Michael Jenkins , LMFT

Michael Jenkins is an LMFT - a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - licensed in Tennessee and Virginia with 25 years of professional experience. He has worked with individuals and couples around issues such as stress and anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, depression, anger, self-esteem concerns, intimacy-related problems, and major life changes. He also focuses on areas including abandonment, communication problems, divorce and separation, forgiveness, life purpose, veteran and armed forces issues, and post-traumatic stress.

Jenkins emphasizes an open, nonjudgmental space where clients are invited to share thoughts and feelings and to explore changes at a pace that feels manageable. He frames the first step toward a more fulfilling life as an act of courage and positions himself as a supportive collaborator in that process, helping clients clarify goals and identify practical steps forward.

He provides Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a trauma-informed therapy appropriate for addressing major traumatic events and developmental trauma from childhood and useful in other situations that involve troubling memories or emotional patterns. He is willing to discuss EMDR with clients who are curious whether it may help their concerns. He is available on Tuesday through Thursday afternoons, from 12:30 to 3:30 pm Eastern time.

Approaches for online therapy with evidence-based methods

Michael Jenkins integrates several therapeutic approaches that adapt well to remote work. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps clients and couples identify and reshape patterns in their emotional bonds by focusing on core feelings and attachment needs - it is often used for relationship rifts and intimacy-related concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the therapist’s empathetic presence and the client’s own capacity for growth - it supports exploration of self-esteem, life purpose, and coping with change by prioritizing the client’s perspective and goals. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is offered for trauma-related symptoms and problematic memory networks; in this approach the therapist guides bilateral stimulation alongside memory processing to reduce the intensity of distressing memories.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Jenkins works collaboratively with clients and other licensed professionals to determine which methods best match a client’s needs, goals, and preferences, and adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - clients can meet by video call, arrange phone sessions, or engage through live chat and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to attend sessions across schedules and locations, support continuity of care, and allow therapists to tailor session formats to each client’s needs.