Although owning your own business certainly has its trying moments, I have to say that I wouldn’t have it any other way. Long gone are the days when I feared what my boss would say, rushed out the door in a panic for fear of being late and dealing with the repercussions, or agonized over whether to stay home with my sick child or go to work. And when the paycheck comes…it is so satisfying because, well, I know that I have certainly earned it. However, don’t do the victory dance just yet. You still have to stare down your biggest opponent yet: you. Being an entrepreneur and being a happy entrepreneur are two very different things. For example, to be a happy entrepreneur, you have to learn how NOT to be the worst boss you could possibly have. You know, the kind that demands the world – RIGHT NOW – and has zero appreciation for all that you do. The kind who never gives you a break, only offers criticism and doles out scarce encouragement like tossing crumbs to a pack of dogs in a famine-torn land. And, of course, the kind of boss that expects absolute perfection in a solo operation when a whole army of workers couldn’t have recaptured that territory. Yes. That would be you, Mr. Entrepreneur. You are that kind of boss to yourself, if you aren’t really, really, careful. So, give yourself a break. Go home at a decent hour (no, that would not be 9 pm), hug your kids, kiss your spouse and pet the dog. The bad news is, your boss follows you everywhere. The good news is, you can fire him and take over the company!

Mindfulness is a crucial skill for anyone, but even more so for business owners or entrepreneurs, for there seems to be no lack of worrisome items. The to-do list runs the length of a 20k marathon and fourteen people seem to need your attention at once. And like a run-away train, our thoughts can collide and erupt into frustration and anger or spiral down to apathy or depression. So many of the thoughts that feed our negative emotions focus either on the past or on the future – the two time frames we can never inhabit in the present moment. Thus, only by fully inhabiting this very moment, can we influence our future for good or learn to interpret our past differently, for the past is no longer a location to which we can return and alter. If we allow worry over the past or the future to consume the present moment, we have just sacrificed the only vehicle under our control to drive us to our desired destination. So…focus. Focus on the only moment you can inhabit – the right now. What do you need to do right now to make your future better? What small steps do you need to take right now to work toward your goals? What tasks do you have for right now that need your attention? What do you have to be grateful for right now? We cannot repaint the past. We cannot predict the colors of our future. But we can focus our attention and skill on the only canvas we have before us…the right now.

Quick Page Links: The Mind of the Matter | PsychAssess | Clinical | Coaching | Speaking | Blog

Susan E. Hickman, Ph.D., Psy.D.

Welcome and thank you for visiting my website! This site serves as a “touchstone” for the many different services and projects in which I am involved. You are welcome to browse through the site and click through to the resources that best fit your needs and interests. If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact me or my staff.

As a psychologist, I am committed to helping individuals achieve their highest level of mental and emotional wellness. Given that there is no adequate substitute for one-on-one, in-person therapy, some people need and greatly benefit from professional clinical services such as seeing a psychologist or counselor. However, there are also many folks who can greatly benefit from written or recorded materials that provide a little guidance or “nudging” in the right direction to help them make positive changes in their lives.

To this end, in addition to providing traditional clinical services, it is also my goal to provide high quality psychological articles and materials that will serve as a blueprint to help people break through problematic areas, remove emotional or mental blocks, kick unhealthy habits, and acquire new coping and life skills…all to recapture a lifestyle that is both satisfying and productive. These resources will be available through blogposts, printed publications (through Mind Matters Publications), and psychology guides, online courses and other digital products through inPsychlopedia, an upcoming membership site.

So please…comment and share. Let me know what additional resources you need or would like to access that would help to put you on the path to greater emotional and mental wellness.

I Want to Serve You!

Would you like free articles, videos or blog posts on a topic of interest to you? Simply join my mailing list (see V.I.P list in the right hand column) and then send me an email requesting information on a specific topic. Please be specific so that I can send you what you need. I will also send you announcements of new educational articles or posts that may be of particular interest to you. Thank you for your interest and support!

Clinical Services

My clinical specialties include anxiety, depression, trauma/post-traumatic stress, dissociative disorders, eating disorders (specializing in binge eating/compulsive overeating), and family relationship conflicts (family, parent-child). I am also 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, I use or coordinate with other practitioners in the application of EMDR, Rapid Trauma Resolution, Therapeutic Guided Imagery, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Biofeedback, Mindfulness, Meditation as needed to maximize clinical results. With coaching clients, In use a hybrid clinical/coaching strength-based model, called Transformational Life Coaching (T.L.C.) to focus on goal clarification and achievement.

Coaching Services (T.L.C.)

If I am passionate about anything, I am passionate about forward motion. As an entrepreneur and dedicated businesswoman, I am invested in helping a variety of 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!

Serenity Center

Serenity Center is a skills-based, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that provides a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment for individuals suffering from overwhelming and life-interrupting conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, chronic pain, adjustment disorders, somatic disorders, dissociative disorders and select eating disorders that are secondary to other diagnoses. For more information, see additional program description on this site – Serenity Center information, download our brochure or visit our website at SerenityCenterUSA.com.

Psych Assess

Psych Assess is a nationally growing organization designed to meet all of your assessment needs from infancy through the senior years. We work with professionals in each local region to provide high-quality assessments. For a complete description of our services, see additional program description on this site, Psych Assess information or visit our website at PsychAssessTN.com.

• Cognitive Ability / IQ
• Academic Achievement / Learning Disabilities
• Attention Deficits (ADD/ADHD) / Dyslexia
• Academic Tutoring (coming soon)
• Emotional / Conduct Disorders
• Clinical / Psychopathology / Personality Assessment
• Eating Disorder Assessment
• Parental Fitness Evaluations (coming soon)
• Developmental Disorders / Autism / Asperger’s
• Neuropsychological Testing / Traumatic Brain Injury
• Memory / Cognitive Impairments
• Forensic Assessments
• Psychosexual Assessments
• Career / Vocational Interest Assessment
• Pre-Employment Assessments
• Personnel Assessments / Executive Coaching
• Pre-Marital / Marital / Relationship Assessment and Counseling
• Drug & Alcohol Evaluations

Custom assessments are also available upon request. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your initial appointment. We are committed to providing real assessments and real solutions…every time. For more information, visit our website: Psych Assess.

Speaking Engagements

Dr. Hickman is available as a speaker for civic groups, parenting organizations, psychological venues, seminars and conferences. She also enjoys speaking at women’s conferences and retreats. For more information or for booking, contact Dr. Hickman at (423) 800-0483 or email her directly at DrSusanHickman@gmail.com.

Susan Hickman’s Blog

To access my blog, please visit: MindoftheMatter.com

Office Location

Anita Crittenden, Executive Assistant
3097 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Phone: (423) 800-0483
Fax: (423) 521-8088

New office location as of June 1, 2013:
3146 Broad Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408

Appointments

Telephone: Anita Crittenden (423) 800-0483
Email: anita.psychassesstn@gmail.com