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About

Dailyn Acosta, PhD

I am a licensed clinical psychologist offering individual therapy services to adults, as well as immigration evaluation services. With specialized training and experience in clinical and health psychology, I have worked with diverse populations in various settings, including behavioral health clinics, inpatient and outpatient medical services, community mental health outreach, home-based services, juvenile detention and adult probation centers. I integrate principles from multiple evidence-based theories and interventions to customize therapy to each individual's unique needs.

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My services are available in both English and Spanish. I obtained my Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Notre Dame and completed my doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at the APA-accredited program at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Additionally, I completed my postdoctoral fellowship with the Irving Harris Program in Child Development and Infant Mental Health at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. I trained as an infant mental health specialist and completed certification in perinatal mental health from Postpartum Support International. Throughout my career, I have presented grant-funded research at national conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals, and co-authored textbook chapters.

Dailyn Acosta cover photo

Education and Professional Background

Photo from my office

  • Former NICU Psychologist, 

Children’s Health

  • Former Assistant Professor, Psychology, 

UT Southwestern Medical Center

  • Former Infant Mental Health Mentor-Research/Faculty, 

First 3 Years TX

University of Colorado School of Medicine

  • Psychology Fellow, Irving Harris Program in Child Development and Infant  Mental Health,   

  • Clinical Psychology, PhD, 

UT Southwestern Medical Center

  • Political Science and Spanish, B.A.,

University of Notre Dame

  • Iberian and Latin American Literatures, M.A,

University of Notre Dame

Invited Lectures
& Presentations

(Full list available upon request)

  • 2023, Trauma-Informed Care for Health Care Providers, Pediatric Dysphagia Symposium Conference, Children's Health

  • 2023, Supportive Parent and Infant Care Interactions in a Neuro NICU. Acosta, D. & Bordier, E., Children's Health NICU

  • 2023, Postpartum Mental Health, Children’s Health Rehabilitation and Therapy Services

  • 2022, When to Ask for Help as a Parent of a Baby in the NICU [Spanish], Hand to Hold Conference, Virtual

  • 2022, Feasibility and Acceptability of a Motivational Interviewing Intervention to Increase Maternal Presence in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gravens Conference

Invited Lectures, books

Publications

Publications, laptop

  • El-Behadli, A. F., Germann, J. N., Pratt, C., Acosta, D., Montiel-Esparza, R., Alvarez, N., Winick, N., & Faith, M. A. (2022). Culturally adapted motivational interviewing for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia adherence: Feasibility and acceptability. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology.

  • Hoge, M.K., Heyne, E., Nicholson, T.D., Acosta, D., Mir, I., Brown, S., Heyne, R., Shaw, R., & Chalak, L. (2021). Vulnerable Child Syndrome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A review and a new preventative intervention with feasibility and parental satisfaction data. Early Human Development.

  • Browne, J., Martinez, D., & Talmi, A. (2016). Infant Mental Health (IMH) in the Intensive Care Unit: Considerations for the Infant, the Family and the Staff. Newborn & Infant Nursing Reviews, 16, 274-280.

  • Margolis, K., Dunn, D., Herbst, R., Bunik, M., Buchholz, M., Martinez, D., & Talmi, A. (2015). Mi Bebé y Yo: A primary care group for Latina/o infants and their Spanish-speaking caregivers. Zero to Three Journal, 35(4), 35 – 43.

Book Chapters

  • Willis, T., Dowtin, L., Acosta, D., & Hansen, K. (2022). Roles, Activities, and Opportunities of Behavioral Health Clinicians in Delivering Continuity of Care. In Behavioral Health Services with High-Risk Infants and Families: Meeting the Needs of Patients, Families, and Providers in Fetal, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and Neonatal Follow-Up Settings. Oxford University Press.

  • Hooper, S., Wetherington, C. & Martinez, D. (2013). Typical Development and Factors Affecting Development. In S.R. Hooper and W. Umansky (Ed.), Young children with special needs. New Jersey: Pearson.

Prior research grant support

Impact of a motivational interviewing intervention on mothers’ visitation patterns in a level IV NICU (2018) 

Principal Investigator: Acosta, D.  

Jerry M. Lewis, M.D. Mental Health Research Foundation

Boook, Behavioral Health
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