Our friend and licensed therapist Ryan Larkey explains the importance that serving immigrants plays in his practice

Ryan Larkey is a licensed therapist and substance abuse counselor who has been working with Soberalski Immigration Law over the last two years. We wanted to provide Ryan with some space to discuss his background, the services he provides, and the reasons this work is so important to him, in his own words:

I moved to Milwaukee in 1991 with dreams of becoming a filmmaker or graphic designer. While in school studying these subjects, I began doing volunteer work in the community, working with teenagers and families, and I realized that I really wanted to go into a career where I could help people. I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of programs throughout the city, assisting families and individuals confronting issues related to mental health and addiction issues. I have sat with and supported a wide range of people in their homes, clinics, schools, shelters, and on the streets. I have worked in case management, psychiatric crisis response, and as a clinical therapist. While my area of expertise is in behavioral health and counseling, the thing that motivates me most is the opportunity to help people succeed by identifying their own strengths and learning to find the skills and potential they need to deal with difficulties and realize their personal goals.

I have observed over the years how much more difficult this can be for individuals and communities that are marginalized and have less access to resources. I have assisted many immigrant clients over the years as they faced particular hardships accessing the basic services and supports that many of us take for granted. I also have worked with many people struggling with the anxiety, fear, and depression that can come with living with uncertain immigration status. In my personal life, I have watched undocumented friends living with the instability that comes with living without citizenship, moving from job to job or having to worry about getting pulled over for a simple speeding ticket. I have experienced first-hand the anxiety of living in a mixed status family. My husband was living undocumented for years before we married and were able to apply for his green card. While our case was less complicated than many of the clients I have worked with, the process was stressful. Having to pull together all that documentation, worrying about some random official deciding if we were a “real” couple and having to be interviewed by immigration officials, was a stressful experience. As I went through this process, I learned that there was a way I could use my clinical skills to assist clients facing immigration issues. Melissa Soberalski was actually our lawyer. Our application was approved, and I began working with Soberalski Law not long after that.

Because this is a type of work that is important to me both personally and professionally, I have really done my research and continue to train on how to provide assessments and written reports that can support the needs of clients with immigration concerns. The statistics show that a well-written report can increase the approval rate of immigration applications, so I take this work very seriously. I have trained with Physicians for Human Rights, a non-profit established by clinical professionals, to learn how to conduct thorough assessments and write effective expert reports. I am a member of their provider network and continue to participate in trainings to help strengthen my skills.

In my therapy practice, I always emphasize that the work I do is collaborative. To me, it is very important that clients feel safe, comfortable and have a voice in the process, whether we are working together in psychotherapy sessions, or meeting to review the details of an immigration case. For many of the clients that I meet for immigration cases, we may only meet once, and I am very aware that I have only one chance to really connect and listen to their story. I try to make the experience a positive one and really hear what is most important to my clients. After I perform an assessment, I will review how I follow up, and often will make recommendations based on what I have observed. Some people just need some practical advice and others may need a referral for counseling or other services. I have a wide range of knowledge about community resources, so I always let clients know they can contact me if they either wish to proceed with counseling or need some help finding other types of help in the community.

I have found the work I do with immigration clients to be really rewarding and am grateful to people I meet with for trusting me in sharing their stories. If you are interested in working with me as a counselor, need assistance with an assessment, or have other questions regarding accessing mental health services, please feel free to contact me. I am currently expanding my private practice and can be reached a variety of ways. Please check out my contact info below if you are interested in working with me or have questions about accessing mental health services.

 E—ryan@compassionateclinicalservices.com

P—414-839-1821

W—www.compassionateclinicalservices.com