About Deb

DEBORAH (DEB) M. HENSON, MSW, JD, LL.M. is a “hybrid” solo practitioner in Louisiana and Colorado: The Law Office of Deborah M. Henson, LLC. My law practice areas include mental health law, adoption (Louisiana), and appellate writing. My former clinical practices in New Orleans, Austin, and Denver included psychotherapy (adults, couples, families), clinical consultation, and parent facilitation (assisting divorced couples in co-parenting their children in a reduced-conflict manner). In Northampton, I have opened a Life Planning Coaching practice offering individual, family, business, and legal event preparation coaching.

My hybrid professional background (clinician and lawyer) gives me a unique perspective to assisting others with various issues. I also am a strong advocate for children and those whose voices are not generally heard and valued. I have advocated for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and civil rights for those with disabilities.

My background

I grew up in Wichita, Kansas so I learned the value of direct and friendly communication with my community. I attended the University of Kansas where I majored in Speech Communication and Human Relations. Because I wanted to become a psychotherapist, I attended Tulane University School of Social Work and graduated with a Master of Social Work degree in 1977.

Clinical Social Work: As licensed clinical social worker, I worked first in domestic violence with abuse women and their children. Next, I worked with elementary school children labeled as Emotionally Disturbed (ED) and Behavior Disordered (BD) in New Orleans Public Schools for 5 years. I provided individual and group therapy, consulted with the ED teachers (formed a monthly teachers group) and also organized a monthly parent group to help parents understand and support their children’s needs. I went into private practice after that and then decided to go to law school at night.

I taught in the MSW program at Tulane School of Social Work in the areas of Family Violence and Therapy with Children (1984-87), and in the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work program on Ethics and Social Justice (2017). As a committed volunteer with the social work profession, I served on boards of local chapters of NASW in Denver, Austin, and New Orleans.

Law: After attending Loyola Law School in New Orleans while working by day as a clinical social work therapist, I graduated in 1991 and was admitted to the State Bar of Louisiana that same year. I wanted to teach law, so after clerking for the Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court for a year, we moved to Berkeley, California for me to attend Boalt Hall Law School at the University of California. I graduated with an advanced law degree (LLM) in anti-discrimination law and wrote my thesis on same-sex marriage – how it could be recognized country wide through the Full Faith & Credit clause of the constitution and precedent case law. I taught in the University of Pittsburgh Law School for two years before returning to my adult home – New Orleans – to work again at the Louisiana Supreme Court for two more years before going into private law practice defending lawyers in the areas of attorney ethics defense and adoptions. I then accepted the position of Appellate Brief Writer for the Law Department of the City of New Orleans in 2002.

Following Hurricane Katrina’s flooding of New Orleans in 2005, my family evacuated to Austin, Texas and I became admitted to the Texas State Bar and licensed as a LCSW in Texas. I established both law and therapy practices before my family returned to New Orleans in 2008. I continued both practices there and opened my own mental health training business: Beyond Ethics, LLC where I continue to provide Continuing Education ethics training for mental health professionals.

I moved to Denver, Colorado in 2015 and established both clinical and law practices once again. Finally, in February of 2018, I found my forever home: Northampton!

Since moving to Northampton in February 2018, I have become involved with civic affairs of the city. Details below.

I still practice law in Louisiana and Colorado and offer psychotherapy via telehealth in Louisiana. I am a Life Planning Coach here in Northampton where I see people in person and virtually.

My civic work in Northampton

Ward 3 Neighborhood Association (W3NA) – member (2018), President (2019-2021) (worked on new Bridge Street cemetery fence & new Bridge Street School sign)

Downtown Northampton Association (DNA) – Board member (2018), Treasurer (2023), V-P (2024) (worked on beautification and support of downtown businesses)

Friends of St. John Cantius – Chair (2021-2022) (preservation of SJC and opposition to demolishment)

Elected Officials Compensation Advisory Board – mayoral appointment (2023) (review and recommendations for elected officials’ compensation)

Walking School Bus – “driver” to walk Bridge Street children from Sheldon Field to BSS in mornings (2019-2021, 2025 – present)
Northampton Survival Center – volunteer food deliverer (2023 – present)

Academy of Music – volunteer usher and ticket scanner for performances (2019 – present)

My advocacy

Over the years, I have fought for equal rights for women and LGBTQ+ people.

Examples:

  • Sued leading restaurants in Tulsa, Oklahoma for sex discrimination in hiring (won)
  • Member of Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) in New Orleans organizing all-day “speak out” in Jackson Square educating public re: domestic violence tragedies and need for reform of Louisiana laws
  • Brought civil rights charges against the University of Pittsburgh for failing to offer same-sex benefits for faculty (won after about 10 years with ACLU leading the case)
  • Board member of the Western Pennsylvania Same-Sex Marriage Coalition to educate and advocate prior to legality
  • Frequent lecturer for Lavendar Law conferences around the country on same-sex adoption and anti-discrimination law
  • Accomplished several same-sex adoptions in New Orleans before the juvenile courts eliminated that option

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