Bonnie Hennig, M.S.W., LCSW, QCSW, DCSW

Clinical Therapist, CREST-E and Reach2HD Study Coordinator

Ms. Hennig has been with the University of Connecticut Health Center Huntington's Disease Program since October 1999. She received both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and her Master of Social Work degree at Boston University in Boston, MA. Ms. Hennig has been in the medical social work field for over 23 years. She has received both the Quality of Life Award and the George Sheehan Humanitarian Award from the Greater Hartford Unit of the American Cancer Society.

As part of the Huntington's Disease Program, Ms. Hennig provides counseling to people at-risk, people affected by HD and their family members including pre-symptomatic testing, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, couple and family therapy, continuing care needs, entitlements and benefits.

Ms. Hennig is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in the field of talking to children about HD. She has written a book called, “Talking to Kids About Huntington’s Disease: a book for people who know children with HD in their family”. The book has been translated into five languages and she has lectured extensively on this topic in the United States and abroad.

In September 2000, Ms. Hennig initiated and continues to facilitate an ongoing, monthly caregivers’ support group. She provides in-services on Huntington’s Disease to nursing facilities and home care agencies. She has also provided lectures on Huntington’s Disease to licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

Ms. Hennig has been a lead coordinator on numerous studies including the Huntington Study Group (HGS) supported CREST-E and Reach2HD clinical trials. She has developed substantial expertise in working with an IRB fully accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP).

Ms. Hennig has been a member of the Huntington Study Group Educational Committee for three years and presented, “Approaching COHORT Subject About Involving Kids in Research” at the 2008 HSG annual meeting, “One Site’s Experience with an Internal IRB Audit” at the 2011 HSG annual meeting and “Practical Tips and the Impact of Obtaining Disability Benefits” at the 2012 HSG annual meeting. She has been an active member of the HSG Project AWARE committee since its inception in 2010. The aim of Project AWARE is to improve patient and family awareness, willingness and ability to participate in clinical research. In addition, Ms. Hennig was elected by her peers as the Study Coordinator for the Executive Committee of the Huntington Study Group.

Ms. Hennig serves as a liaison for the local HDSA affiliate in Connecticut and is an advisor to the Huntington’s Disease Youth Organization (HDYO). She is a founding member of Aim for a Cure, a local Connecticut organization whose goal is to raise money for HD research and awareness. Ms. Hennig is a member of the European Huntington Disease Network (EHDN) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Selected Presentations:
As a liaison to the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) and the Huntington Disease Association (HDA), Ms. Hennig has spoken to national and international audiences about the topic of helping children cope in a family affected by Huntington’s Disease.

Publications:
The Emotional Experience of Family Carers in Huntington disease, Janet K. Williams, Heather Skirton, Jane S. Paulsen, Toni Tripp-Reimer, Lori Jarmon, Megan McGonigal Kenney, Emily Birrer, Bonnie L. Hennig and Joann Honeyford. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(4), 789-798.

The Determinants of Subjective Suffering in Patients with Huntington's Disease, Duffy JD, Hennig B, Fitzpatrick MJ, Tanev K, Deckel AW. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 8:1, pp.183-184, February 2005.

Correlates of Apathy in Early-Stage and Mid-Stage Huntington’s Disease, Duffy JD, Hennig B, Tanev K, Fitzpatrick MJ, Deckel AW. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 16:2, pp. 220, Spring 2004.

Correlates of Subjective Suffering in Patients Diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, Duffy JD, Hennig B, Fitzpatrick MJ, Tanev K, Deckel AW. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 16:2, pp. 219-220, Spring 2004.

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Early and Mid-Stage Huntington’s Disease, Bullard S, Doherty E, Duffy JD, Hennig B, Fitzpatrick MJ, Deckel AW. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 15:2, p. 269, 2003.

Neurobehavioral Characteristics of Patients with Early and Mid-Stage Huntington’s Disease, Spencer S, Duffy JD, Bullard S, Doherty E, Fitzpatrick MJ, Hennig B, Deckel AW. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 15:2, p. 268-269, May 2003.

The Determinants of Subjective Quality of Life in Patients with Huntington’s Disease, Duffy JD, Doherty E, Bullard S, Fitzpatrick MJ, Hennig B, Deckel AW, The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 15:2, pp. 268, May 2003.

Talking to Kids About Huntington’s Disease: A book for people who know children with HD in their family, www.talkingtokidsabouthd.com , 2003.
Coping with Cancer, Cancer Currents, Volume 2-Number 1, Fall-Winter, 1993-1994.