"I really believe that when a person has been emotionally abused, emotionally traumatized, it has affected them in such a way that unless they're able to work through that, it's going to affect all of their relationships, their communication," Jenkins said.
Jenkins' mission is to help Soldiers cope with and overcome the emotional triggers (such as childhood abuse, maltreatment, neglect and bullying) that have plagued them from their pre-military life.
"When a child is bullied, it really affects their self-esteem," Jenkins said. "They grow up with that low self-esteem, and they enter adulthood with low self-esteem, and it effects them in such a way that we have to talk about that."
Talking is just the first step for Jenkins. Before she can develop a treatment plan for her Soldiers, she needs to develop a bond of trust between them. Once that trust is built, the Soldiers know they are coming to a safe space with her, where they can let down their emotional armor and be vulnerable.
"That is why it is so important," Jenkins said. "Cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive restructuring, helping them to think differently because what other people say to us about us, we believe those negative things . . . and then because we believe those negative things, we begin to carry ourselves in such a way that it's like 'ok well, what they said about me must be true.' "
It can be a daunting process to combating negative perception, especially when it involves a Soldier's own self worth, one that Jenkins gladly perseveres through to help her Soldiers heal.
"I look forward to helping, and I want to see their lives improve," Jenkins said. "I don't want anyone to come to my office and to meet with me for six weeks, six months, and they're not better at the end of our sessions. I don't want that. I want to see someone improve."
Jenkins' goal as a substance abuse counselor is to help Soldiers heal and acknowledge their self worth, assisting them in surpassing their goals and maintaining readiness.
Since becoming a substance abuse counselor at Winn, Jenkins has developed many tools and techniques to raise awareness against emotional trauma, bullying and negative perception. She has even gone so far as to compose, sing, and implement an anti-bullying anthem for a friend who was spearheading the first Hinesville anti-bullying rally.
"I called her, and I sang the first stanza, and she was in tears on the phone, and so I knew ok …I need to finish this song this week," Jenkins said.
For Jenkins, the song came from a special place in her heart, but also from the duty she feels to help others as a behavioral health counselor and social worker.
"Even though my case load may consist of Soldiers, well, those Soldiers have children. Those Soldiers have families, and if I can just help provide some positive message to those children, well those children might not end up in my office one day or might not end up needing behavioral health counseling one day."
Jenkins supports Soldiers and their families through her vocation, whether by supporting mission readiness at Winn or collaborating with the community to promote anti-bullying awareness.
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