ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Dr. Tera Robinson began Heartland’s Hope Mental Health Center in 2013 as a small private practice with a simple but meaningful vision.
That vision was to provide compassionate, high quality mental health care in an environment where individuals and families feel genuinely welcomed, respected and supported.
“I started as a sole provider with a passion for helping others and a desire to address the growing need for accessible mental health services in our rural communities,” Robinson said. “I recognized too many individuals and families faced barriers to receiving the care they needed and I wanted to create something that could make a lasting difference.”
For Robinson, though, what began as a one-person proactive evolved into something much greater.
“In 2018, we adopted the name Heartland’s Hope Mental Health Center, reflecting our commitment to bringing hope, healing and comprehensive mental health services to the communities we serve,” she said. “From the beginning, my goal was never simply to build a business. It was to build a place where people could find hope, providers could thrive, and quality mental health care would be available close to home. That vision continues to guide everything we do today.”
Heartland’s Hope has its main office in Liberal, and recently, the center’s services were expanded to an office in Oklahoma City. Robinson said this growth has been driven by a commitment to increasing access to quality, compassional health care while maintaining the personal attention and welcoming environment that has been central to the center’s mission from the beginning.
“Each expansion represents an opportunity to reach more individuals and families who need our services,” she said.
The new office opened in the spring of 2026 and is located at 510 E. Memorial Road, Suite B2, in Oklahoma City. Robinson said this expansion marked another milestone for Heartland’s Hope, allowing the center to reach and provide compassionate, comprehensive mental health services to a larger population.
“While our organization continues to grow, our mission remains unchanged – providing exceptional, individualized care in an environment where people feel welcomed, supported and valued,” she said.
Robinson said the decision to expand to Oklahoma City was both purposeful and deeply personal.
“I was contacted for assistance after a large corporation had acquired several private mental health practices in the area and subsequently closed them with little to no notice, just uncertainty,” she said. “Recognizing the tremendous impact this had on individuals, families and mental health professionals, I saw an opportunity to step in and help restore stability and access to much-needed services.”
Robinson said while expanding Heartland’s Hope has always been part of her long-term vision, Oklahoma City presented a unique opportunity to make an immediate and meaningful difference.
“For me, this was about more than business expansion,” she said. “It was about responding a community in need, supporting dedicated professionals and ensuring compassionate, quality mental health care remained accessible. Our growth has always been driven by purpose, and the Oklahoma City expansion is a reflection of that commitment.”
Robinson said having a physical presence in Oklahoma City significantly expands the center’s ability to serve individuals and families while strengthening its network of mental health professionals.
“It allows us to reach a larger, more diverse population, increase access to comprehensive mental health services and establish meaningful relationships with other healthcare providers and community organizations,” she said.
Robinson said one of the strengths of the Oklahoma City team is its diversity, including providers who speak multiple languages.
“This allows us to reduce language barriers, provide more culturally responsive care, and connect with individuals and families who may otherwise struggle to find mental health services in their preferred language,” she said.
Perhaps most importantly, Robinson said this presence allows Heartland’s Hope to help bridge gaps in care, particularly for individuals whose treatment was disrupted by the unexpected closure of other practices.
“We can provide greater continuity of care, expand our clinical team, and improve timely access to services,” she said.
For Robinson, success is not measured simply by the number of offices opened or the size of an organization.
“It’s measured by the lives we positively impact,” she said. “Oklahoma City provides an opportunity to make that impact on a much larger scale without sacrificing the personalized, compassionate care that has always defined Heartland’s Hope.”
Robinson said now having a big reach with her services is both incredibly rewarding and humbling.
“When I started this journey in 2013 as a sole provider, I never imagined Heartland’s Hope would grow into an organization with multiple locations, a diverse team of professionals, and the ability to impact so many lives,” she said. “What began as a personal passion for helping others has evolved into something much greater than I could have accomplished alone.”
As Heartland Hope’s founder and leader, Robinson takes tremendous pride not only in the center’s growth but in the exceptional team that has been built.
“Our providers share a genuine commitment to making a difference, and their dedication is what makes our continued expansion possible,” she said.
With this growth, though, Robinson said, comes an even greater sense of responsibility.
“We have the opportunity to reach individuals and families across communities, reduce barriers to care, and provide hope to people who may have struggled to find the support they need,” she said. “Knowing something I started with a vision and a great deal of determination has become a resource for so many people is incredibly meaningful. Ultimately, our greatest accomplishment isn’t how far we've expanded, but how many lives we’re able to touch along the way.”
Robinson started Heartland’s Hope with a vision of what she wanted to create, but she did not fully imagine how far that vision would take the center.
“My initial goal was simply to provide exceptional mental health care and create an environment where people felt genuinely valued, supported, and understood,” she said.
Robinson has always believed in thinking beyond where a person is today and building toward what is possible tomorrow.
“As opportunities presented themselves, I embraced them with a combination of determination, strategic planning, and a willingness to take calculated risks,” she said.
As she looks back, Robinson is incredibly proud of what has been accomplished with Heartland’s Hope, but she also recognizes none of it would have been possible without the dedicated professionals who have joined her along the way.
“What started as a one-person practice has become something much larger than myself,” she said. “And while I’m proud of how far we’ve come, I don’t believe we’re finished growing. As long as there are communities in need and opportunities to make a meaningful difference, I believe there is still more for Heartland's Hope to accomplish.”
Heartland’s Hope provides a comprehensive range of mental health services designed to meet the unique needs of individuals and families.
“Across our locations, we offer individual, couples, and family therapy, psychological and behavioral health assessments, diagnostic evaluations, and medication management services,” Robinson said.
Robinson said the Oklahoma City office offers these core mental health services, with the added benefit of a diverse clinical team whose members speak multiple languages.
“This allows us to better serve individuals from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds while reducing barriers to receiving quality mental health care,” she said.
Robinson said this same commitment to comprehensive individualized care is provided at the Liberal location.
“Our goal is to make accessing mental health care as convenient and seamless as possible by bringing assessment, treatment and medication management together under one organization,” she said.
Regardless of location, Heartland’s Hope’s philosophy remains the same – mental health care should be accessible, compassionate, and tailored to the individual.
“We want people to know they don’t have to navigate their mental health journey alone, and that quality care is available close to home,” Robinson said.
Robinson said the significant growth seen since Heartland’s Hope’s beginnings has been an incredibly rewarding journey and even a little surreal at times.
“I was focused on building a practice grounded in quality care, strong relationships, and a genuine commitment to helping others,” she said. “Thirteen years later, seeing how far we’ve come is both humbling and exciting.”
Robinson said the meaningful part about the center’s growth is that it has not happened by chance.
“It has required tremendous dedication, strategic planning, adaptability, and a willingness to recognize opportunities where we could make a difference,” she said. “We’ve grown from a single provider into a multidisciplinary organization with multiple locations, but we've been intentional about building the infrastructure, leadership, and clinical teams necessary to sustain that growth.”
Robinson too believes a great accomplishment for Heartland’s Hope is the ability to expand without losing sight of why the center was started.
“Growth is exciting, but it also brings responsibility,” she said. “Every new provider, service and location represents more individuals and families placing their trust in us.”
Robinson is extremely proud of what has been built in 13 years, but she is equally excited about what lies ahead.
“I believe the greatest measure of our success isn’t how quickly we've grown, but how effectively we continue to serve the communities that depend on us,” she said.
Robinson said she is most motivated knowing the work Heartland’s Hope does genuinely changes lives.
“Mental health care isn’t simply a profession to me,” she said. “It’s a passion and a responsibility. I’ve witnessed firsthand the difference that compassionate, quality treatment can make for individuals and families, and that continues to drive me every day.”
Robinson likewise is driven by the opportunity to build something meaningful and lasting.
“I genuinely enjoy the challenges of leadership, developing programs, mentoring professionals, and creating opportunities for others to succeed,” she said. “There is something incredibly rewarding about watching a vision evolve into an organization that not only serves communities but also provides a place where talented professionals can grow and thrive.”
Robinson said the possibilities for further growth for Heartland’s Hope are tremendous, but she has never believed in expanding simply for the sake of becoming bigger.
“Growth must be intentional, sustainable, and aligned with our mission,” she said. “As long as there are unmet needs, dedicated professionals who share our values, and opportunities to improve access to care, I believe Heartland’s Hope has significant room to expand.”
Ultimately, Robinson does not measure the center’s potential by the number of offices opened, but rather by the difference the center can make.
“My goal is to continue building an organization that will positively impact individuals, families, and communities for generations to come,” she said. “I don’t believe we've reached our potential yet, and that is what makes the future so exciting.”
Having an office in Oklahoma City, alongside the established presence in Liberal, Robinson said is both a tremendous professional accomplishment and something that holds personal meaning for her.
“What began in 2013 has grown into an organization capable of serving individuals and families across multiple communities,” she said. “Seeing that vision become a reality is incredibly rewarding.”
The circumstances that brought Heartland’s Hope to Oklahoma City are what Robinson finds particularly meaningful about the expansion.
“We had an opportunity to step in during a time of uncertainty, help restore access to mental health services, and provide stability for both patients and professionals,” she said. “To me, that represents exactly what Heartland’s Hope was created to do – recognize a need and respond with compassion, determination, and meaningful solutions.”
Robinson said she is especially proud of the center’s ability to expand to a larger metropolitan area while maintaining the commitment to the rural communities that helped build Heartland Hope’s foundation.
“Regardless of the size or location of the community, everyone deserves access to exceptional mental health care,” she said.
Ultimately, Robinson said having offices in multiple communities represents more than organizational growth.
“It reflects the trust people have placed in us, the dedication of our team, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference,” she said. “Each location is another opportunity to bring hope, healing and meaningful change to the people we serve.”
Robinson’s ultimate vision for Heartland’s Hope is to build an organization that continues to grow, innovate and make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families for generations to come.
“I want us to be recognized not simply for the number of locations we have, but for the quality of care we provide, the strength of our clinical team and the positive impact we have on the communities we serve,” she said.
Robinson said a significant part of that vision is continuing to expand access to comprehensive mental health services, particularly in communities where resources are limited.
“I believe individuals should be able to receive therapy, psychological assessments, and medication management through one coordinated organization rather than having to navigate multiple systems to get the care they need,” she said.
Equally important for Robinson is building a strong leadership foundation and creating an environment where exceptional professionals feel valued, supported and empowered to grow.
“I want Heartland’s Hope to be an organization that can thrive well beyond my direct involvement, with the systems, culture, and leadership necessary to sustain its mission long into the future,” she said.
Robinson has never been someone who believes in setting limits on what is possible.
“I believe in recognizing opportunities, embracing challenges, and having the determination to turn a vision into reality,” she said. “My ultimate goal is to leave a legacy that extends far beyond a successful business — one defined by the lives we've changed, the professionals we’ve inspired, and the communities we've strengthened. I want Heartland’s Hope to become something that outlives its founder, while never losing sight of the compassion and purpose that inspired its beginning.”
