Jacksonville University Athletics, in coordination with Jacksonville University Student Counseling Center, announced the addition of Dr. Jaime Jenkins as the new Director of Athletics Counseling and Sports Psychology Services.
Dr. Jenkins will serve as a mental health counselor specifically tailored for student-athletes.
"Holistic care of our student-athletes is so much more than physical development alone and we're lucky to welcome Dr. Jenkins, who brings a wealth of knowledge with her to the Dolphins," said Deputy AD Rick Canter. "She will surely make a massive impact on student-athlete well-being and we're grateful to welcome her expertise."
"I am excited to join the impressive student-athletes, coaches, athletic and academic staff, faculty and administrators of the JU community," said Dr. Jenkins. "From my days as a student athlete at Florida and continuing over the last 20 years working as an academic and mental health sport counselor for countless UF student athletes, I believe optimal life and team success requires the alignment of an athletes' mental and physical health."
She arrives at JU to assume a newly created position meant to help provide student-athletes with more resources surrounding their mental health and wellness. For the first time, JU will have an embedded mental health counselor in the athletic department. She will work with Dr. Derek Mann; whose role involves performance coaching of student-athletes. Additionally, she will have oversight of counseling graduate assistants and interns.
A former track and field athlete at the University of Florida, prior to joining JU she previously served in an athletic counseling capacity at her alma mater for over 20 years while also working in the private sector as a counselor, specializing in adolescent counseling, anxiety and cognitive behavioral therapy. Her most recent role at UF was Mental Health Consultant and Clinical Provider, where she provided crisis intervention services, team outreach and individual therapy for student-athletes. Her areas of expertise include addressing issues of anxiety, performance anxiety, biofeedback, depression, relational concerns, disordered eating, identity development and social justice advocacy.
She has extensive experience in working in conjunction with team physicians, athletic trainers, nutritionists, strength and conditioning coaches, administrators, academic advisors and other members of the medical team with documented ROI.
Previously in her career, she was part of the Clinical Faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Counseling and Wellness Center at Florida and a UF Faculty Academic Counselor with Athletics and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She has also worked as a Couples and Family Counselor with Corner Drug Store and as a Substance Abuse Counselor with the Marion Citrus Mental Health Center.
She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Mental Health Counseling at Florida, and did her dissertation on "A Gendered Perspective on the Examination of Relational Health, Stress and Coping and Athlete Satisfaction among Female College Athletes." She also has a Specialist and Masters in Mental Health Counseling and a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science, also earned at Florida.
"The stresses college students experience during a time of many life transitions inform my commitment to normalize conversations about mental health and to make it culturally convenient to seek the support needed," said Dr. Jenkins. "The special family atmosphere one feels soon after visiting the JU campus leaves me with no doubt the JU student athlete will enjoy successes only achievable from the wellness of both the mind and body."
Dr. Jenkins is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida, and Approved Clinical Supervisor, is a National Board Certified Counselor and a professional member of the Clinical and Counseling Sport Psychology Association.
Original source can be found here.
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