Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

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EDUCATION:
University of California
Boalt Hall School of Law
Berkeley, California
LL.M. – December 1993

Loyola University School of Law
New Orleans, Louisiana
J.D. (Civil Law), cum laude – May 1991
Cumulative G.P.A. – 3.541; Class Rank – 8 of 225
Loyola Law Review; Moot Court Staff Member
Semi-Finalist, Moot Court Competition
Highest Exam Paper – Admin. of Crim. Justice
Highest Seminar Papers – Law & Poverty; Family Law Sem.

Tulane University School of Social Work
New Orleans, Louisiana
Master of Social Work – December 1977 (Mental Health track)

University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Bachelor of Arts, Speech Communications & Human Relations,
Speech & Drama – May 1975
Cumulative G.P.A. – 3.80
Phi Beta Kappa

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT:
Mental Health Defense and Consultation in licensing board matters/grievances and high-risk clinical cases; Attorney Disciplinary Representation/Ethics; Risk Prevention for Clinicians and Attorneys; Appellate Research/Writing; Adoptions (Louisiana only)
Denver, Colorado
New Orleans, Louisiana

Contract Appellate Attorney and Litigation Support, 10/05-6/08
Trey L. Dolezal, Esquire
Austin, Texas

Appellate Brief Writer, 9/03 to 8/05 (City closed – Hurricane Katrina)
Office of the City Attorney for the City of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

Judicial Law Clerk, 1/03 to 9/03
Judge Edwin A. Lombard
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal

Private Law Practice, 5/99 to 12/02
Attorney Disciplinary Investigations/Ethics; Adoption; Mediation
New Orleans, Louisiana

Staff Attorney, 5/99 to 8/00
Stanley & Flanagan, L.L.C.,
New Orleans, Louisiana

Board Staff Attorney, 2/98 to 5/99
Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board

Judicial Law Clerk, 8/96 to 2/98
Associate Justice Harry T. Lemmon (now retired)
Louisiana Supreme Court

Legal Analysis and Writing Instructor, 7/94-6/96
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Judicial Law Clerk, 8/91-7/92
Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. (now retired)
Louisiana Supreme Court
New Orleans, Louisiana

Summer Associate 7/90-8/90; Law Clerk, 8/90-4/91
Stone, Pigman, Walther, Wittman & Hutchinson
New Orleans, Louisiana

Summer Associate, 5/90-6/90
Gordon, Arata, McCollam & Duplantis
New Orleans, Louisiana

United States Eastern District Court Externship, 8/89-5/90
Magistrate (now Judge) Ivan L.R. Lemelle
New Orleans, Louisiana

Law Clerk, 5/88-8/89
Steven Scheckman, Mark S. Goldstein, Ron Purcell
New Orleans, Louisiana

Research Assistant, 1/89-5/91
Revising and updating text: Louisiana Successions and Donations, Material and Cases; Kathryn V.Lorio, Professor, Loyola Law School

SOCIAL WORK EMPLOYMENT:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 2015 to 2018
Private practice of psychotherapy, supervision, consultation, and training (clinical and ethics issues)
Denver, Colorado
Psychotherapy with adults and couples.

Adjunct Faculty, March 2017 – December 2017 University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 1981 to 2015
Private practice of psychotherapy, supervision, consultation, and training (clinical and ethics issues).
New Orleans, Louisiana; Austin, Texas
Conduct psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families and
groups – adults, adolescents and children; provide evaluations and recommendations for court or probation offices; supervise clinical social workers for licensure; consult re: clinical and business aspects of social work practice; train mental health practitioners in clinical/legal issues.

Adjunct Professor, 1984-87
Tulane University School of Social Work
Taught “Family Violence: Theory and Therapy” and “Clinical Work with Children” in Masters (MSW) program.

PUBLICATIONS:
Mental Health Newsletters to Louisiana and Colorado clinicians June 2016 to present (approximately monthly)

Tips of the Trade in Appellate Practice in
Louisiana Bar Journal March 2010

Preventing Grievances in Texas Bar Journal, September 2007

Common Ethical Violations That Can be Easily Avoided in The Practice Manager, an online publication of the Law Practice Management Program of the Texas State Bar, March 12, 2007.

Will Same-Sex Marriages be Recognized in Sister States: Full Faith and Credit and Due Process Limitations on States’ Choice of Law regarding the Status and Incidents of Homosexual Marriages following Hawaii’s Baehr v. Lewin, 32 J. Fam. L. 551 (1994). [LL.M. Thesis]

A Comparative Analysis of Same-Sex Partnership Protections: Recommendations for American Reform, 7 Int’l J. of L & Fam. 282 (1993).

Note, Equal Protection Analysis of Louisiana’s Unemployment Law Balances Economic Security for Both Unemployed Individuals and Employers: Pierre v. Administrator, 36 Loy. L. Rev. 195 (1990).

Therapy with Battered Women in Women, Power and Change. National Association of Social Workers, Inc. (Ann Weick and Susan Vandiver, eds. 1982).

COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Downtown Northampton Association Board of Directors
Northampton, Massachusetts Member, February 2019 – present

Ward 3 Neighborhood Association Board
Northampton, Massachusetts
Board member – October 2018 to October 2019 President – October 2019 – May 2021

Street’s Hope – Services for Sexually Exploited Adults
Denver, Colorado
Agency Legal Consultant (high risk clinical cases and legal risk prevention) January 2016 – present
Clinical Staff training – half day January 25, 2018

Denver PFLAG Board of Directors
Member, October 2016 – August 2017

Colorado NASW/CSCSW Practice Standards Committee
Member, November 2015 – present

Louisiana State Bar Association – Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Member – assisting impaired lawyers and judges find resources
July 2014 – present

Arbitrator – LSBA Fee Dispute Program
Volunteer Arbitrator – decide fee disputes between lawyer and client
March 2009 – present

Trinity Training & Counseling Center
Consultant – Legal & Ethical Issues in Clinical Practice
Oct. 10 and 17, 2008 (half day staff trainings)

Loyola Professionalism Orientation
Panelist – LSBA group session for new law students – August 9, 2008

NASW Austin, Texas Branch Steering Committee
Member and Program Committee Co-Chair; May 2007- present

New Orleans Pro Bono Project B
Child in Need of Care (CINC) Program
Volunteer attorney for children in State custody
February 2000 to August 2005 (Katrina)

AIDSLaw of Louisiana, Inc. – Board of Directors, New Orleans
June 2001 to June 2004

Louisiana Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
(LAPRL) 1999 to 2005
American Civil Liberties Union
Board member of Greater Pittsburgh Board of Directors – 1994-96;
Vice-President of Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Board – 1995-96

Louisiana Committee for Social Work Vendorship
President – 1986-89; Litigation Chair – 1989

Chartres Mental Health Center Advisory Board, New Orleans
Vice-President – 1987; Treasurer – 1983-86

National Association of Social Workers
Private Practice Special Interest Group, New Orleans
President – 1984-85; Program Committee Chair – 1982-84

Crescent House Shelter for Battered Women, New Orleans
Clinical Consultant for Adult & Children’s Counseling Programs -1979-85

RECENT PRESENTATIONS:
Divorcing Couples with Children: Ethical, Self-Protective Management of High-Risk Cases and Legal Involvement
(Beyond Ethics, LLC – clinician training business)
April 1, June 10, November 4, 2022 for LA & CO clinicians (Zoom)

Self-Protective, Ethical Management of High-Risk Clinical Cases and Legal Involvement: Situations That Wake You Up at Night and Other Sticky Wickets
Southern University School of Social Work (Zoom)
March 22, 2022

Self-Protective Handling of Ethical Dilemmas That Arise Around Imminent Risk Cases in Social Work
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Social Work School (Zoom) March 11, 2022

Ethical Management of High-Risk Clinical Situations & Handling Lawyers!!
AAMFT Colorado Team Train & Gain webinar (Zoom) February 17, 2022

Self-Protective Management of High-Risk Clinical Cases And
Legal Involvement: Situations That Wake You Up at Night And Other Sticky Wickets
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Social Work School (Zoom) May 21, 2021

Advance Ethical Planning for Therapist’s Unexpected Departure: The Professional Will
(Beyond Ethics, LLC – clinician training business)
June 4, September 24, November 12, 2021 for LA & CO clinicians

Walking the Clinical High Wire with Couples, Families and Lawyers: Ethical Management of Risk
(Beyond Ethics, LLC – clinician training business)
August 7 and October 23, 2020 (Zoom webinar) for LA & CO clinicians

Ethical Managing of High-Risk Situations in Clinical Practice: Nightmare Cases! (Beyond Ethics, LLC – clinician training business)
May 31 and November 8, 2019 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Ethical Management of Legal Involvement: Authentic Use of the Therapist’s Self (Beyond Ethics, LLC – clinician training business) July 12, 2019 – Denver, Colorado

Ethical Management of Legal Involvement: Authentic Use of the Therapist’s Self (Beyond Ethics, LLC – clinician training business) June 8 and November 2, 2018 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Self-Protective Practices for High-Risk Clinical Cases
(Beyond Ethics, LLC – clinician training business) May 11, 2018 – Denver, Colorado

Self-Protective, Ethical Practices with High-Stress Clients/Situations: Walking the High Wire in Stressful Clinical Situations and Legal Involvement
Beyond Ethics, LLC held at SunGate Kids
August 28, 2017 – Denver, Colorado

Self-Protective, Ethical Practices for Clinicians to Handle High-Risk Clients and Legal Involvement
Sungate Kids – Colorado Child Advocacy and Abuse Services
April 17, 2017 – Denver, Colorado

Ethical, Clinical Practice in an Electronic Age
Beyond Ethics, LLC
February 17, June 2, and November 3, 2017 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Self-Protective, Clinical Practice with High-Risk Clients
Colorado Society for Clinical Social Work – Salon October 20, 2016 – Denver, Colorado

Ethical Challenges in Clinical Practice: Dual Relationships and
Other Sticky Wickets
Beyond Ethics, LLC
May 13, 2016 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Self-Protective, Ethical Practices with Couples and Families:
Walking the High Wire in Stressful Clinical Situations and Legal Involvement
Beyond Ethics, LLC
April 10, May 29, and November 6, 2015 – New Orleans, Louisiana

School Counselors Ethics Training
Kipp – New Orleans School Counselors
January 5, 2015

Ethics for Clinicians in a Litigious Society
Beyond Ethics, LLC
March 28 and May 30, 2014 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Self-Protective, Ethical Practice for Clinicians to Handle
High-Risk Clients and Legal Involvement
Beyond Ethics, LLC
April 12, June 14, Sept. 20 and Dec. 6, 2013 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Ethical, Self-Protective Management of High-Risk Clinical Situations
Beyond Ethics, LLC
June 29 and Dec. 7, 2012 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Current Issues in Ethics: 2012
Gilsbar, Inc. Ethics Seminars: Loss Prevention Office
June 15, 2012 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Law & Ethics in Pediatric Mental Health:
The ABCs of Ethical Clinical Practice When Lawyers Come Calling
Burrell Mental Health Center Annual Pediatric Conference
May 11, 2012 – Springfield, Missouri

Ethical Management of Clinical Practices
Jewish Family Service and Professional Development Network
April 20, 2012 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Current Issues in Ethics: 2011
Divorce, Depression & Substance in the Legal Profession
Beyond Ethics, LLC
December 9 and 16, 2011 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Current Issues in Ethics: 2011
Gilsbar, Inc. Ethics Seminars: Loss Prevention Office
September 13, 2011 – Lafayette, Louisiana
September 23, 2011 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Managing High-Risk Clinical Situations: Ethically & Self-Protectively
Department of Energy – Oak Ridge National Laboratory: May 5, 2011
Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Current Issues in Ethics: 2010
Last Chance CLE: December 17, 2010
Courtyard Marriott at 2 Galleria Boulevard, Metairie, Louisiana

Tips from the Bench & Bar for Incisive Appellate Practice
Louisiana State Bar Association’s all day seminar: Oct. 15, 2010
Appeals! Appeals! Appeals! Experts of the Bench & Bar
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

Avoid Ethics Complaints and Malpractice Lawsuits – PESI, LLC
New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Louisiana – May 2012
Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Florida – March 2012
Tinley Park, Arlington Heights, Chicago, Illinois – February 2012
Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Texas – January 2012
St. Louis, Missouri & Springfield, Illinois – Nov./Dec. 2011
Macon, Norcross, Atlanta, Georgia – September 2011
Roanoke, Richmond, Norfolk, Virginia – April 2011
Towson, College Park, MD & Fairfax, Virginia – Oct. 2010
Princeton, Edison and Parsippany, NJ – Sept. 2010
Palm Spring and San Diego, California – July 2010
Macon, Norcross and Atlanta, Georgia – March 10-12, 2010
Richmond, Norfolk, Virginia – Jan. 20-22, 2010
Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, Wichita – Dec. 1-4, 2009
Indianapolis, IN – Nov. 4-6, 2009
Minneapolis, MN, October 1-3, 2009
Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA & Cherry Hill, NJ – July 13-15, 2009

Legal and Ethical Issues in Mental Health Practice: Protecting Yourself and Your Clients (half-day seminar)
Louisiana Association of Clinical Social Workers
June 19, 2009

Legal & Ethical Issues in Clinical Practice: Litigation Involvement and Preventing Disciplinary Complaints – Master Session (half day)
National Association of Social Workers-Louisiana Annual Conference, April 1, 2009

Loyola Law School Professionalism Orientation
Sponsored by Loyola School of Law and the Louisiana State Bar Association – Panelist for 3-hour group for incoming law students
August 9, 2008

Legal & Ethical Issues in Mental Health Practice: Protecting Yourself and Your Clients – 6-hour CEUs through Cross Country Education, Inc.
January 29-31, 2008 (Nashville, Knoxville, and Asheville).
December 17-19, 2007 (Cleveland, Erie and Pittsburgh).

Exploring The Grey Areas Of Social Work Practice: An Interactive Workshop Applying Ethics Rules to Challenging Clinical Situations
Sponsored by the University of Texas Professional Development Office July 20, 2007 and November 30, 2007 (full day CEUs – Ethics)

Ethics & Litigation: A Survival Guide
Sponsored by St. Edward’s University Professional Education Office
CEU ethics training for mental health professionals –
August 10, 2007 and November 9, 2007 (half day)

Appellate Writing: Tips of the Trade
Two-hour CLE
Sponsored by Prime Time CLE Institute, May 15, 2005.

Common Ethical Dilemmas in Law Practice
CLE for New Orleans City Attorney’s Office – March 25, 2004

How to Be Effective in Courtroom for Mental Health Professionals
CEU for Louisiana Association of Clinical Social Workers – Sept.12, 2003

Keeping the Wolves and Disciplinary Counsel from the Office Door
All day seminar on risk prevention and common ethical dilemmas in solo law practice. Sponsored by Prime Time CLE Institute, January 24, 2002.

Structure and Procedures of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and Avoiding Common Client Complaints
Lecture for Tulane Law School’s CLE by the Hour – December 27, 2001

The New Ethical Standards: Compliance with the Louisiana Social Work Practice Act
Lecture for Tulane School of Social Work
Center for Lifelong Learning, Summer Updates, June 1, 2001

Issues in Ethics and Professionalism
Lecture for Prime Time CLE Institute, March 7, 2001

Comparison and Contrast of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary System with the Board Certified Social Work Disciplinary System
National Association of Social Workers Florida Parishes Regional Meeting, October 20, 1998

Utilizing the Mental Health Professional as Deponent
All day workshop through Prime Time CLE Institute – October 16, 1998
Social Work and the Law: Understanding Your Rights
National Association of Social Workers-Louisiana Annual Conference, March 11, 1998

BAR ADMISSIONS:
State Bar of Colorado – February 27, 2015 (#48182)
State Bar of Louisiana – October 19, 1991 (#20858)
State Bar of Texas – August 10, 2006 (inactive at present)
United States Supreme Court – April 19, 2004

CLINICAL LICENSES:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.), Louisiana – 1980 (#1232)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.), Texas – 2006 (inactive)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (L.C.S.W.), Colorado – 2014-2019

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Deborah M. Henson