About Judith Acosta and Verbal First Aid

Judith Acosta, LISW, Cht, is a licensed psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and crisis counselor, as well as a classically trained homeopath. This is her second collaboration with Judith Prager: the first as the co-author of The Worst is Over (Jodere, 2002), hailed as the “Bible of Crisis Communications” and now, Verbal First Aid (Penguin, 2010).

She has written countless articles on Verbal First Aid, culture and the media, religion and mental health, trauma, and alternative medicine. She has had a regular column with the Journal of Emergency Medical Services on Verbal First Aid and communication strategies for use in the field, is a regular contributor to Opednews, Future Health, The Sandoval Signpost, and American Thinker.

Since 1994, she has trained paramedics, fire fighters, police officers and medical professionals in therapeutic communication and Verbal First Aid around the United States and has served with POPPA, a non-profit peer support organization for the New York City Police Department. She has also given seminars on animal-assisted therapy, trauma and burnout, stress reduction, and workplace risk/crisis management to corporations and private groups.

A Verbal First Aid moment.

A graduate of Fordham University, she has been in private practice as a licensed clinical social worker for nearly 25 years. Starting in the treatment of rape crisis and addictions, she now specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression and grief in adults and adolescents. She is based in Placitas, NM with her husband and rescue dogs, one of which she uses in treatment. She brings many years of successful experience to clients all over the country and may be reached at her website:  www.wordsaremedicine.com or via skype.

Ty, the First Therapy Dog

Chucho, The Golden Healer