
Cassie DeSena-Jacobs
Email: jacobsc2@vcu.edu
Pronouns: She/her
Cassie DeSena-Jacobs, D.S.W., LCSW, M.S., is a clinical social worker with over 19 years of experience in New York and Virginia. Cassie’s work has focused on trauma-informed, anti-racist and culturally competent care in various communities, including acute hospital work, community social work and direct practice in New York and Virginia. Cassie has a history of working with nonprofits on micro and macro levels, including building nonprofits, developing programming and facilitating therapeutic training
Since 2019, Cassie has been teaching at VCU School of Social Work. A first-generation college student, she is passionate about her position at VCU. Her teaching interests include trauma-informed care through an anti-racist, culturally competent lens when working with children, adolescents, adults and families. Her clinical expertise is in trauma, serious mental illness and mental health practices. Cassie’s research focuses on the school to prison pipeline and creating training for school staff focused on inherent bias, cultural humility, trauma and relationship building. Cassie has worked on leading clinical labs, developing curriculum around trauma and serious mental illness, and launching two continuing education series on serious mental illness during her time at VCU.
In July 2024, Cassie took on the role of director of mental health initiatives, with the goal to oversee and coordinate all mental health initiative activities. The mental health initiative focuses on growing the VCU School of Social Work’s mental health and behavioral health coursework and other educational opportunities, with a particular focus on severe mental illnesses (SMI). This includes the M.S.W. Certificate in Mental Health and the Minor in Mental Health Practice, both launching in Fall 2025.
Cassie maintains a small private practice, which focuses on adolescents and adults who have experienced sexual trauma, trauma within family of origin and complex PTSD. She also has extensive experience providing inclusive care for the LGBTQIA + population and those who have worked in sex work. In her practice, Cassie’s goal is to be non-judgmental and highlight the strength of a person as a way to process trauma and life events.
Areas of expertise
- Complex Trauma
- Evidence-Based Interventions
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Social Work Practice
- Trauma-Focused Mental Health
- Mental Health
Education and credentials
LCSW, New York and Virginia
D.S.W, University of Southern California
M.S., nonprofit management specialization, Northeastern University
M.S.W., SUNY Albany
Professional highlights
Video series
DeSena-Jacobs, C. (Practitioner). (2024). The Beacon Training Model for schools [Video]. Sage Knowledge.
Presentations
- Beacon: A Program for Schools, VA/DC NASW 2023
- Navigating Parental Guilt with Grace. Interactive Presentation presented to The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at the Wilder School: Richmond, VA, 2023
- Developing an Anti-Racist Class through a Clinical Lens. SWDE Conference, 2024
- DeSena- Jacobs, C. (2024, December). Window of Tolerance. Interactive Presentation presented to Project PIR Seminar at VCU.
- DeSena- Jacobs, C. (2024, October). De-Escalation Techniques. Interactive Presentation presented to School Leadership Program at VCU School of Education.
- DeSena- Jacobs, C. (2024, September). Trauma and Mental Health. Interactive Presentation presented to School Leadership Program at VCU School of Education.
Teaching areas and interests
Recent courses
- SLWK 704: Clinical Social Work Practice I
- SLWK 705: Clinical Social Work Practice II
- SLWK 727: Trauma & Social Work Practice
- SLWK 762: Treatment of SMI (Serious Mental Illness) Through a Trauma-Informed and Evidence-Based Perspective
- SLWK 763: Neurobiology & Social Work
Areas of teaching and mentoring expertise
- Clinical Work with LGBTQ+ Individuals
- LGBTQIA+
- Serious Mental Illness
- Social Justice
- Trauma
- Trauma-informed Practice
Mentoring expertise: Trauma-informed practice, telemental health, LGBTQIA+ clinical work
Affiliations and service
- Ally with the National Juvenile Justice network
- Provider for the Virginia Transgender Task Force through the Virginia Department of Health
Media mentions
- Sept. 17, 2025, VCU News: School of Social Work adds mental health offerings
- Feb. 18, 2025, SSW mental mental health initiatives page
- Dec. 17, 2024, SSW Annual Report: Mental health + international social work projects have high interest – and growth potential
- Feb. 16, 2024, SSW blog: Cassie DeSena-Jacobs presenting at national conference about course development
- Feb. 8, 2024, SSW blog: High-demand, social work-led course puts an anti-racist lens on serious mental illness
- Nov. 28, 2022, SSW annual report: Students produce podcast series in clinical practice class