About Jenice Acosta, LCSW

You don’t have to navigate this all on your own.

I’m a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in trauma, grief, & first responders. I support clients in NYC and online throughout NY & NJ.

please Hear me when I say:

Life doesn’t have to feel like this. There is hope on the horizon.

I want you to know that you are the expert of your life… past and present. I am here to help you illuminate your unique path, while you take meaningful steps towards a brighter future.


I work with adults, especially first responders, who are stuck in cycles of shame, people pleasing and anxiety, so they can heal from painful experiences or trauma, move through grief and find self-compassion and connection.

Together, we’ll untangle the cycles that are keeping you stuck, and quiet the noise in your head and the world around you.

From our initial consultation call, you will feel heard, validated, and understood. It takes a great deal of courage to reach out for support, and I honor that by being fully present and committed to walking alongside you. 

Throughout our sessions together, you will develop new insights about yourself, your past, and discover how meaningful and liberating your future can be. We’ll gently dig to uncover the roots of the pain you’ve been experiencing, identify the parts that are seeking nurturing and healing, and develop skills that can support you in this moment and beyond. 


Therapy with me is a judgment-free space to release painful experiences and shed tears.

It is also a space where we will laugh, celebrate, roll our eyes in disbelief, and drop the occasional f-bomb.

Family and friends mean well, but oftentimes, they just don’t get it or say the wrong thing, no matter how well intentioned they are.


Podcasts, self-help books, and social media can only bring us so far in our journey of healing. Sure, some of the material is relevant and relatable, but it’s impossible to put it all together into a helpful plan that leads to lasting change.

You deserve a space and care that does lead to lasting change, and is custom-made just for you. 


Our sessions belong to you and are tailored to you. While you are letting go of whatever you are bringing to session that day, I will always keep your goals at top of mind and make sure we are always working towards achieving them.

As a woman who was raised in a large Puerto Rican family…

I understand how complicated family and cultural dynamics, unjust social systems, and generational trauma can subconsciously cast a shadow over how we feel in and navigate the world around us.

I also deeply understand how transformational and illuminating it can be when a person has a safe and confidential space to put down the backpack of guilt and pain they’ve been carrying. 

We are all humans who have their own story, and I am no different.

I have my own personal experiences with trauma, grief, and anxiety, and I take pride and responsibility in maintaining my own mental health to ensure that I always show up as my best self to support you.

For that reason, your darkest thoughts and most distressing experiences or thoughts will never be “too much” or a burden for me, and for us to explore. When we work together, you can feel confident that you are not only getting a competent therapist, but someone who actually gets it.

How we’ll help you find your light

  • BioPsychoSocial

    A BioPsychoSocial approach is a holistic way of recognizing and addressing the relationship between your body, mind, and environment.

    While this isn’t a direct therapeutic modality, I use this comprehensive framework to develop an understanding of your lived experiences, so our sessions will be tailored to you and your unique challenges.

  • Parts Work

    We all have different parts inside of us that are working to protect us in the best way they know how. However, when these different parts are activated, it can feel like internal conflict or look like emotional dysregulation.

    I utilize parts work to help understand, integrate and harmonize these parts of us, which can lead to improved self-awareness and emotional balance.

  • CBT & DBT

    CBT (known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns, while developing healthier and more adaptive thoughts and behaviors.

    DBT ( known as Dialectical Behavior Therapy) focuses on developing coping skills to help us accept and manage intense emotions, while fostering resilience and self-awareness.

    I draw on these methods because they are evidence-based practices that help to reduce distress, improve emotional regulation and enhance overall well-being.

  • Mindfulness

    While mindfulness has the reputation for being all “cumbayah” and granola, it can increase awareness of the present, enhance emotional regulation, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve focus and clarity.

    I integrate mindfulness throughout sessions and see it as a resource that helps clients foster self-compassion, reduce distress and foster healing.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Now

specializing in:

  • Southern Connecticut State University - B.A. Psychology - 2012

  • Fordham University - Master of Social Work - 2014

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker - New York & New Jersey

  • CCTP-II - Certified Clinical Trauma Professional - Level 2

  • SIFI - Seminar Training in Field Instruction Certificate

My Training & Education

  • Certified Master Trainer - Managing Stress & Trauma Recovery - Center for Trauma and Stress Education

  • One-Year Program in Modern Psychoanalysis - Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Mindfulness

Why


Painful experiences and loss can cast a cloud of shame and guilt over our everyday life, to a point that we just want to crawl into the darkness and never again see the light of day. 

Sunlight is viewed in many cultures as cleansing and healing. It also embodies the essence of hope, clarity, and renewal. Just as sunlight illuminates and dispels darkness, I aim to shine a guiding light for you as we navigate the profound challenges of trauma, painful experiences, shame and grief. Together, we will find a way out of the shadows, embrace growth and illuminate your path towards a brighter, more hopeful future.

Your needs matter too.

“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light”

-Brené Brown