Dr Hickman was one of the most knowledgeable and professional psychiatrists I have ever worked with. I enjoyed all of my sessions with her. Very helpful!

Submitted Sept. 22, 2015

After having Dr Hickman as my psychiatrist for just a few months, I was pretty wrecked to find that she no longer was with S&W.

She is a rarity in the profession. Others have commented (some lamented) about sessions not beginning on time. This was true for me most of the time, but in all fairness, Dr Hickman still spent sufficient time with me. Being in treatment for most of my life, delays often are the norm.

It also has been mentioned by some that Dr Hickman will talk about her family. She did refer to her son a few times, but it was to help me relate to certain things. It made me more comfortable with her because I knew she understood exactly where I was coming from.

All that out of the way, and I thank you for reading this far, as I tend to be pretty verbose, I would like to say that I very much miss having Dr Hickman as my psychiatrist. She told me on day one that she wanted to help me get to a better state with my condition(s). That was not an empty platitude.

She spent a fair amount of time analysing my case and came up with a treatment plan that included a change in medication. In my 35+ years of treatment, I have taken just about every relative medication available. Dr Hickman recommended a medication that I was unfamiliar with (actually a vitamin classified as "food medicine").

By thinking outside the box and considering newer alternative medication, Dr Hickman nailed it. I feel better than I have in over just shy of 30 years. This has literally been a life-changing adjustment. I am able to get out of bed with far less effort. I am getting things done. I now have an outdoor garden! That's how much better I am doing.

I still have struggles with depression (bipolar) and I have a few of "those days," but those are far more tolerable. My issues with panic and social anxiety have improved. With being more energetic - with less of the dangerous mania - I also have lost weight, which only adds to my overall outlook.

In summary, it is because of Dr Hickman with her looking at things from multiple angles that I now am doing so much better. She's not an assembly line psychiatrist for sure, and that suits me very well. Definitely not the status quo!

Submitted Aug. 13, 2015

Appointments are scheduled 3 months or more in advance, so it's difficult to get in to see the doctor. I spent between 20 and 45 minutes in the waiting room past my scheduled appointment time before the doctor was available to see me. The doctor over-shares personal information (her kids, her husband, her dislike of the clinic within which she works) and she has a terrible bedside manner. The phone system for the clinic is unreliable, so questions regarding medication changes and side effects and symptoms weren't responded to by the nurse. I was very disappointed by this doctor.

Submitted June 4, 2015

Dr. Hickman is not your typical assembly line Psychiatrist. She is very intuitive to her patients problems, and needs. My first session began with an introductory getting to know you Q&A. She speaks at a pace that may be a bit fast for those that have low IQ's, or have been overly tranquilized by their previous physician's. If you keep up, she'll teach you something about yourself. This Doctor has a knowledge of brain mechanics, and medicine that is unique in today's cookie cutter psychiatric system. I've seen numerous Veterans Administration doctor's, private physicians, degrees in both Psychiatric and Psychology, and they have that same "let's diagnose you in 20 minutes or less" way of practicing medicine . With Dr. Hickman you will spend fair amount of time with her, you have to participate openly, and honestly to benefit from her refreshing method of doctor/patient interaction. While it is too soon to see if there will be any benefit of the medications I was prescribed, I feel that she adequately explained what each medication will do, and which part of my brain it will affect. No other DOCTOR OF PSYCHIATRY has ever done this before, in 27 years of seeing these self important "Gods of the brain". If you give Dr. Hickman an honest, open chance I honestly believe she might make you think a little different about the mental health care you've received in the past. Finally, she places the patient above the clock. With any hospital administration system I'm sure that doesn't fit their corporate mold. I'm glad, no thrilled that Scott & White has such foresight to have such practitioners as Dr. Hickman as an employee. I feel that they could be on the forefront of something great, if they continue to change the assembly line medical care system.

Submitted March 24, 2015

I have had no issues with Dr. Hickman. Yes I have been seen late. Since I see other patients walking out with her when she brings me in it doesn't bother me. We have many, many, times gone over our time. I felt her diagnoses of my issue spot on. She is open and honest with me. When I am in her office I feel comfortable. For several of my appointments with her I have asked that my spouse come in with me and she has allowed it with no questions asked. Who better to tell her if there have been any changes for the better or worse than my spouse. She is very thorough when explaining what she is telling me. I always feel like I am learning something new every time and I like having the understanding of why and how. Sometimes personalities clash. If you're already uncomfortable with the situation and you have it in your mind that this isn't what you need or you're having a bad day her answers and suggestions may come off the wrong way. Her bluntness is good for me. It's what I need sometimes. It's unfortunate that some of her patients have not had the same experience. It's all a matter of perspective and opinion on whether or not you like someone. My stepson had been diagnosed ADHD by a different doctor and years later was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Mental issues are not the easiest things to diagnose considering how many avenues they can go. Mental issues are not cut and dry and black and white. There are gray areas with different interpretations of what or how a person heard or seen. Just sayin.

Submitted Dec. 4, 2014

4 years ago this woman ruined my life with her "meds"

Submitted Nov. 29, 2014

WORST DOCTOR I HAVE EVER SEEN! She's is judgmental, rude and didn't give even the slightest impression that she had any concern about me. She was cold and blunt. She didn't offer even a modicum of comfort to me and vehemently suggested unrealistic paths to take for my mental health. Dr. Hickman was more concerned about prescribing six different medicines for me, though I expressed my discomfort with over medicating. She tried to persuade me to buy meds even tho I couldn't even begin to afford without offering any sort of alternative within my budget. She is a crony to big pharma, shelling out brand name prescriptions and sitting on her high horse just telling her patients that they are stupid. If I wanted to be degraded and insulted like this, I would have become a hooker. She even asked me to stop swearing when I was upset talking about things. If her office, during a session, is supposed to be a safe place for me to share what's in my mind, she should not be able to ask that to stop using words I felt fit for the time. In the first five minutes if the session, she said that all my other doctors were wrong. No hitch, you are wrong, there seems to be quite the consensus between my docs, only one disagrees and that is Hickman. I will never see her again,

Submitted Oct. 17, 2014

She is the answer to all of my prayers. I have been struggling for years with panick disorder, I no longer trusted doctors, I was spiraling into a deep depression, and she revived all hope in my life, my treatment, my self-worth. This doctor is amazing. Even if the wait is a little long? She more than makes up for it by giving you all the possible time you need, gathering meticulous details to get a rounded picture of you. Truly one of the most cerebral and simultaneously kindhearted doctors I've ever had. Period.

Submitted Aug. 10, 2014

Dr Hickman has seen myself and multiple members of my family. She listens well and does a good job of communicating. Her treatment has helped all of my family members with depression and ADHD. Dr. Hickmans main flaw, punctuality is also a strength, you get the time you need with her. For this I am willing to wait.

Submitted April 7, 2012

Dr. Hickman was provided a report from a psychologist in her office for my 6 year old son. She insisted from then on that he had bipolar disorder and treated him as such. When the medications were not working and sending him into a depression I asked if there was a possibility of it being simply ADHD. She immediately rejected this diagnosis and refused to treat him unless we agreed to her diagnosis. He has since been diagnosed with ADHD and put on ritalin and has been doing amazing ever since! Please seek other opinions if you receive a diagnosis from this doctor. Not to mention she charges us $125 for a phone consultation to see how he was doing when she was the one who called us without request from us. Also, we waited for over an hour for an appt we had that was supposed to last 1.5 hours and we were told we only had the 30 minutes left but would have to pay the full fee!

Submitted July 30, 2011