Dr. Matt Morris & Associates

01/13/2026

very January, many of us set goals with genuine motivation—only to feel discouraged weeks later when life intervenes. That doesn’t mean you’re bad at goal setting. It usually means the type of goal you’re setting isn’t doing the work you need it to do.

In my work as a counselor, I often encourage people to think about goals in several distinct categories, each with different strengths and limitations. When these categories are used together, they tend to support change rather than create pressure.

Learn how to categorize your intentions into four distinct areas: Outcome, Process, Aspirational, and Constraint goals. By understanding the difference between the "destination" and the "daily work," you can build a sustainable rhythm that emphasizes consistency over perfection.

https://drmattmorris.com/2026/01/05/four-and-a-half-ways-to-think-about-goals-that-actually-help/

01/07/2026

12/05/2025

According to Webster's dictionary, stuck is defined as becoming "blocked, wedged, or jammed; to halt movement."

We all at times experience "stuckiness" in our emotional journeys; often being "stuck" is more troublesome than the actual issue(s). If reading this speaks to you, would you consider taking a courageous small step toward liberation?

Make an appointment, and we can begin right in that space of discomfort. Who knows where that will lead us? Let's begin in my safe, comfortable office!

Randi Henriques, LCSW
(504) 339-3597

12/05/2025

The holidays are framed as a season of joy and togetherness, but for many of us, they also bring stress, grief, and emotional overload. When you’re the one planning, cooking, coordinating schedules, wrapping gifts, and managing everyone’s emotional temperature, the weight of it can feel… heavy. Sometimes the magic we work so hard to create gets snuffed out by the effort required to keep it alive.

When holiday magic starts to feel not-so-magical, it’s time to pause and re-evaluate. For adults, the magic of the holidays often comes from the way a community of people can come together to create something special, something that feels bigger than themselves, yet also reconnects us back to ourselves. However, it’s hard to savor that shared joy when you’re carrying the whole season. To find it again, we have to slow down and ask:

How can we create a holiday that feels meaningful?

Learn here: https://drmattmorris.com/2025/12/01/rekinding-the-magic/

11/07/2025

Many of us harbor big expectations for how we want our daily lives to unfold, and believe that establishing a set of healthy routines can profoundly improve our well-being.

It’s true – consistent habits like regular movement, eating well, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in our hobbies and social circle can make a significant difference.

But how do we get to the point where these habits are ingrained into our everyday existence?

Find out on the lastest blog: https://drmattmorris.com/2025/10/29/microhabits/

10/13/2025

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
–F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fall offers us relief from the oppressive Louisiana heat. After months of heavy, humid air, the first cool breeze can feel like an invitation to breathe deeper, to savor its lightness, may even offer a jolt of energy. As the air gets lighter, the leaves begin to shift and swirl, reminding us that change is both inevitable and renewing.

Nature has a way of showing us that balance often comes after periods of intensity. Summers in Louisiana can feel intense and suffocating, but fall reminds us of the gift of balance. It’s a welcome cooling that offers us a moment to reset, inviting us to release what has weighed us down and embrace fresh perspectives, nudging us toward hope as we savor this season of transition.

As we move through this season, reflect on what else may be nudging you. Maybe it’s a small shift in your routine, a conversation you’ve been putting off, or finding connection within the community. Let this season be your reset: breathe a little deeper, let go of the heaviness, and take small steps toward what makes you feel nourished. Here’s to cooler days, fresh perspectives, and—most importantly—soup season.

10/10/2025

Boundaries are one of those things that everyone talks about but few people really understand. They’re often dismissed as just “saying no” or “building walls,” but boundaries are much more dynamic than that. Think of them like the checkpoints along the border of a country. They aren’t designed to cut you off from the world, but to regulate what comes in and what goes out. Healthy boundaries allow for both safety and connection.

In family systems, boundaries are the separators—some visible, like skin, doors, or walls, and some invisible, like customs, rules, traditions, or even the unspoken “this is how we do things around here.” They function as the lines that distinguish “me” from “you,” “us” from “them.” That separation is not about division for the sake of isolation; it’s about creating the right space for growth, trust, and authentic connection.

The beauty of boundaries is that they are both protective and connective. They protect me from being swallowed up by you, or us from being overwhelmed by others, while at the same time they create the safety that makes real intimacy possible. This is the paradox: boundaries separate and they connect.

Read more: https://drmattmorris.com/2025/10/01/boundaries-in-families-2/

08/04/2025

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

- Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, singer, actor, and civil rights activist

Through warm intent connection, I strive to graciously welcome my clients and provide a safe, comfortable space in which to emotionally journey. Come visit!

Randi Henriques, LCSW
(504) 339-3597

08/04/2025

Bibliotherapy is an approach that uses books to promote mental and emotional well-being. By engaging with thoughtfully selected literature, individuals can gain insight and develop coping strategies for various life challenges. It’s an imaginative tool that combines the healing power of stories with personal growth and self-awareness.

Lately, I’ve been exploring the works of a new favorite author, Matthew Haig. I’ve been noticing the positive impact fictional stories can have on providing comfort and perspective. Haig’s books—like The Midnight Library and How to Stop Time—offer profound reflections on life, love, regret, and the passage of time.

Haig’s publications have inspired readers to live more fully and embrace each moment, understanding that our relationship with time is universal and that there’s beauty in both the fleeting and the eternal.

Haven’t pick up a book in a while? Reading just 6 minutes a day can reduce overall stress significantly. What a cool, convenient, and delightful way to soak in self-care! My challenge for you is to find a book that you are drawn to and observe how the story affects your own.

Want to talk about it? Schedule a 10-minute consultation today.

08/04/2025

I’m sure we’ve all had those mornings on our usual route to work when we hit a dreaded patch of traffic, and things slow to a screeching halt. It’s annoying and frustrating. But have you ever had a moment when, stopped in traffic with nothing else to do, you took a closer look at your surroundings and noticed something you hadn’t seen before?

When I’m working with couples through difficult emotional dynamics, differences, etc., I will often encourage them to try to slow the process down. By process I mean the thing that happens over and over again (the argument, the hurt feelings, the shutting down…) that we are working to change. These things often take off before we have a chance to remedy them. Before we notice the spiral of conflict is even happening, feelings are hurt, regretful words are said, and it seems we’re further away from any sort of repair.

Read more: https://drmattmorris.com/2025/06/30/slow-down/

06/05/2025

“What do you want to do?” That deceptively simple question can land like a gr***de. Instead of sparking excitement, it can trigger frustration, exhaustion, even resentment.

In the whirlwind of work, school, family routines, and never-ending to-dos, carving out date nights feels like just another checkbox—only to end up scrolling in bed, binge-watching Netflix, or spending dinner debriefing and planning the next week. It’s a chore to find the time and another chore to plan the time. When self-fulfillment becomes a chore, we lose ourselves, each other, and the spark that makes life feel meaningful.

Intimacy is born in the mutual engagement of curiosity and vulnerability. When done well, that tension leads us to embrace the unknown and explore it, creating the electricity that sparks true connection.

Read more on the blog: https://bit.ly/3Z57beP