Judy Crane, author of The Trauma Heart, has over three decades of clinical experience in the field of trauma and substance use disorders. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of Guest House Ocala. 

Prior to that she founded and developed one of the nation’s leading treatment centers specializing in trauma and substance use disorders, as well as the development of Spirit 2 Spirit, a trauma certification program for clinical therapists. She currently serves as a consultant for many of the country’s leading treatment centers.

Judy has presented workshops, trainings and has been a keynote speaker on PTSD nationally and internationally since 2009. She has been the recipient of multiple awards including High Watch Recovery Center’s Marty Mann Award, NAATP’s CEO of the Year and the 2023 Nelson Bradley Career Achievement Award, and Behavioral Health Champion in recognition for her contribution through life changing therapies to those suffering from mental health and substance use disorders.

Judy has recognized the need for the treatment industry to be able to create congruency in supporting recovery and wellness within an organization; essentially “taking care of our own.”

www.judytcrane.com/about-judy

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. I got sober on August 4th, 1987 and have had an interesting and imperfect recovery like most people; a couple of times I didn’t entrench myself vigilantly in program. When that happened, I was quickly reminded how important my community was to me and how quickly I needed to re-embrace the fellowship. 

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Robert Downey, Jr. His bottom was so low and he was the most amazing actor a wonderful man who did terrible things in his addiction like the rest of us but came out humble asking for help and has been living a life as a great example and helping thousands of alcoholics and addicts. He found purpose in his life and passion. 

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. I would absolutely live by the ocean on the beach with everything in my body to feel, smell touch and taste it. The beauty of the ocean is my safe, safe place. 

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. The words that I repeat over and over again. His will not mine, what would you have me do. Please guide me to your will. 

Q. How do you measure success?

A. I measure success by the smiles and the joy by the intimacy I see in the faces of my grandchildren and child seeing me as I am, a woman in recovery not as the monster I was in my addiction. 

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. This question has allowed me to look back and see that one after another after another there were people who were put into my life to say, Yes, you can, Yes, you can and so I did. 

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. Mario Puzo, Tennessee Williams, James Patterson and Shakespeare because one of them was bound to be drunk.

Q. What is a phrase that has kept you afloat during hard times?

A. I will never settle for less than I deserve.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Defiance with Daniel Craig Liev Schrieber and the Birdcage with Robin Wiliams and Nathan Lane.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. I love the intimate connections I have with so many people. 

Q. Is there anything you do that seems mundane on the surface but has turned out to be sacred for you?

A. Catching sleep and rest whenever I can.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series? 

A. Binge watching 22 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy which helps remove me from the trauma I ingest every day and helps me to shake off the extra cortisol I have taken on while holding space for our Guests. 

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Robin Wiliams; the man could perform at the drop of a nickel and bring me to tears or bring me to laughter. 

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Joyful, passionate and sometime irascible; good mama bad mama. 

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Istanbul, I love the exotic east and west of it. I love London because of the deep, deep history and the energy of the town. I love NY for similar reasons and both London and NY have great theater. 

Q. What is the best and or worse piece of advice someone has given you?

A. The worst came from my mother who said. You don’t need to go to college, go to the insurance company like your sister and find a man to marry. 

Best piece of advice was to listen to the voices and the energy from your heart.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Never settle for less than you deserve. 

Q. Have you ever been arrested and, if so, what for?

A. Multiple times, always drug and alcohol related and once a gun charge; and that outa keep ‘em guessing. 

Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?

A. When kids come in and just yell Yada with a big smile and happy to see me. 

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. When someone comes up to me and sys when you said … it helped me change my life; and I invariably don’t remember what I said because it wasn’t my voice it was HP. 

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. That I truly live one day at a time and one moment at a time and the universe always surprises me when I do. 

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. My biggest fear is that I can’t protect the people I love from hurt and wounds. 

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

A. The beach in Aruba. This is my very favorite place to go alone.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. As smart as I am, how am I ever gonna catch up with AI and all the new tech things that will come. 

Q. What is the hardest amends you’ve ever had to make?

A. The hardest amends I ever had to make were to my children who were each born with a different drug amidst my addiction.

Q. Where did you go wrong?

A. Early on, not trusting myself enough.

Q. Where did you go right?

A. I began to live life as though it’s a mindfulness meditation, savoring every moment.

Q. How important is human connection?

A. It is one of the most important things in my life. I am a people person, and I am filled up by the juice and energy of other people. I love that I found 12-step community because it has taught me connections are everywhere. I love people.