Meet Dr. Cat Beer
Cat Beer, Ph.D. is a psychological associate (PSB94029451) under the supervision of Dr. Tilbe Ambrose (PSY36072). Dr. Beer specializes in trauma-informed psychological assessment, immigration evaluations, and evidence-based psychotherapy. She works with individuals who have experienced complex trauma, persecution, interpersonal violence, displacement, and other painful life experiences that continue to affect their mental health, relationships, and sense of safety.
Dr. Beer brings extensive experience in forensic assessment and report writing, producing detailed clinical reports that translate psychological findings into clear language for attorneys, immigration officers, and courts.
At Afresh, Dr. Beer provides comprehensive immigration psychological evaluations for individuals seeking asylum, hardship waivers, VAWA petitions, U-visas, T-visas, and other forms of humanitarian-based immigration relief. Her work integrates trauma-informed interviewing, clinical assessment, diagnostic formulation, and detailed psychological report writing within a culturally responsive framework.
Professional Background
Dr. Beer earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a Trauma Emphasis from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, an APA-accredited program.
Her clinical training includes experience across outpatient private practice, immigration psychological evaluation services, VA medical settings, inpatient psychiatric care, residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and forensic psychological services. She has worked with adults, veterans, immigrants, asylum seekers, court-involved individuals, and people navigating serious mental illness, trauma, substance use concerns, anxiety, mood disorders, personality-related concerns, and complex psychosocial stressors.
Dr. Beer has also received specialized training in Cognitive Processing Therapy through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, immigration psychological assessment, trauma-focused forensic evaluation, dissociation and trauma, prolonged exposure, and trauma-informed approaches to psychological care.
Research and Expertise in Trauma
Published trauma researcher
Dr. Beer has a strong research background in trauma, forensic psychology, identity, and culturally responsive assessment. Her doctoral dissertation examined how academic achievement may influence life-without-parole sentencing decisions for Black and White juvenile offenders, with attention to race, public attitudes, and mitigating factors in forensic decision-making.
As a Graduate Research Associate at the Trauma Research Institute, Dr. Beer contributed to studies focused on recovered memories of trauma, gender transition in youth, racial identity, emotional safety in academic settings, spirituality in trauma populations, and the experiences of minority groups. Her research has been presented at national conferences, including the American Psychological Association and her work has received recognition through awards and competitive research opportunities.
Dr. Beer’s trauma expertise is also reflected in her clinical work with veterans and individuals with histories of persecution, interpersonal violence, torture, displacement, and complex trauma. She has administered and interpreted evidence-based trauma assessments, including measures used to evaluate PTSD symptoms, diagnostic clarification, and functional impairment.
Experience With Trauma and Minority Populations
Dr. Beer has worked extensively with individuals whose mental health concerns are shaped by trauma, marginalization, cultural identity, immigration stress, and systemic vulnerability. Her experience includes providing psychological evaluations for immigrants, asylum seekers, and individuals pursuing humanitarian immigration relief, many of whom present with trauma-related symptoms connected to persecution, violence, family separation, displacement, or unsafe living conditions.
She has also contributed to research examining racial identity, depression, quality of life, minority student safety, and how race may influence forensic decision-making. This background informs her commitment to culturally responsive care and careful, respectful psychological assessment.
In her clinical work, Dr. Beer strives to create an environment where clients feel emotionally safe, heard, and understood. Her approach is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and grounded in the belief that psychological evaluations should not only describe symptoms, but also honor the full context of a person’s story, resilience, and lived experience.
Expert clinical documentation detailing the impact of violence, trauma, and persecution in home countries.
Immigration Psychological Evaluations
Dr. Cat has received specialized training in immigration psychological evaluations and conducts evaluations for a range of immigration petitions, including:
Assessment for victims of violent crimes who have experienced abuse and are helping authorities.
These clinical assessments are designed to capture the psychological impacts of trauma, abuse, or the potential for family separation within legal contexts. Every evaluation concludes with a comprehensive report written specifically for formal immigration proceedings.
Analyzing the psychological impacts of a forced separation or relocation on the qualifying relative
Expert trauma assessments for trafficking survivors, offering sensitive clinical insights for T visa relief.
Psychological evaluations for intimate partner violence survivors seeking safety by documenting the psychological toll of abuse.
Schedule an Evaluation
If you are an immigration attorney seeking an evaluation for a client, or an individual pursuing an immigration petition, you can contact our office to schedule an immigration psychological evaluation.
Our team will respond promptly to coordinate scheduling and answer any questions about the evaluation process.