Cynthia Jenkins, LMHP

Cynthia Jenkins is a licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP) with 34 years of experience helping people cope with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and major life changes. She focuses on practical steps to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning. Cynthia draws on several therapeutic styles to match each person's needs.

She often uses cognitive behavioral approaches to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. Client-centered work is part of her style, which means she listens closely and follows the client's lead. Dialectical behavior strategies are used when people need skills for emotion regulation and managing intense feelings.

Cynthia has worked in a range of community settings, including university and senior counseling centers and low-income communities. She has also taught psychology at universities in Nebraska, Texas, and Missouri, and trained postgraduate students preparing for board exams in medicine and dentistry.

Her background includes a PhD in social psychology and long experience exploring social and cultural conflict in different countries. She draws on that multicultural perspective when addressing issues such as family of origin concerns, multicultural challenges, and identity questions.

In sessions she aims to be direct, respectful, and practical. People can expect discussions about goals, tried-and-true tools to practice between meetings, and check-ins on what is or isn’t helping. Cynthia also brings creativity and life experience, including an interest in art, nature, and environmental values, into her work when it fits the client's goals.

How Cynthia’s approaches work online

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and anger by giving clear exercises to practice between sessions.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental relationship where the client sets the pace. That approach helps people who need understanding and space to find their own solutions.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy adds practical skills for managing intense emotion and improving communication. It can be useful when strong moods, relationship conflict, or self-directed anger get in the way of daily life.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit their needs, and adjust the plan as progress is tracked.

Online sessions offer flexibility in how people connect. Video calls work well for face-to-face conversation and teaching skills. Phone sessions can fit a shorter check-in or work better when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging let clients share thoughts between meetings or when typing feels easier than speaking.

These formats make it simpler to fit therapy into busy schedules, to continue support through life transitions, and to use tools learned in session in real time.