Meet Your Doctors
Dr. Jennifer Hickman
Dr. Jennifer Hickman is a native of Cleveland County, North Carolina and is very happy to be in her home state serving others through her knowledge of chiropractic care and a holistic lifestyle. She is a 2014 graduate of Sherman College of Chiropractic and a 2007 magna cum laude graduate of Limestone College (now Limestone University)- Go Saints!
Dr. Jennifer has a particular passion for chiropractic care for children and pregnant moms. The youngest patient she has adjusted to date was 2 hours old. She has been humbled time and again to often be the first outing post-delivery of her pregnant moms. She was the first chiropractor in Cleveland County to be certified in the Webster Technique which is a specific sacral analysis and diversified adjustment to be used throughout pregnancy to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation but also for all weight-bearing individuals regardless of age or gender. She is an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA4kids.com).
Dr. Jennifer and Dr. Sean were the first practitioners in North or South Carolina to complete the intense training of Dynamic Body Balancing with Dr. Carol Phillips. They have since completed the training multiple times (Dr. Jennifer has 280 hours and counting). They are humbled to now assist Dr. Carol with her classes.
Outside of the office, Dr. Jennifer spends her time with her husband Dr. Sean Hickman and their fur-babies. They are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are very involved in Church activities. Dr. Jennifer serves as a board officer of the Sherman College of Chiropractic Alumni Association, board officer of Kings Mountain Little Theater at the Joy Theater, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity Cleveland County, and is an active member of Kings Mountain Rotary Club. She also enjoys learning, reading, outdoors, and serving others.
Dr. Sean Hickman
From a young age, Dr. Sean Hickman felt called to help others. Fascinated by how the human body functions and heals, he explored several health-focused career paths before beginning his professional journey as a massage therapist in Charleston, SC. It was during his time working in a chiropractic clinic that he felt a deeper pull toward becoming a chiropractor himself, a decision that changed the course of his life and amplified his purpose.
Dr. Sean sees the body as a powerful gift with an incredible capacity to heal when properly supported. His approach centers on empowering patients to understand that their structure influences their function, and when the structure is corrected, the entire body works better. With this whole-body perspective, he provides individualized Structural Correction care for patients of all ages.
He has adjusted patients from just hours old to over 90 years young. Dr. Sean is certified in the Webster Technique, a specialized chiropractic technique for pregnant mothers that focuses on improving pelvic balance and supporting optimal fetal positioning. He is also an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA).
Dr. Sean and Dr. Jennifer were the first practitioners in North or South Carolina to complete the intense training of Dynamic Body Balancing with Dr. Carol Phillips. They have since completed the training multiple times. They are humbled to now assist Dr. Carol with her classes.
A 2017 graduate of Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC, an institution rooted in the subluxation-based model of care, Dr. Sean has pursued extensive post-graduate training. He holds 260 hours of training in Dynamic Body Balancing, a craniosacral-focused approach that integrates fascial and structural correction work. Additionally, he has completed more than 300+ hours of pediatric, perinatal, and postpartum chiropractic training, allowing him to confidently and safely care for even the youngest patients and pregnant moms.
Dr. Sean is especially passionate about supporting children with developmental and behavioral challenges, including ADD, ADHD, ODD, and sensory-processing differences, helping them thrive through gentle, precise chiropractic care.
When he’s not in the office, Dr. Sean enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Jennifer Hickman, whom he met in chiropractic school, and their beloved fur-babies. He loves the outdoors, reading, serving in his church, and volunteering within the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity and is an active member of The Exchange Club of Shelby.
Meet the Staff
Mrs. Shayna Gowers
Shayna Gowers is a North Carolina native from Guilford County and the mom of one energetic little boy, and her and her husband Nathan have been married for 6 years. Her journey into the chiropractic world began before she joined the Align Chiropractic team after experiencing life-changing improvement through chiropractic care herself, helping her move and feel better than she thought possible. That personal experience led her to the desire to help others live happier, more comfortable, and more fulfilling lives through wellness and chiropractic care.
Outside the office, Shayna loves expressing her creativity through graphic design and illustration. When she’s not reading a good historical fiction book or spending time with her husband and son, you’ll likely find her tending to her chickens or taking a moment for a stress-relieving run.
Faith is an important part of Shayna’s life. She is active in her church community and helps teach the nursery children at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gastonia.
Shayna brings warmth, compassion, and personal experience to her work, and she is grateful for the opportunity to support the families who trust Align Chiropractic with their care.
Ms. Melanie Douglass
Melanie Douglass’s journey spans education, family, and empowering births. Raised in East Wenatchee, Washington, she earned an Associate Degree in Elementary Education from Ricks College (Rexburg, Idaho), then nannied in New Jersey and served and taught Spanish-speaking families in central Florida. She graduated from BYU-Hawaii with a degree in Special Education, worked at the National Association for Child Development (Ogden, Utah), nannied on Oahu, and later joined Child Care Resource & Referral at Weber State University.
Married in 2005, Melanie prepared for her first child’s home birth using HypnoBirthing® – The Mongan Method. Her second child arrived the same way. Inspired by these experiences, she became certified as a HypnoBirthing® Institute instructor in 2010 and taught in Washington State for four years, during which her third child was also born at home. She has guided over 55 families toward calm, confident births.
In 2014, her family relocated to North Carolina, where she homeschooled her three children. In 2025, Melanie recertified as a HypnoBirthing® – The Mongan Method instructor and has since added birth & postpartum doula and hypnotherapist to her credentials in early 2026.
Passionate about women, children, and families, Melanie helps mothers trust their bodies, embrace gentle birth, and welcome babies into peaceful homes. She lives in Lexington, North Carolina, with her three children, her mother, and their Goldendoodle.