Quick Page Links: Preferred Services | Appointments and Office Hours | Cancellations | Insurance, Co-Pays and Deductibles | Payment Options | Why Self-Pay? | Clinical/Coaching Services | Contact Information
Clinical Services
Dr. Hickman’s clinical specialties include trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders (specializing in binge eating/compulsive overeating) and relationship conflicts (family, couples, parent-child). She is particularly interested in the application of brain science to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention beyond what talk-therapy has historically accomplished. To this end, Dr. Hickman uses or coordinates with other practitioners of EMDR, Rapid Trauma Resolution, Therapeutic Guided Imagery, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Biofeedback, Mindfulness, and Meditation as needed to maximize results.
Transformational Life Coaching:
Blend of Coaching and Clinical Intervention
If Dr. Hickman is passionate about anything, she is passionate about forward motion. As an entrepreneur and dedicated businesswoman, Dr. Hickman is invested in helping a variety of individual such as entrepreneurs, creative individuals/artists, women in business and other motivated individuals to create their dreams and craft a life worth living…one that exudes energy, excitement, and contentment in the experience of success. Many people have good intentions and even great ideas, but few search out the knowledge or gather the support to bring their dreams to life. Whether your ideas or goals are only partially formed or all grown up — it is never too late to take that next step. Do you have an idea tucked away in a secret corner, begging for attention? Are you ready to take that next step but keep striking hidden roadblocks? Then now is the time to move forward, create your dreams and live life loud!
In coaching, Dr. Hickman uses a unique blend of coaching and therapeutic intervention to achieve results for individuals ready to make significant life changes. While clinical issues are addressed in this hybrid coaching model, Transformational Life Coaching (T.L.C.), therapy per se is not the focus. Clients appropriate for these services would include motivated individuals ready and able to: 1) examine current roadblocks arising from prior behavior patterns, 2) learn new coping and interaction skills, 3) set clear action plans for goal achievement and 4) accept an accountability partner for goal attainment. The T.L.C. intervention style is designed to avoid plateaus that occur due to chronic complaining or blaming, excessive focus on negative/past events, failure to set achievable goals and unwillingness to be held accountable for actions.
Appointments
To make an appointment, please contact Executive Assistant Anita Crittenden via telephone at (423) 800-0483 or email at anita.psychassesstn@gmail.com. Anita is available via telephone Monday through Thursday from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. To leave a confidential voicemail for Dr. Hickman, please call 423-752-5207, extension 11.
New clients will need to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time to complete paperwork. As some of the forms are lengthy (i.e., personal history), you must allow sufficient time before your appointment to complete these forms. Initial forms will be emailed to clients utilizing the Preferred Services for completion prior to initial appointment.
Cancellations
In-office appointments must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance to avoid a late cancellation fee. Please leave cancellation notices for Dr. Hickman by calling Anita Crittenden at (423) 800-0483 (no emails please). All cancellations received less than 24 hours in advance and all no-shows are charged the late cancellation fee. There are no exceptions. Late cancellation fees are due along with session charges upon your next visit. After three late cancellations and/or no-shows, individuals are discharged as clients.
Insurance
Due to the ever-increasing burden and high cost of filing and collecting funds from insurance carriers, Dr. Hickman currently accepts a limited number of insurance carriers including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Magellan and TriCare. If self-pay clients wish to file for reimbursement of in-office visits with their insurance carrier, a suberbill can be provided. Acceptable forms of payment for co-pays and self-pay fees include check, cash and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard). Flex cards are not able to be processed at this time.
Payment Options & Billing Policies
Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check and credit card (Visa and Mastercard). No flex cards are able to be accepted at this time. Please note that this office does not provide a billing service. This means that payment in full is expected prior to service delivery (at check-in upon arrival) or for unexpected expenses, the balance must paid in full at the next office visit (e.g., co-pays higher than expected, unexpected deductibles, denials by your carrier or no-show fees).
Why Self-Pay for Services?
More and more therapists are being forced to move away from accepting insurance for clinical services and to rely on self-payment options for clients. The reasons for this are many, but focus on two primary issues: 1) unfair delays and denials from carriers and continued fee reductions make it economically untenable and 2) increased detrimental impacts for patients’ loss of privacy are a growing concern.
For example, clinicians spend an enormous amount of time attempting to collect the fees rightfully due them from insurance companies. More importantly, clinicians are moving toward private pay because of the continued loss of privacy and deleterious consequences for patients. Once a mental health diagnosis is applied to a patient and transmitted to an insurance company, privacy for the patient can no longer be ensured by the clinician. Regardless of the ethical implications, employers have been known to locate such records and, once disclosed, mental health diagnoses can be used to limit or deny coverage such as for life insurance, disability insurance or can be used to adversely impact employment options.
Thus, whenever possible, it is always best to use self-pay options for services. This has the added benefit of strongly encouraging patients to focus on recovery and to resist the temptation to use the psychotherapy office as a means to primarily air complaints without a solid plan of action.
Purchasing Services
Some people have an immediate negative reaction to purchasing services by thinking, “I can’t afford this service.” But the real truth is that we do whatever we actually want to do; that is, we spend money on what we value and deem important. Why, then, are our career goals, earnings potential, business dreams, communication skills or quality of social interactions considered such a luxury not worthy of pursuit if it costs more than a $20 co-pay? Learning better coping skills, how to communicate well with co-workers, how to stop self-sabotaging goals or how to overcome chronic struggles with mood, anxiety or anger are all examples of the potential lifetime benefits of self-improvement which do not break, wear, fade or go out of style. By making simple adjustments to routine spending (e.g., eating out less or curbing impulse purchases), you can easily choose to invest in developing the very best you.
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Office Location
Anita Crittenden, Executive Assistant
3097 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Phone: (423) 800-0483
Fax: (423) 521-8088
Appointments
Telephone: Anita Crittenden (423) 800-0483
Email: anita.psychassesstn@gmail.com
