Alpine Haven Psychology Services
Providing evidence-based psychological evaluations for immigration and criminal matters in the greater Seattle area, Washington State, New Mexico, and 39 other states.
Claire Ashbaugh, Ph.D.
Dr. Claire Ashbaugh specializes in Forensic Psychology, answering legal questions using her knowledge of psychology. Through Alpine Haven Psychology Services, she focuses on answering psycholegal questions in immigration and criminal matters. Dr. Ashbaugh is a native French speaker and can perform evaluations in French.
Evidence-Based Services
Criminal Matters
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Competency Evaluations
During this process, I will gather information regarding the examinee’s mental health and whether it impacts their capacity to proceed with the criminal process. Such evaluations include Competency to Stand Trial and I can perform other competency evaluations on a case-by-case basis. These evaluations are tailored to the legal standards relevant to the particular state where the examinee was charged.
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Criminal Responsibility Evaluations
During this process, I will gather information regarding the examinee’s mental health at the time of the alleged events and whether it prevented them from understanding what they were doing or from forming the necessary mental state for the specific crime. I primarily perform mental state at the time of the offense or diminished capacity evaluations. I will consider other evaluations on a case-by-case basis.
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Sentencing Evaluations
During this process, I will gather personal, medical, and mental health information relevant to sentencing.
Immigration Matters
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Extreme Hardship Evaluation
During this process, I will work with the immigration attorney and their client to identify the psychological distress deportation would impose on the qualifying relative(s).
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Citizenship Examination Waiver (N-648)
During these evaluations, I evaluate naturalization applicants to determine if the individual has a “physical or developmental disability or mental impairment” and how it impairs their functioning as it relates to their capacity to learn and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of English and/or U.S. history and government.
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Competency to Represent Self in Immigration Court
During this type of evaluation, I will assess whether the examinee has a mental illness or developmental disability that impairs their capacity to understand the Immigration Court proceedings, assist their attorney or representative if there is one, and present their case in Immigration Court.
Dr. Claire Ashbaugh is honored to partner with Julia McLawsen, Ph.D. to provide training that addresses best practices for psychological evaluations undertaken in United States and Canadian immigration law proceedings. Dr. McLawsen and Dr. Ashbaugh work with mental health professionals who are interested in conducting psychological evaluations for immigration referrals, and offer trainings for immigration attorneys, non-profit organizations, and other agencies.