Why Our Services Make a Difference

Developing mental and emotional fitness requires more than mere knowledge. It requires shared experience and support.

Knowledge with Expertise

Information can be found everywhere, so it is not really more information that is needed. mPOWER offers curated information guided by professional expertise. No more guesswork about where to start or what to do next.

Ongoing Support

In truth, if you could have done it by yourself, you would have. Knowing what to do is insufficient. In our mPOWER program, we support your forward momental with effective action steps and ongoing community support.

Working in isolation does not always support the desired results. We make certain your questions are answered with monthly Q&As, biweekly open office hours, and an open community. No more feeling stuck.

Timely Answers

Learn More about mPOWER Program

Meet Our Founder

If you’re committing time and energy to a learning program, it helps to know it’s guided by experience. This program is designed and led by Susan E. Hickman, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist with graduate training from Vanderbilt University and doctoral training from the University of Minnesota and Argosy University. She has been in clinical practice since 2007, with professional experience across the U.S. (Tennessee, Washington State, Alaska) and with various populations. She has enjoyed teaching at the University level as well in the private sector.

Dr. Hickman founded the Mental Fitness Institute in 2014 to shift the focus from diagnosing what’s wrong to developing what's right: mental and emotional skills that help people meet life’s challenges with clarity and resilience. Her work is grounded in respect, practical application, and the belief that meaningful change is always possible.

Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dr. Hickman shares her life with her musician husband, their adult children and their three well-loved cats. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys gardening, creating fused glass art, and writing both fiction and nonfiction books.

Susan E. Hickman, PhD

Want to learn more?

Join our upcoming free, skills-packed Master Class:
Stronger Than Stress:
7 Essential Skills for Building Emotional Resilience