We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolina Jimenez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I decided to start my private practice part-time while working at the University of Houston’s counseling center. Being a bilingual (English and Spanish) psychologist, I often received requests to conduct psychological evaluations for immigration cases. Since I started working with immigrants conducting clinical interviews in 1998 as part of a research team studying immigrants’ mental health with the Center for Immigration Research at the University of Houston, transitioning to a psychological practice specializing in immigration evaluations was a natural next step. I draw on over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist in outpatient settings, including in substance abuse rehabilitation facilities, university counseling centers, school districts, and non-profit organizations to offer the best services possible.

What should our readers know about your business?
I specialize in conducting comprehensive psychological evaluations for immigration cases (VAWA, U visa, asylum, extreme hardship, cancellation of removal). I completed over two dozen trainings to conduct psychological evaluations for immigration cases and have completed over 880 evaluations. My graduate school research projects include: 1. my dissertation examining predictors of well-being and depression among Latino college students, 2. my thesis analyzing predictors of depression among Central American and Mexican Immigrants, and 3. My master’s research studying college adaptation of international and first-generation students; these extensive projects provided me with insight regarding the unique factors contributing to well-being and mental health concerns among historically underserved and immigrant populations.

I was named one of Houston’s top five psychologists in 2020, was the winner of the Houston Awards: Psychologists for 2022, and was named one of Houston’s top 3 psychologists and one of the top six psychologists in Houston by HTOWNBEST in 2023. I never set out for an of these accomplishments but I am happy I am committed to continued learning and enhancing my skills; the recognition was not the goal but was a good consequence of putting clients’ care first.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would show off Houston’s diversity in art, culture, cuisine, and spirituality. I would start with a trip to the museum district where we could admire art, learn about science, and expand our world views. We would continue with lunch at one of the various international cuisine restaurants in Houston. We would make time to visit the space center, local churches and temples, attend plays and concerts, and take a stroll at some of the local college and university campuses which offer great nature and sight seeing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of people deserve credit. As a doctoral student, I had friends and family members who encouraged me and prayed for me many times when I wanted to give up. As an intern and post-doctoral fellow, I had mentors and supervisors who were amazing role models and helped me grow in personal and professional ways.

Particularly dear to my heart are my friends in California; they took a girl from Texas and supported her during one of the most stressful times in her life. They were there in the times when I missed my Texan family; they offered meals, hugs, and conversations, and “adopted” me. I could just call them and say, “I’m feeling lonely and discouraged. Can I come over and do laundry” and they always welcomed me with open arms and hearts. They become my surrogate family, and I will be forever thankful for their love and role in my life.

Website: houstonimmigrationevaluations.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolina.jimenez

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-carolina-jimenez-immigration-psychologist

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JimenezCounseling

Other: jimenezcounseling.com

Image Credits
Carolina Jimenez Darrell Williams ABC 13 Univision

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