DEBORAH M. HENSON

Lawyer ~

           Through her law office located in New Orleans, Louisiana – Law Offices of Deborah M. Henson – Deb can provide a full array of family law services:  divorce, custody issues, adoption, juvenile law, plus general practice including wills and estate planning.  Because of her dual training as a lawyer and a clinical social worker, Deb works well with those who want to prioritize the needs and best interests of the children when family conflict forces spousal separation.  The divorcing partners are terminating their spousal relationship, but will need to transform into a co-parenting, business-type relationship if they have children.  Deb is helpful with this tumultuous process in various ways, including being available to serve as the child’s attorney or guardian ad litem if desired or court-appointed.  Deb has completed numerous adoptions for private individuals, foster parents who become adoptive parents, couples who adopt internationally, and same-sex couples who desire a “second parent” adoption (i.e., where one partner adopts without terminating the parental rights of his or her partner). 

            Deb is also experienced in appellate law and is available to assist busy practitioners with legal research and writing of briefs and other memoranda that are lengthy and/or complex, or to be called into a case as the appellate counsel and sit side-bar during trial.  She was Staff Attorney at the Louisiana Supreme Court for years, taught at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and – prior to Katrina – served as the Appellate Brief Writer for the City of New Orleans for two years. 

            Deb has also worked as Board Counsel for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and then represented attorneys in disciplinary matters (grievances and reinstatements) for years following her work at the Board. 

Psychotherapist ~

              "I enjoy working with individuals, couples, & families who are struggling with life challenges or transitions, such as relationship issues, teenager angst, lesbian/gay issues, & losses of all types. Therapy is an incredible inner journey - one that is both rewarding, yet tumultuous at times - and I'm honored to be trusted as a supportive guide on whatever path is chosen."

            Deb is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a clinical office in New Orleans. She is also available for clinical supervision and is a Board Approved Supervisor for clinical licensure supervision (group and individual).

Advocacy for Equality ~

            Deb helped found and served as the first president for three years for the statewide advocacy group for private practice third party payments called The Louisiana Committee for Social Work Vendorship, which negotiated and/or sued insurance companies that refused to reimburse social work providers of mental health services.  Eventually, the group prevailed and the mission turned more to lobbying on behalf of social work practitioners.

            Deb also has worked as a change agent for equality in the context of women’s rights in employment (Tulsa, Oklahoma sex discrimination litigation), women’s right to live free of violence (Women Against Violence Against Women, New Orleans), and same-sex partners’ rights to receive the same health care benefits for their partners and families that their heterosexual colleagues enjoy (University of Pittsburgh domestic partner litigation).

View full resume (click here).