After accruing more than four decades of experience in psychology, Frances Mann Lockwood, PhD, retired from her private practice in Jackson, TN, in 2015 after maintaining it for eight years. Prior to working in private practice, she worked as a staff psychologist for the Lakeside Behavioral Health System from 1999 until 2007 and for Pathways Inc., from 1993 until 1999. Earlier, she maintained private practices in clinical psychology in Tennessee and Virginia between 1981 and 1993. In the 1970s, Dr. Lockwood started her career in psychology as an intern for the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the staff psychologist for the children’s youth program at the Helen Ross McNabb Center, and the assistant director of psychology for Commonwealth Center for Children & Adolescents. She was on the board of directors of the Montessori Center at Jackson from 1991 to 2015.
Dr. Lockwood started undergraduate school with the notion of going into journalism. She had worked on a small time paper, and enjoyed writing very much and had done some reporting. When she got to college and took her first psychology course, because it was a requirement at the time, she shortly became hooked and fascinated thereafter. In addition, what inspired Dr. Lockwood to get involved as a clinical psychologist is that she just became fascinated with the classes that she was taking. She was also fascinated by the human mind, brain, how it works and plays out in people’s lives.
A seasoned psychologist, Dr. Lockwood honed her expertise through extensive education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond in Virginia in 1968, and a Master of Arts and PhD from the University of Tennessee in 1971 and 1973, respectively. Throughout her career, she retained professional affiliation with the Tennessee and American Psychological Associations, the Southeastern Psychological Association, and the Jackson Business and Professional Women. Additionally, she devotes her time and energy to bettering her community through the Rutherford County Board of Elections, and as guardian ad litem for Rutherford County. Previously, Dr. Lockwood sat as a member of the steering committee for the Jackson chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association of America and was on the Madison Child Protective Investigative Team.
The kind of legacy that Dr. Lockwood aspires to leave is being an example of doing the right thing. The most rewarding aspect of her profession is working with people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and being able to help them. For example, she has worked with Vietnam and Gulf War veterans, tornado survivors, sexual abuse survivors and others with trauma. The advice that Dr. Lockwood can offer someone aspiring to work in her field would be to know that it has changed a lot. She advises people to become well-educated, keep learning, find what you like to do and do it well.
