Susan Hess, MSW, LCSW-IL
susan@susanlhess.com • 310.592.8706
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Dynamic university lecturer possessing both clinical and instructional expertise in areas including
violence, trauma informed care, grief, bereavement and individual/family counseling therapies.
“Professor Hess includes just the right amount of theory, discussion and practice
in order to provide her students with the best insight and learning experience.”
—USC Student
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, California
12/2010 – present
Adjunct Lecturer
• Conduct MSW graduate level lectures on areas including: cultural competency, family therapies, group
therapies, individual therapies and evidence based practice models.
Concentration and Foundation Field Liaison – USC Virtual Academic Center
• Provide virtual academic advisement and field placement support to MSW graduate students, conducting
virtual field meetings with Field Instructors and interns to ensure optimal clinical and educational field
placement experiences; serve as Field Liaison Academic Advisor and Field Instructor.
• Scheduled to implement a Virtual Field Training clinical learning experience for foundation year students
to build clinical skill sets through role playing scripted scenarios with actors prior to student
commencement in actual field place settings.
Integrative Seminar Instructor – School of Social Work
• Coordinate, monitor and evaluate student field education experiences to ensure optimal learning and
professional development including collaboratively creating learning contracts to provide structure and
objectives that are congruent with each student’s educational goals.
Adjunct Faculty Consultation Group Co-Facilitator
• Provide group support and Learning Centered Teaching Theory skill development to new USC adjunct
faculty
TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, Beverly Hills, California
2/2002 – present
• Customize, design and deliver workshops, professional development trainings and presentations to
medical, social service, academic, legal and law enforcement personnel to disseminate awareness of
Trauma Informed Care best practices
• Provide expert attorney consultative services and courtroom testimony on cases involving intimate partner
violence and adult/childhood trauma
• Create customized clinical assessment and training materials for the Therapist Development Center, Los
Angeles, CA:
- Developed a Domestic Violence Pre-Licensure 15-hour CEU course including a component for
a Therapist Domestic Violence Took Kit
- Produced a pre-licensure audio training manual for LCSW candidate preparation of the
National Exam
• Established a Trauma Informed/ACEs Task force, collaborating with A Window Between Worlds and ACEs
Connection, across all systems of care in Los Angeles, to assist and empower those working with
participants who have experienced complex and/or developmental traumas
• Previously conducted consultative guidance and provided resources to the JACK CANFIELD PROJECT, a
support book for those who have experienced intimate partner violence
• Earlier practice focused on providing facilitation, instructional guidance and coaching to parents on
nonviolent parenting strategies and education on the neurological impact of trauma, emotional intelligence
and child development
ECHO PARENTING AND EDUCATION, Echo Park, California
2/2009 – 6/2014
Director of Intimate Partner Violence Programming
Promote and disseminate trauma informed practices through legislative action and by targeting individual
domestic violence shelters to challenge and advance conventional treatment modalities.
• Testified before U.S. House and Senate Judiciary Committees on the Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA)
bill, emphasizing the importance of including Trauma Informed Care, Nonviolent Parenting and Thinking
Shelter Model when treating domestic violence victims/survivors.
• Created a virtual group on ACES Connection platform (http://acesconnection.com/group/changingtheparadigm-within-dv-shelters) that enables staff, directors and therapists of domestic violence agencies
to maintain the dialogue of integrating Trauma Informed Care.
• Established and lead a Trauma Informed Nonviolent Standards of Care Task Force dedicated to statewide
implementation of trauma-informed practices that improve levels of support, respect, information, and
hope for trauma survivor recovery.
• Initiated an MSW Internship Program for students attending California State University, Northridge
(CSUN) and for University of Southern California MSW students.
• Provide staff, director and clinician trainings at various domestic violence shelters including ongoing
monthly supervision sessions at Haven Hills Domestic Violence shelter and Angeles Step Inn Domestic
Violence shelter, addressing trauma informed care practices. Offer additional staff training and guidance in
areas including nonviolent parenting and the impact of domestic violence on children.
• Lead nonviolent education and parenting groups for survivors of domestic violence both onsite and at
emergency domestic violence shelters.
• Provide field instruction to MSW interns, ensuring optimal, well-rounded macro and micro exposure.
CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY, Thousand Oaks, California
9/2010 – 12/2010
Adjunct Faculty, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
• Developed curriculum and taught MFT graduate students on the dynamics of domestic violence, the impact
of domestic violence on children and the impact of child brain trauma.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE FAMILY VIOLENCE PROJECT,
Sherman Oaks, California
8/2003 – 1/2009
Social Worker
• Spearheaded the Family Violence Project, teaching and disseminating information on the therapists’
role in cutting-edge trauma informed research and practices with domestic violence survivors.
• Conducted reflective supervision with MFT interns and child therapists.
• Facilitated support groups, including: nonviolent parenting, survivors of domestic violence, children and
adolescents who have witnessed domestic violence.
• Provided individual therapy to educate survivors of domestic violence on: the dynamics of domestic
violence, emotional intelligence, decreasing depression, anxiety and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress
and understanding the cultural impact of domestic violence.
• Trained staff on Nonviolent Parenting and Nonviolent Communication.
OUR HOUSE, Woodland Hills, California
1/2009 – 2/2010
Child and Adolescent Program Coordinator
• Provided support and education to children and teenagers grieving the death of a friend or family member.
• Instructed medical interns and therapists on the impact of grief on children and adolescents.
• Co-led grief support groups for children ages 4 – 17.
• Supervised volunteers who co-led support groups for children and teenagers.
• Trained the crisis team at The Maple Center on the impact of grief on children.
JEWISH BIG BROTHERS, Los Angeles, California
4/1994 – 8/2003
Clinical Social Worker
• Screened, interviewed and assessed potential Big Brother applicants to determine eligibility and paired
children and adolescents with suitable Big Brothers.
Susan Hess, M SW, LCSW
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• Provided therapy to mothers, children and adolescents; administered play and art therapy to children.
PRESENTATIONS
Provide subject matter expert guest speaking presentations to professional and lay audiences on topics
including: domestic violence, trauma informed care, grief, bereavement and individual/family counseling.
Selected Presentations
• Visionary Youth Center, a 4-week Series “Integrating the Practice of Trauma Informed Nonviolent
Standards of Care (TINSOC) with Vulnerable Youth,” May/June, 2014
• Children’s Hospital, “Integrating Trauma Informed Care with Children in a Medical Setting,” June,
2014
• University of Southern California, “Trauma Informed Nonviolent Standards of Care,” Domestic
Violence course, May, 2014
• Hillsides, “Integrating Trauma Informed Care to Families Who Have Experienced Trauma,” April, 2014
• Echo Parenting and Education Conference, “Changing the Paradigm; Trauma and the Developing
Child,” February, 2014; March, 2012; March 2011; April 2010
• Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, “Trauma Informed Care for Prosecutors Training,” February, 2014
• Children’s Institute International, “Trauma Informed Nonviolent Standards of Care,” October, 2013
• Project Fatherhood, “Teaching Trauma Informed Nonviolent Child Raising to Fathers,” June, 2013,
2014
• DV City Task Force, “Integrating Trauma Informed Care in Domestic Violence Agencies,” May, 2013
• Pomona College, “The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children,” 2012, 2013, 2014
• Angels Step Inn, 40-hours of domestic violence training, “Integrating Trauma Informed Care and
Nonviolent Child Raising with Families Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence,” 2013
• California State University, Northridge (CSUN), “Integrating Nonviolent Child Raising with
Families,” February, 2013
• Sojourn, 40-hour domestic violence training, “Integrating Trauma Informed Care and Nonviolent Child
Raising with Families Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence,” 2012, 2013
• California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, “Integrating Trauma Informed Care with
Families Who Have Experienced Trauma,” September, 2012, 2014
• Domestic Violence/Gang Nexus, “Trauma Informed Nonviolent Standards of Care,” July, 2013
• City of Los Angeles Domestic Violence Task Force, “Integrating Trauma Informed Care Within
Domestic Violence Agencies,” June, 2011
• Emergency and Transitional Shelters Domestic Violence Coalition, “Integrating Nonviolent
Child Raising to Break the Cycle of Violence,” June, 2011
• Legal Aid Foundation, Los Angeles, “Trauma Informed Care” presentation to attorneys to convey
trauma informed care principles to increase courtroom outcomes and diminish harm to victims of violence,
October, 2011
• California Lutheran University, “Integrating Nonviolent Child Raising to Break the Cycle of Violence,”
November, 2010
• Women’s Shelter of Long Beach, 40-hour domestic violence training, “Integrating Nonviolent Child
Raising to Break the Cycle of Violence,” June, 2010
• Jewish Family Service Family Violence Project, 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training, “The Impact
of Domestic Violence on Children,” 2004 – 2009
ARTICLE CITATIONS
uscsocialwork.org/2014/03/07/usc-field-educators-present-on-trauma-victims-to-l-a-city-attorneys-office/
wtvn.org/news/2013/10/city-makes-plans-cut-down-domestic-violence
acesconnection.com/profiles/blogs/putting -a-tinsoc-in-a-politican-s-mouth
sowkweb.usc.edu/news/susan-hess-wins-domestic-violence-prevention-award
Susan Hess, M SW, LCSW
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uscsocialwork.org/2014/07/14/vac-lecturer-susan-hess-presents-to-childrens-hospital-los-angeles/
EDUCATION
Master of Social Work (MSW)
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (BA)
Scripps College, Claremont Colleges, Claremont, California
ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), 2011
State of Illinois
Certified Teacher in Nonviolent Education and Parenting, 2008
Echo Parenting and Education, Echo Park, California
AFFILIATIONS
Invited Board Member, Visionary Youth Center
SPECIAL HONORS
Presented with the Marjorie Braude Collaboration Award by the Los Angeles Domestic Violence Task Force,
October 9, 2013, for innovative collaboration in serving victims of domestic violence
Susan Hess, M SW, LCSW
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