Dr. Amy Jenks, Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Amy Jenks, Licensed Psychologist
Anxiety Disorder and Sleep Specialist
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UCSF
Dr. Jenks provides effective, evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders and insomnia. Dr. Jenks has extensive training and experience in CBT and ACT therapy. She aims to provide treatment that is individualized, collaborative, effective, and timely. Dr. Jenks’ areas of specialization include OCD in both children and adults, PTSD, and insomnia.
In addition to private practice she is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSF. At UCSF Dr. Jenks teaches seminars on OCD and PTSD to psychiatry residents.
Background and Training
Dr. Jenks received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University in Portland, Oregon. She completed her Clinical Psychology Internship at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Her Postdoctoral Fellowship was completed at the San Diego VA Medical Center and the Veterans Medical Research Foundation.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder / OCD
After moving to the Bay Area Dr. Jenks attended the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) at the University of North Carolina with leading experts in OCD. Dr. Jenks has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of obsessions and compulsions. Dr. Jenks has worked with individuals with obsessions related to contamination (e.g. germs, disease, contaminants), fears of losing control (e.g. acting on impulse, violent images), fears related to harm (e.g. not being careful enough), perfectionism (e.g. evenness, exactness), and unwanted sexual thoughts. Dr. Jenks treats a large number of individuals who suffer with homosexual obsessions and other sexual thoughts. Treatment for these types of obsessions is highly effective and often greatly reduces feelings of shame and fear. Dr. Jenks uses Exposure and Response Prevention therapy which is recognized as first-line treatment for OCD. Dr. Jenks often incorporates strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into treatment which emphasize mindfulness, acceptance, and values.
Insomnia
While at the San Diego VA Dr. Jenks worked at the Laboratory for Sleep and Behavioral Neuroscience where she received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy. When working with individuals with insomnia Dr. Jenks uses approaches that have been shown to effectively improve sleep quality and quantity. In addition to CBT Dr. Jenks often incorporates mindfulness and acceptance strategies into treatment.
PTSD
During her fellowship she participated in an intensive training program in Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD with Dr. Edna Foa at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. As a result she is certified by Dr. Edna Foa in Prolonged Exposure treatment for PTSD. When treating PTSD Dr. Jenks uses evidence-based treatment practices which include exposure and cognitive processing.
Dr. Amy Jenks
License PSY24451