Meet Morgan McCain of McCain Psychological Services in Upper Kirby

Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan McCain, Ph.D., CGP.

Morgan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story starts in Omaha, NE. There, I was raised by my grandmother who became my primary caretaker after my mother passed away from cancer. As a retiree, she did her best to raise me and my three siblings, but we weren’t rich by any stretch of the imagination. I grew up in a low-income neighborhood that was fun, loving, and resourceful. I also witnessed the intersection of violence, drug use, and poverty and saw the impact that had on peoples’ mental health. That’s were my passion for psychology developed. Decades later, I currently work at the University of Houston’s Counseling and Psychological Services as a Psychologist and I have my own private practice, McCain Psychological Services, PLLC. My goal has been and continues to be lowering the stigma associated with receiving mental health services, particularly for individuals in marginalized communities. Some of the brightest and most influential people in my community struggled with things like depression and anxiety and it impacted their ability to succeed in significant ways. I want people to reach their full potential and to make meaningful contributions to the communities they care about. Being mentally well can help them achieve those things.

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?
Short answer, no. The road to obtaining my doctoral degree was fraught with self-doubt, changing support systems, and at times, disappointment. I remember distinctly in year two of my seven-year program questioning if I wanted to continue in school and ultimately become a psychologist. At that point, many of my college friends had secured full-time jobs, they were making money, traveling, starting families, etc. I felt like I was falling behind somehow. Here I was, a student still, and broke. I was also dealing with some frustration about how my field has historically treated marginalized communities (e.g., racial minorities, LGBTQ+); failing to consider the impact oppression has had on our well-being. This frustrated me beyond belief, but it also motivated me to be a change agent. Although I was one of a few people of color in my program, I was emboldened to use my voice for those being overlooked or misunderstood. Now that I have my degree, a privilege no doubt, I keep the same charge. I ask the same question of myself frequently, “Who is in need of my support, but has limited access?”

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the McCain Psychological Services story. Tell us more about the business.
I recently started my business, McCain Psychological Services, PLLC, as a way to reach individuals in the community and support their growth. I specialize in helping adults with mood disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety) as well as those who are simply wanting to make themselves a priority. I support people who are mostly surviving in life but want to thrive. I am also a certified group therapist. Group therapy is less popular than individual or couples therapy, but it is such a powerful modality. Group therapy can be a good fit for people who struggle to make meaningful connections with other people, are curious about how others perceive them, or they want to become more familiar with their emotions as they emerge in the context of relationships. It’s seriously one of my favorite things to do and tends to be more affordable. My approach to my work is centered around compassion for every individuals story, respect for peoples’ identities and experiences, and curiosity about how a person came to be who they are. I am a thoughtful listener who is warm yet challenging. Managing that delicate balance is what distinguishes my work and I believe supports people in their growth.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
More and more people are talking about mental health and this is great! I think people are starting to value mental health, which I hope leads to more resources. Resources for schools and companies to invest in mental health services for their constituents as well as programming, and/or research to support peoples’ general well-being. Historically, when we [society] learned that someone struggled with a mental illness, they were dismissed or sent to a hospital to be managed and forgotten. Now, I think people recognize that mental illness is more common than we think and I find that people are wanting to know how they can support someone they are concerned about. As a community, how can we support our brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors? This is the question I see many yearning to have answered and the question alone is initiating a change.