About Norma Salazar Cortez

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My name is Norma Salazar-Cortez.  I graduated from La Joya High School in La Joys, Texas, and earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). I earned my master's degree in clinical psychology in the fall of 2004 and obtained my license as a Psychological Associate (LPA) in the spring of 2005.  Although I have been providing counseling services since 2005 with my LPA license, I became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in August 2018.    

With my LPA license, I have worked under the supervision of several psychologists, most currently with Barry D. Berger, Ph.D., from Mission Psychological Center (MPC).  I have conducted psychological evaluations to rule out emotional, social, and behavioral problems, as well as assess levels of intellectual, adaptive, and academic functioning since the Fall of 2004 on various populations, including children, adolescents, and adults, as well as older adults.  In addition, I have experience conducting psychological evaluations on juvenile delinquents, physically and mentally handicapped children and adults, and refugee children.  My practice also has expanded to specialty areas, such as presurgical, which includes those undergoing bariatric, back surgery, or gender reassignment, as well as third party (donor assisted) reproduction, such as gestational surrogates and egg and sperm donors.  Since 2013, I also specialize in USCIS evaluations for those who are undergoing or have family with an immigration case in Texas through VAWA, Asylum, U Visa, T Visa, and extreme hardship waivers (I601 & I-601A), as well as those in danger of losing their lawful permanent resident status in the United States.  

I am bilingual, fluent in both the English and Spanish languages, and a licensed mental health professional based in the Rio Grande (RGV).  While my home office is rooted in South Texas - servicing communities from McAllen and Edinburg to Brownsville and Harlingen- I provide comprehensive psychological evaluations for immigration cases to clients throughout the entire state of Texas via secure telehealth since 2019. I specialize in high-stakes clinical evaluations that meet the rigorous standards of USCIS.  I understand that for many of my clients, these evaluations are key to keeping their families together.  Being based in RGV, I am intimately familiar with the unique cultural and systemic challenges faced by our community.  I provide expert assessments for VAWA, Asylum, U Visa, and T Visa cases, as well as Hardship and other immigration evaluations.  In these assessments I produce detailed, trauma-informed reports designed to provide clinical evidence necessary for your legal strategy.  My goal is to provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can share your experiences. An immigration Psychological Evaluation is more than just a document; it is a vital component of your legal journey.  I am dedicated to providing a fast, professional turnaround (no more than 24 hours) because I know that in immigration law, every day counts.