Meet Jada
Jada Hudson, LCPC, CADC, is a counselor and therapist working exclusively with first responders. Through Hudson Clinical Counseling, in-person appearances, and innovative wellness and first responder programs and publications, Jada helps people in uniquely demanding jobs heal, grow, and thrive.
In her therapy practice, Jada counsels first responders experiencing occupational stress and trauma who might struggle to manage life’s transitions or emotional challenges. She uses client-centered therapy, so clients take an active role in employing strategies for healing. Jada creates safe, non-judgmental, and open experiences to guide people to resolution or adaptation to their life challenges. In addition, she offers Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Yoga Therapy for people experiencing trauma and PTSD and looking for swift solutions.
Jada trained specifically to counsel firefighters, police officers, dispatch, emergency medical personnel, and other law enforcement officers. In addition, she works with ER doctors, nurses, EMTs, prosecutors, and first responder substance abuse programs. Serving departments of all sizes, Jada supplies mental health check-ins for law enforcement and designs wellness programs for first responders.
Jada proudly served on the advisory curriculum committee for the Illinois Fire Service Institute and is currently on the advisory board for Cornerstone Retreat Center (a safe place for first responders and their families to connect, learn, and recover from the unique stresses of the job in a camp-like setting). In addition, she works with the Badge of Life as an Ambassador for the Chicago, Illinois region. The Badge of Life educates and trains law enforcement about mental health and suicide prevention. As an ambassador for the Badge of Life, she uses their protocol to perform mental health check-ins on first responders.
Author of the book Firefighter Emotional Wellness: How to Reconnect with Yourself and Others, Jada is a regular contributor to Fire Engineering Magazine and Fire Rescue Magazine and a popular speaker at FDIC (Fire Department International Conference), The Women in Fire Conference, The National Fire Academy, and other industry gatherings.
Jada was raised in a first responder family and is proud to support public safety professionals. Due to her experiences sharing her life and home with first responders, she has a strong passion for understanding what they experience in their jobs, minds, and hearts, and within their families.