The document is a comprehensive career portfolio for Lasonja Henry, an experienced social worker and addiction counselor with a Master of Social Work degree and various certifications. It outlines her qualifications, mission statement, and approach to social work, emphasizing her trauma-informed and human dignity-centered methodology. Additionally, it details her relevant professional experience in social services and substance abuse counseling, along with her educational background, competencies, and research interests.

1. Table of Contents
•Credentials
•Summary of Qualifications
•Mission Statement
•What I have to offer
•Approach to Social Work
•Competencies
•Relevant Experience
•Resume
•Research and Publications
•References

2. My Credentials…
Master of Social Work
Concentration: Addictions Counseling
Aurora University, Aurora, IL
*CSWE accredited University
*AODA certified
Psychology
Concentration: Special Needs Children and Adults
Benedictine University, Lisle, IL
Licenses/Certifications
LMSW - (2015-2017)
CADC - (2015-2017)
Issues In Domestic Violence (2006 no exp.)
Basic Life Support/CPR American Red Cross

3. SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Highly skilled in providing therapeutic and
social services to a diverse clientele of
children, teens and adults diagnosed with
mental health and substance abuse disorders
in individual, family and group sessions
Knowledge of code of ethics for substance
abuse professionals, social work
professionals and all appropriate state and
federal documentation and confidentiality
laws

4. Inspire and Motivate Individuals and
Families Seeking a Better Life to…
Mission Statement

5. What I have to offer
I have a trauma- informed approach to treatment that is
holistic, compassionate and understands how unique
personal histories affect motivations in the process of
change.
Many of my clients have expressed an appreciation for my
ability to make them feel welcome, heard, acknowledged
and above all respected as human beings who are seeking a
more positive experience in mental health and substance
abuse treatment.

6. My approach to social work
 Advocating for the respect of intrinsic human
dignity and value
 Provide information, tools, feedback, and
support to aid the client in finding what works
for them
 Utilize Positive Regard and Motivational
Interviewing skills to build collaborative
therapeutic relationships

7. Social Work
Competencies

8. Understand human development,
behavior and motivations

9. Legal
Economics
Social
Emotional
Psychological
Educational &
Occupational
Coping
Mechanisms
Progression
Of
Symptoms
Risks &
Protective
Factors
Support
Systems
Cultural
Provide Comprehensive Assessment and
Diagnosis – DSM- IV and DSM-5

10. Crisis
Intervention
Impact
Therapy
Positive
Psychology
Rational
Emotive
Therapy
Mindfulness
Based and
Compassion
Mind
Therapies
Anger
Management
and
Impulse
Control
Cognitive
Behavioral
Therapy
Bereavement
and Grief
Therapies
SMART
Recovery
Family Systems
Therapy
Matrix
Model
Stages of
Change
Model
Impact
Therapy
Group
Therapy
Brief
Intervention

11. Program Development
Treatment Planning and Goals
 Deficit/Harm Reduction
 Address Negative
Coping skills
 Address ambivalence
and resistance to
change
 Behavior/treatment
Interventions
 Integrated treatment
strategies
 Teach positive
adaptive/ manageable
skills
 Improve overall life
functioning
 Review appropriateness
of care

12. Substance Abuse and
Addiction Counseling

13. Provide comprehensive
substance abuse and addiction
treatment services in
therapeutic residential setting.
Case management, Mental
Health and Psychosocial
Assessments, Treatment
Planning, Progress update,
Discharge Planning: Referral
for services as necessary;
Documentation, risk
assessment and crisis
intervention
Better Community Development
(BCD, Inc) Hoover
The EmPowerment Center
3604 W 12th Street, Little Rock, AR
August 2016 – Present
“Provides a structured, 24-hour,
comprehensive, intensive residential
and out-patient program that
addresses the chemical dependency
needs of men and women.”
“Our program, annually serves
approximately 1000 individuals,
focuses on prevention, intervention,
treatment and after care to individuals
with substance abuse problems. Clients
receive assessments, job readiness and
life skills training, and referrals for
mental health and other health-related
issues.”
Substance Abuse
Counselor /Female
Case Manager
Duties:
http://bcdinc.org/index-13.html

14. Substance Abuse
Program Counselor
Duties:
Provide comprehensive out-
patient mental health
counseling programs for
Substance Abuse, Chemical
Dependency, Anger
Management, DUI, Driver Risk
Education
Accomplishment:
Consistently received positive
client/provider survey
feedback in substance abuse
and social services
Professional Consultations, Inc
743 S 8th Street, West Dundee, IL
April 2013 – July 2015
 Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
 Drug Abuse
 Chemical Dependency
 Substance Abuse
 Prescription Medication Addiction
Treatment Programs Offered
Day and evening programs are offered at all
locations, which are conveniently located
near public transportation in the Chicago
suburbs
• Education Programs
• Early Intervention Program
• Intervention Counseling Program
• Outpatient Treatment Program
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program
• Continuing Care Relapse Prevention
• Family Intervention Planning and
Counseling
• Drug Testing”
http://www.professionalconsultations.com/

15. Additional Social
Services experience

16. Field Placement
Supervisor
(Independent Contractor)
Duties:
Provide support and weekly
supervision to UALR bachelor
and masters level social work
student interns in field
placement setting
•Aid students to work towards
achieving students program
learning goals and
competencies
•Reinforce the student’s
identification with the
purposes, values, and ethics
of the profession of social
work
•Promote the student’s ability
to practice self-reflection and
self-correction to assure
continual development of
professional competence
Family Promise of Pulaski County
222 E 8th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204
August 2016 – Present
 “As recently as 2003, there were
no homeless shelters in Little Rock
equipped to house families as a
unit.
 Recognizing this need, a group of
caring individuals discovered the
Interfaith Hospitality Network, a
partnership of congregations
helping families facing
homelessness within their
communities, and put a plan in
motion to establish a local branch
of this national effort.”
*http://www.familypromisepc.org/about

17. Residential Crisis
Counselor-PRN
Duties:
Face-to face/phone intake and
assessments
•Case management
•Hot-line coverage
•Crisis management and
referrals services
Accomplishment:
Developed therapeutic
program to address
psychological needs of
children experiencing trauma
related stress related to
homelessness
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet –
Hope House
26 W St. Charles Rd, Lombard, IL 60148
January 2012 – October 2013
 “Over the course of one year, Hope House
helps about 200 people secure housing,
employment, self-sufficiency and hope. It
typically takes clients a four- to eight-week
time span to accomplish their goals
 The facility has been serving homeless
individuals and families of DuPage County for
almost two decades. Catholic Charities of the
Joliet Diocese assumed ownership and
management of DuPage Emergency Shelter
eight years ago.
*excerpt from Catholic Charities News, June 8,
2015

18. Mental Health Therapist 2015
The P.A.T. Center
(Pulaski County territory)
Pine Bluff, AR
School-based Mental health therapy Individual, Group and Family sessions
Youth Care Worker 2012
ChildServ
Chicago, IL
Provide for the safety and well being of adolescent clients with emotional,
behavior and psychological disorders

19. Volunteer Social Service Experience
Social Service Agency Volunteer
2007-2009
Computer Skills and GED Instructor
Adult literacy program for Inmate population
J.U.S.T of DuPage
DuPage County Correctional Facility
Wheaton, IL
Respite care
Wheaton, IL
Family of child with multiple disabilities diagnosed
On the Autism spectrum disorder
Social engagement companion
Senior Home Services of DuPage
Wheaton, IL 60187
630-407-0440

20. Resume
EXPERIENCE
Substance Abuse Counselor – Residential (2016 - Current)
Better Community Development, Inc. (BDC) Little Rock, AR
SUDs and Addiction counseling, case management services for voluntary
and mandated clients
BSW/MSW Field Instructor – Independent Contractor (2016-
Cuirremt)
Family Promise of Pulaski County, Little Rock, AR (Part-time)
On-site field placement instruction, supervision, support and guidance for
UALR practicum students
Substance Abuse Program Counselor (2013-2015)
Professional Consultations, Inc., West Dundee, IL
(MSW Clinical Practicum to Hire)
Substance Abuse disorders and Addiction counseling for mandated clients
Residential Crisis Counselor-Homeless Shelter (2012-2013)
Catholic Charities-Diocese of Joliet, Lombard, IL
(MSW Clinical Practicum to Hire)
Individual and family supportive services; crisis intervention; resource
referral
Social Service Agency Volunteer, Wheaton, IL (2007-2009)
On-site Correctional facilitator GED and Basic Computer skills; Respite
care; for multiple disabled child; Senior home care social engagement
companion
Division Assistant -Retired (1996-2015)
DuPage County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Records, Wheaton, IL
Serve as assistant supervisor; department lead; administrative/clerical
service
EDUCATION
Master of Social Work/Addictions Bachelor of Arts/Psychology
Aurora University, Aurora, IL Benedictine University, Lisle L
(2013) (2010)
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
LMSW - Arkansas/Texas (2017)
LSW – Illinois (on hold)
CIT – Arkansas (2016)
CADC – Illinois(2017)
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Obtained MSW from a CSWE
accredited university; AODA certified
as an addictions counselor
 Highly skilled experience in providing
social services, clinical mental health
and substance abuse counseling for a
diverse clientele
 Conduct comprehensive clinical
assessments, develop recovery
programs, treatment plan and goals
for teens, adults and special needs
populations
 Knowledge of code of ethics for
substance abuse professionals, social
work professionals and
all appropriate state and federal
documentation and confidentiality laws
 Provide clinical supervision for
undergraduate and masters level
social work interns
 Maintain mental health therapy notes
software; case management database
documentations
 Computer literate with more than 25
years administrative and clerical
experience

21. Research and Publications - Areas of Interest
Addressing Shame in Substance Abuse
Examines the importance of understanding how
the client in substance abuse treatment experiences
of shame impact motivation for change.
Compassion Mind Therapy, Shame and Substance Abuse
Exploring the therapeutic use of CMT to address Issues of shame in SUDs
Disability, Chronic Pain and Substance Abuse
Exploring how Clinicians in the field can address the needs of the disabled in SUDs
Resiliency as a Response to Adversity
Examines how the biological, psychological, social and economic issues of how
negative/positive childhood experiences can aide or inhibit resiliency responses into adulthood
The Undeserving
Call to action on the importance of reevaluating how we see and define the “other”
*All publications can be found on my LinkedIn web page

22. References
Kent Kouba
DuPage County Sheriff’s Office
Wheaton, IL
630-407-2270
Kent.Kouba@DuPageSheriffs.org
Douglas J. Milliman, President & CEO
Professional Consultations, Inc.
West Dundee, IL
847-428-7260
dougmilliman@hotmail.com
Terry D. Mc Quay B.S./M.P.A.
Gary, IN
219-484-6920
terjusg4life@yahoo.com
Ms. Rosilyn Sanders, MA
Camp Hope for Heroes- Grant Projects
Jacksonville, AR
501-749-2633
rosisand85@gmail.com
Cynthia Ramey, Executive Director
Family Promise of Pulaski County
Little Rock, AR
501- 372-0733
execdir@familypromisepc.org
Richard Richardson, CCS, CADC
Better Community Development, Inc
Little Rock, AR
501-663-4774
Rrichardson@bcdinc.org

23. Statement of Authenticity
The information contained within this career
portfolio is original and represents the unique
goals, experience, qualifications and skills of
LaSonja Henry, LMSW, CADC.