Meet our Therapist: Kim Cinko
If you’re looking for therapy services in Lancaster, Integrate Therapy + Wellness Collective offers a diverse team of mental health professionals ready to help you find treatment for depression, anxiety disorders, assist with stress management and more.
Kim Cinko is a Licensed Social Worker and mental health therapist who has joined our team in Lancaster, PA. She says that she always felt compelled to understand the human mind. “I’ve been drawn to people’s interior worlds my whole life. When I started my undergraduate degree, I thought I might major in psychology. But then English literature and languages, and art and design, pulled me in other directions. Mental health is a career change for me, but one that’s brought me back to my first interest.”
One of Kim’s specialties is working with those in the LGBTQIA+ community and underserved populations. People who identify as a part of these groups may face unique challenges in their lives that require a therapist to take a different approach to treatment. “The LGBTQ community, people of color, people with disabilities, tribal communities, older adults and more face discrimination and systemic challenges that can impact mental health,” she explains. “I’m a social worker, so I have a holistic approach to mental health that includes all aspects of a client’s life. My training helps me to create culturally relevant and respectful interventions with those systemic issues in mind.”
One way to practice holistic healing is through mindfulness exercises. Kim shares that she’s deliberate about centering her energy and quieting her mind between appointments. “Every client deserves to have their therapist grounded and ready to receive them with an open mind and acceptance,” she urges. “I use the same breathing and mindfulness exercises that I share with my clients, so I practice what I teach. “
Speaking of taking your own advice, Kim herself knows the benefits of good counseling. “Therapy helped me to understand important relationship dynamics and my role in them. It was a safe place to process at a time when I felt I didn’t want to bother friends and family.”
We asked Kim to share her thoughts on the stigmas surrounding mental health and how people’s perception has changed over time, and she brought up very salient points that demonstrate her knowledge of cultural elements that shape a person: “I think stigma varies from region to region and shows up differently in different communities. In general, I think the conversation on mental health is much more mainstream now than 10-20 years ago. I’d like to see more men taking better care of their mental health; that’s one stigma I think still lingers.”
Kim offers this piece of advice to those who want to get help from a therapist: “Healing can be uncomfortable, hard work. You don’t need to do it alone.”
If you find yourself wondering, “Where can I get help?” reach out to our compassionate team of licensed therapists in Lancaster today.
