliding scale."

If there is a graduate school or university nearby you can try the school of social work website. There might be resources there for you or ones they can point you to.

Many social work graduate students often in preparation for their licensure take internships and offer services though centers that provide counseling on a sliding scale. At least here they do.

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

Here's a list: http://www.alliancecommunitypc.org/documents/LowCostorSlidingScaleTherapyOptions_ACPCwebsite.pdf

xoxo

[Eternal Spring 10]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I don't mind getting counseling, I'm sure it's very useful. I'm just concerned about the cost. However, I'm also not likely eligible for sliding scale, since our joint income last year is over 60K. (They don't take into account my credit card bills, which are very high.)