Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Tia Morris.
Hi Dr. Tia , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to help others. I was always the friend and listener people came to for advice or a safe space to release what they were carrying. In high school, I explored various career paths, but social work quickly revealed itself as the one aligned with my heart. As a Deaf individual who is oral and fluent in ASL and as someone who holds multiple identities as a Black, Deaf, Spiritual woman, I recognized early on that my lived experiences and perspective would allow me to connect deeply with others.
I completed dual undergraduate degrees in Human Services and Religious Studies–Family Ministries, followed by a Master of Social Work, and stepped into a profession that truly felt like a calling. Nearly 20 years later, I’m grateful to say I’ve exceeded the career goals younger me dreamed of. My work has taken me through state services, school social work for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students, psychiatric care, renal/dialysis clinics, community mental health, private practice, and later into leadership as a Director of Community Programs. That leadership role ultimately inspired me to pursue a Doctorate in Human Services with a focus on Leadership & Organizational Management.
I’m grateful that I chose an educational and professional path that allowed room for evolution, influence, and purpose. I still wake up with gratitude knowing I get to do work that is meaningful, impactful, and rooted in service.
In 2021, after deep soul-searching, I made a decision to transition fully into private practice and launched TJM Therapy & Wellness, which remains 100% virtual. In 2025, I expanded my mission and founded Purpose + Presence Coaching, a space that allows me to support and empower high-achieving Black women on an even broader scale. Both aspects of my work reflect my heart: healing, liberation, and helping people step into who they truly are.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, my journey hasn’t been a smooth road, but it has certainly been a rich and meaningful one, and for that, I’m grateful. Every challenge has stretched me, deepened my purpose, and shaped the professional and woman I am today.
Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required passing an exam, and as someone who isn’t naturally a strong test-taker, I had to take it more than once before finally passing on the third attempt. That experience taught me perseverance, humility, and the value of not giving up on what aligns with my calling.
Stepping into solopreneurship has also come with its own lessons. Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart, it demands courage, continuous growth, and a willingness to leave your comfort zone more than once if you want to thrive. Building something from the ground up has required resilience, self-trust, and a commitment to evolving both personally and professionally.
Every obstacle has made me more grounded, more layered, and more multi-dimensional. I’m proud that I continue to challenge myself rather than remain stagnant. The growth I experience becomes something I pour directly back into my clients, both as a therapist and as a coach and helping them navigate transformation with compassion, understanding, and lived experience.
We’ve been impressed with Purpose+Presence Coaching and TJM Therapy & Wellness, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Today, I am a full-time solopreneur running two complementary businesses: TJM Therapy & Wellness and Purpose + Presence Coaching.
TJM Therapy & Wellness is my virtual private practice where I primarily support Black and Brown women navigating anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, people-pleasing, boundary challenges, and life transitions. I also serve Deaf/Hard of Hearing clients, and I am licensed in MO, IL, TN, and NY, which allows me to increase access to care in communities where Deaf therapists are limited. Accessibility and representation are important to me, as my identity helps clients feel understood without having to over-explain themselves.
My coaching business which I launched in 2025, where I support high-achieving Black women who are ready to step into peace, confidence, boundaries and let go of the constraints of people-pleasing and have spent so much time focused on doing, and not allow themselves to just “be”. Currently, I offer 12-week 1:1 coaching for women who are ready to prioritize themselves, embrace fulfillment beyond achievement, and receive support and accountability on their growth journey.
What sets me apart is the way clients feel when they work with me. I’m proud that people consistently describe their experience with me using words like seen, safe, understood, and supported. They often say, “You get it.” That is one of the greatest affirmations of my work. My personal experiences, cultural understanding, spiritual awareness, and professional background allow me to show up with empathy, insight, and a human-first approach.
Brand wise, I’m most proud that my work represents liberation, self-trust, and identity expansion, not just coping or surviving. My mission is to create spaces where Black women feel held, empowered, and encouraged to take up space not only professionally, but more importantly in their personal lives.
What I want readers to know is that both therapy and coaching with me are more than services — they are opportunities for transformation, self-connection, and becoming.
How do you define success?
At this stage of my life, success looks like purpose, legacy, freedom, connection, community, and wholeness. It’s no longer living in the version of myself I’ve outgrown, but expanding, evolving, and removing the limitations I once placed on myself.
Success, to me, is measured by impact. If through my work as a therapist, coach/thought partner, or human being, I help others feel more grounded, empowered, and seen, then I am living in my purpose. The greater the impact, the more successful I feel I’ve been in my time on earth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purposepresencecoaching.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purposepresence_coaching
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579117119971
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiajenicemorris
- Other: Threads- purposepresence_coaching
