Bio

Meet Michael Jenkins

U.S. Army combat veteran and Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years of combined military and clinical experience in trauma, crisis response, and high-stress populations.

Approach

The work is direct, trauma-informed, and practical. We identify the pattern, map what is sustaining it, and build a clear plan you can apply in daily life.

Sessions are designed for function, not theory. You leave with language, structure, and next actions that hold up between sessions. The focus is on what works for your life right now, not abstract insight.

For military and veteran clients, this means meeting the operational mindset where it is: clear, direct, outcome-focused, and built on practical function under pressure. For anyone carrying operational stress, trauma, or critical incident exposure, the framework is the same. Everything connects to identity, readiness, and relationships.

Background

Michael is the owner and lead therapist at Never Forgotten Services, PLLC. He is also the Co-Founder of The Anchor Point, a nonprofit focused on peer support and mental wellness resources for veterans, first responders, and their families.

Prior roles include therapist, crisis team lead, and commissioned officer in the United States Army. His Army service included leadership in high-stress operational environments, including combat deployment, where rapid decision-making, mission focus, and team resilience were not optional.

That military foundation directly informs his clinical work today: clear communication under pressure, practical structure, and a deep understanding of how trauma and operational stress impact identity, relationships, and long-term function.

Credentials snapshot

Specialized training in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, crisis intervention, and peer support operations.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Illinois License #149021461.
Master of Social Work, University of Illinois, 2017. Clinical focus: trauma, systems, and family dynamics.
Master of Science, Environmental Management, Webster University, 2011.
Bachelor of Arts, Biology, University of Missouri-Rolla, 2006.

Clinical focus

Trauma-focused therapy and acute stress disorders.
Anxiety and depressive disorders.
Mood disorders and emotional dysregulation.
Relationship and interpersonal issues.
Veteran and first responder mental health services.
Substance use disorders and recovery support.
Crisis assessment and acute intervention.
Occupational burnout, moral injury, and reintegration.
Complicated grief and bereavement.
Critical incident stress debriefing.
Executive leadership consultation and training.

Getting started

The first step is a brief fit conversation. We discuss what brought you in, what you're hoping to change, and whether this work is the right fit for your needs right now. No pressure, no sales pitch.

Sessions are offered Monday through Friday. Most initial clients book a weekly standing time and adjust frequency based on what is working. Virtual or in-person options available for Illinois-based clients.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois. Therapy is available to Illinois residents only.

If you are outside Illinois, you can still use the guided assistant and site resources.

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