Meet Dr. Morgan Francis of Scottsdale Premier Counseling in Scottsdale and Grayhawk

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Morgan Francis.

Dr. Francis, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was sixteen years old, my brother died in a tragic car accident. It forever changed my life. Out of concern for my mental health, my parents enrolled me in grief counseling. It saved me. I learned how to effectively grieve by realizing that it was normal to be angry, confused, and sad regarding the loss of my brother. I had a safe place to express my thoughts and feelings. It was then I knew that I wanted to help others in this way. I wanted others to know that counseling is the gift of healing our painful wounds.

So I set on a journey of traveling, learning, researching, and creating connections with others. I started working with patients and helping them heal from their trauma, abuse, poor self-esteem, substance abuse, eating disorders, and more. I treated all types of individuals in all types of places, from the homeless to the billionaires.

I fell in love with Arizona and all it has to offer. I met my husband and we created a family of five. Being a working a mother teaches many life lessons. One of the most important lessons I learned after giving birth is ‘ I can do anything’. In 2017, I left my previous employer to start my own private practice, Scottsdale Premier Counseling.

Scottsdale Premier Counseling offers clients that same feeling I got when I was just 16 years old and that is safety. At Scottsdale Premier Counseling, clients can talk about highly sensitive matters in a confidential setting. They can trust the expertise and experience both professionally and personally of their provider.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Leaving my previous employer and starting a business on my own has not always been smooth. Paperwork has been the most challenging. In my profession, I have to constantly keep updating, rewording, and editing to ensure that is current with the ethical standards of practice.

However, more than the “typical” challenges one can face when creating a new business, is the overriding fear of “what if I fail?” “What if no one wants to come see me?” I had to really put all that noise into the trash. Deep down I knew I had the support of my husband and my faith in God. And that was all it took and my business grew at a very rapid pace.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Dr. Francis is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Francis obtained her M.A. in Community Counseling from John Carroll University and her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida. Dr. Francis completed her pre-doctoral internship at Arizona State University. Dr. Francis worked at Psychological Counseling Services alongside Dr. Ralph Earle and Dr. Marcus Earle for ten years. She is well experienced in the treatment of sexual compulsive behavior, mood disorders, couple relationships, trauma, emotional eating, and body image.

Dr. Francis’ approach is compassionate care-fronting and she will help you get to the bottom of the problems creating havoc in your life. Together, you and Dr. Francis will identify past traumas, current stressors, and future fears that are holding you back from living your life to the fullest. She combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and transformational therapeutic techniques. While providing a safe environment, Dr. Francis is committed to providing individualized treatment, working with you to identify your goals and develop a specific plan of action to reach your goals.

Dr. Francis is a nationally recognized treatment specialist whose work has been frequently featured in the media. She has been a repeated guest on FOX 10 Phoenix Morning Show discussing topics on sexual health and relationships. The Morning Scramble with Pat McMahon has also continually invited Dr. Francis to be a guest speaker on current events and pop culture. Dr. Francis’ knowledge of infidelity, boundaries, and body image has been featured in literature. Her article on “Why Men Cheat” in Rebel Magazine was a top seller.

Additionally, her chapter in the book titled, “Beautiful Hair Restoration,” regarding the challenges and solutions women face dealing with hair loss was commended. In 2016, Dr. Francis was nominated for the MASK (Mother’s Awareness of School-Aged Kids) Unity Award. She now serves on the Board of MASK as a Women of Influence. Along with her husband and children, Dr. Francis’ family has been featured in MASK magazine. Dr. Francis also conducts local workshops on emotional eating and body image at Arizona State University, private businesses, and various local health clubs such as The Village at DC Ranch and Life Time Fitness.

What were you like growing up?
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I am the youngest of three children. As a child, you could find me running and playing outside with kids in my neighborhood. As a teenager, I was a competitive tennis player and captain of the dance team. I was outgoing and friendly. I was also known to cause a lot of trouble and get away with it.

Contact Info:

• Address: 7910 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Suite 104
  Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
• Website: www.scottsdalepremiercounseling.com
• Phone: 480-808-9188
• Email: drmorganfrancis@scottsdalepremiercounseling.com

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