An Inspired Chat with Dr. Morgan Francis , LPC of Scottsdale

We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Morgan Francis , LPC and have shared our conversation below.

Morgan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Reading. My 13 year old daughter helped me get back into the love of reading. We read a ton together and love stopping by the local bookstore to pick up some fantasy, romance, and/or mystery novels. There is something so special about falling in love with characters on a page. I find it relaxing and also exhilarating depending on the book I am reading.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dr. Morgan Francis and I am a licensed therapist and business owner of Scottsdale Premier Counseling. I work with individuals and couples. I specialize in the treatment of body image, eating disorders, sexual health, anxiety/depression, self-esteem, and grief. I have been working in the field of mental health for over twenty years. I have several online courses including, “Get Your Life Back: Becoming an Intuitive Eater.” I provide free mental health tips and tools on my instagram account as well as on the many podcast interviews I have been a part of. In 2025, I became the AZ 12 News Mental Health Expert. You can find me on 12 News covering mental health topics and providing coping tools.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up I believed that I had to always be skinny. And in order to be skinny I had to be on a diet and my mental health would suffer. I grew up having a horrible relationship with my body. I would restrict, count calories, starve myself, and more. By the time I was in my twenties I was depressed and severely anxious. I had a full blown eating disorder that was not only hurting my medical health but was also ruining my relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. Once I started therapy, everything changed. I was able to make peace with my body by practicing body neutrality and body positivity. I realized I did not have to hate my body and I could make peace with food. Essentially, I got my life back. I made a vow to help others and to teach others what I have learned in my life. This time in my life will always serve as the motivator and foundation of my therapy practice.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
No. Giving up was never an option for me. It is not an option when you are a mother. It becomes less about you and more about them. But I will say I had to learn to ask for help. We are not meant to know it all or do it all. We are meant to find the people that are really good at doing the things we are not good at. I am not a one woman business owner. I have hired help with my practice and personal life to help me get where I am today. Since I am a working mother, I have had help with child care. I can say without a doubt, I would not be where I am today without the incredible women I have hired to help me look after my three children.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie is that therapy is for weak people. That something must be wrong about you, if you are seeking therapy. That is absolutely a lie. My goal is to breakdown the stigma of therapy. We all deserve to have someone listen to us and support our emotional pain. We go to a dentist for our teeth. We go to tutor when we need help for learning. We got to a doctor when we have a temperature and chills. Why not see a professional for when you are sad, anxious, heartbroken, or angry? Therapy has come a long way. Thankfully it has been modernized with the help of telehealth, social media, and celebrities normalizing it. I believe the more we talk about it, the less stigmatizing it becomes.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I understand that money does not protect you from pain. I have treated highly influential people over the years. Some of the biggest names in sports, politics, movies and entertainment, medical professionals, etc and they all have a tremendous amount of trauma. Society tells us that they must be so happy in their personal lives because they are successful. That is simply not true. To be honest, most are miserable and lonely. They have been carrying so much pain and have gotten very good at hiding it, lying about it, or masking it. All people struggle. No one is immune to trauma.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.scottsdalepremiercounseling.com
• Instagram: @DrMorganFrancis
• Linkedin: Dr. Morgan Francis
• Facebook: Dr. Morgan Francis

Image Credits
Fully Alive Photography