Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Clare.
Hi Morgan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My interest in this field began much earlier than my formal training. When my parents divorced when I was thirteen, my family spent time in counseling and I had an early experience of what it feels like to sit on the other side of the room, an experience that stayed with me over time. I saw how powerful it could be to have space to make sense of difficult emotions and life transitions, and that curiosity eventually grew into a calling. That early experience ultimately guided both my education and the kind of counselor I wanted to become.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. Like many people in helping professions, I was trained extensively in how to care for others, but much less in how to run a business. Learning to hold both the emotional depth of clinical work and the practical realities of business ownership has taken time, along with a lot of support from my husband.
I also continue to learn how to be deeply present with clients without letting the work consume me outside of session. Figuring out how to care deeply while still caring for myself is a meaningful and necessary part of building a sustainable practice. I love what I do and I want to do it for a long time!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My practice is centered on thoughtful, relational therapy that honors both the depth of people’s stories and their desire for meaningful change. I work primarily with children and adults who are navigating grief, trauma, challenges related to eating disorders and body image, and anxiety and OCD. I am trained in EMDR, which allows us to gently and effectively address experiences that feel stuck or overwhelming.
What sets my work apart is the emphasis I place on the therapeutic relationship itself. I believe healing happens best in the context of safety and genuine connection. I bring my full humanness into the room, not by making the work about me, but by meeting clients with authenticity, warmth, and respect for their lived experience.
For clients who desire it, I also offer faith-integrated therapy, thoughtfully incorporating their relationship with the Lord as a supportive and grounding element if they want that. Brand-wise, I’m most proud of building a brand that values depth over quick fixes. One of the reasons I chose the name Living Oak, is because of Isaiah 61, and my hope that I can send people out stronger than they came in as “Oaks of Righteousness for the Lord”.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I think the mental health field will continue moving toward greater accessibility and more holistic approaches. I see a growing emphasis on trauma-informed care and approaches that honor people’s stories and resilience, which I love. I’m hopeful the field will continue shifting away from pathologizing language and toward perspectives that recognize the whole person and their survival skills, which aligns closely with the work I love to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://livingoakathens.com
