Graduate Programs
Heather Morgan-Sowada
Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Graduate Programs
Heather Morgan-Sowada
Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
Education
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PhD The University of Iowa | Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, Specialization in Couple and Family Therapy
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MA Mount Mercy University | Marriage and Family Therapy
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BA Mount Mercy University | Psychology
About
Dr. Heather Morgan-Sowada (most students call her Dr. Heather) began working as faculty at Mount Mercy in 2017. She was promoted to the rank of an associate professor and received tenure in 2024. She teaches courses related to marriage and family therapy ethics, research methods, gender affirming care, and psychopathology.
Dr. Heather earned a PhD in couple and family therapy in the Psychological and Quantitative Foundations Department at the University of Iowa. She completed both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in MFT at Mount Mercy University. Her research and clinical interests primarily center on improving therapy for individuals diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and for individuals in the LGBTQIA community. She has published peer-reviewed research in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, The American Journal of Family Therapy, Journal of Sex and Relationship Therapy, and other prestigious journals. Dr. Heather is well respected for her qualitative research expertise. In her clinical practice, she uses a solution-focused approach and works with clients across the lifespan, including providing play therapy.
Professional background
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Iowa
AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Clinical Member of AAMFT
Resolute Therapy, LLC
Masters
Practicum in MFT I - III
Micro-counseling
Ethical and Professional Issues in MFT
Research Methods in Family Therapy
Psychopathology and the Family
Doctoral
Advanced Research Methods I in MFT
Advanced Research Methods II in MFT
Advanced Ethics in MFT
Publications
Morgan-Sowada, H. (2018) Relationships and attachment in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder: A qualitative study (Unpublished doctoral dissertation – in 2-year embargo for other publication purposes). University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.
Gamboni, C., Gutierrez, D., Morgan-Sowada, H. (2018) Mental Health Organization’s Varied Stances on Sexual Orientation Change Effort (SOCE) Practices. American Journal of Marriage and Family
Therapy, 46(1), 96-105. DOI:10.1080/01926187.2018.1437572 Impact factor .48*
Presentations and Posters
Morgan-Sowada, H., Chaimberlain, T., & Wojciak, A. (2019, August) Parent-Child Bonds, Childhood Maltreatment and Suicide attempts in Individuals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Research presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy (AAMFT) Conference, Austin, Texas.
Gamboni, C., Gutierrez, D. & Morgan-Sowada, H. (2017, October) Mental Health Organization’s Varied Stances on Sexual Orientation Change Effort (SOCE) Practices. Poster presentation at the
annual meeting of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.
Morgan-Miller, H. (2017, April) Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Viewing BDD Through a Family Systems Lens. Guest speaker presentation at the annual meeting of the Iowa Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (IAMFT) Conference, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Morgan-Miller, H., Benoit-Pagano, J., & Wojciak, A.. (2016, September) Parent-Child Bonds, Suicide, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Morgan-Miller, H. (2016, September) Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder with Systems Theory. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Marriage and
Family Therapy (AAMFT) Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Benoit, J., Morgan-Miller, H., & Wojciak, A. (2015, June) Parent-Child Bonding and its Relationship with Suicidal Ideation in Youth with BDD. Poster Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Family Therapy Academy, Vancouver, Washington.
Article Presentation: titled: "A Call for a Ban on Conversion Therapy." Presented for Ethical and
Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy Course in fall 2016.
Poster Presentation: titled: "Solution Focused Brief Therapy: An Alternative Treatment for Body
Dysmorphic Disorder? And Consequent Effects on Brain Structures." Presented for Research
Methods course in fall of 2013.
Guest Speaker/Presenter: titled: “MFT’s and Your Community,” Presented for Family Law Attorneys at Simmons, Perrine, Moyer, Bergman Law Firm in fall 2019.
Guest on podcast “Conversations with Interesting People” with Dr. Adam Woods, summer 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLjyohqgAco
Member of GPCC, Mount Mercy University.
Member of Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Mount Mercy University
Iowa Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (Member from 2010 – 2018).
Guest Speaker/Educator to Center Point Urbana Elementary School teachers and administrators,
presentation on “How to best support students with Gender Dysphoria, and their parents.”
Guest Lecture, Introduction to Counseling, Undergraduate course, presentation on Gender Dysphoria, Mount Mercy University.
Professional opinion: Interview with local news channel, KGAN regarding mental health disparity in Iowa.
Elections Chair, Board Member of Iowa Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Student Interviewer, spring 2016, University of Iowa, Couple and Family Therapy Program.
Student Representative, Mount Mercy University, Marriage and Family Therapy Program.