Hello! My name is Summer Hickman, M.A., LPA-IP. I am a Licensed Psychological Associate with Independent Practice in the state of Texas. I have worked in the mental health profession as a licensed clinician for 15 years. I have experience in working with inpatient psychiatric facilities, with both general and forensic populations, as well as in private mental health clinics. While working in the state hospital settings and in private psychological clinics, I provided individual, couples, group, and family therapy for individuals aged 6 to 90. I also have over 15 years of experience in administering, scoring, and interpreting psychological assessments to assist in diagnosing various disorders such as learning disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, personality disorders, psychosis, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and situational mental health issues, to name a few! I have worked with diverse populations and spiritual backgrounds providing both counseling and crisis support services.
While I lean toward cognitive behavior therapy techniques, my overall approach to counseling is eclectic and I utilize aspects from multiple theories. I strive to make my clients feel safe sharing their thoughts and concerns openly without fear of judgment or bias. I work with clients to help them develop effective coping skills, better communication styles with others, and to create realistic goals for the future.
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Depression, Coping with life changes, Aging and geriatric issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Caregiver issues and stress, Communication problems, Divorce and separation, Intellectual disability, Mood disorders, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy
TX LPA-IP 34947