Shirelle Jenkins

I am a licensed professional therapist with a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Monmouth University. I have extensive experience working with individuals facing a wide range of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses.

My clinical work also encompasses support for individuals navigating family dynamics, relationship concerns, identity development, and phase-of-life transitions. I am committed to providing a compassionate, client-centered approach that fosters growth, resilience, and meaningful change.

I practice a multifaceted, evidence‐informed approach that is tailored to the unique needs of each client. My work draws from several therapeutic modalities, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — exploring and challenging unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors; building skills for coping, problem solving, and emotion regulation.
• Trauma‐Focused CBT (TF‐CBT) — integrating interventions that address the impact of past traumas, helping clients process traumatic experiences, re‐regulate emotions, and make sense of their symptoms in a safe, structured way. Wikipedia+2Acciyo+2
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — supporting clients in managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, enhancing mindfulness, and strengthening interpersonal effectiveness. Wikipedia+2Acciyo+2
• Client‐Centered / Person‐Centered Therapy — emphasizing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness; creating a safe, nonjudgmental space in which clients can explore their own path toward growth. Wikipedia+2BHCSMT+2

Core Principles I Uphold

1. Safety & Trust — I strive to maintain a judgment‐free environment where clients feel heard, respected, and emotionally safe.
2. Trauma‐Informed Care — recognizing how past trauma affects current functioning; taking care to avoid re‐traumatization; pacing treatment in ways that support stability, regulation, and empowerment.
3. Client Agency & Collaboration — you are the expert in your experience. We work together to set goals, choose strategies, and adapt therapy to fit your values, needs, and pace.
4. Flexibility — no single modality is “one size fits all.” Depending on your presenting concerns, I draw from different techniques and approaches in service of what helps you most.
5. Holistic Focus — attending to thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, identity, and life transitions, understanding how they interact.

What You Can Expect in Therapy with Me

• A warm, validating space to discuss your thoughts and feelings openly, without fear of judgment.
• Together, we’ll clarify what’s important to you: your values, your goals, what “change” looks like in your life.
• We may use structured interventions (e.g. CBT worksheets, behavioral experiments, DBT skill work) as well as more exploratory, reflective work (e.g. identity, meaning, relational patterns).
• We’ll attend carefully to any traumatic history or distress — building safety, regulation, and coping skills before moving into deeper work.
• Progress is collaborative — we’ll regularly check in on what’s working, what feels difficult, and adjust accordingly.