Burnout doesn’t always look like total exhaustion. For many therapists, it sneaks in quietly — through back-to-back sessions, skipped lunches, endless documentation, and that slow drain of compassion fatigue. In this episode, Amber unpacks what burnout really looks like for private practice owners and how to rebuild your business in a way that protects your energy, passion, and peace.

Continuing the “K” in the UNLOCKED Framework — Keep Yourself Healthy, Amber shares practical strategies to stay grounded and intentional, even when the workload feels heavy.

Today you will learn:

• How to recognize the early signs of therapist burnout
• Why managing your capacity matters more than managing your calendar
• How to perform an Energy Audit to find your biggest drains
• Simple recovery rituals that make rest part of your daily rhythm
• How to use boundaries as a form of clinical care
• Why connection and community are essential for long-term sustainability
• The importance of re-anchoring to your “why” when things start to feel heavy

If you’ve been running on autopilot, this episode will remind you that slowing down isn’t failure — it’s maintenance.

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and let her know what you’re struggling with the most!

Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.

Marketing doesn’t come naturally to most therapists — and honestly, it’s not supposed to. Therapists are trained to listen, attune, and build trust, not to “pitch” themselves. But as Amber explains in this episode, connecting with your community is what helps the right clients find you — and it doesn’t have to feel awkward or inauthentic.

In this episode of Private Practice Unlocked, Amber continues the “C” in the UNLOCKED Framework — Connect to Your Community — and shares how to build genuine relationships that fill your caseload without feeling salesy.

Listeners will learn:

• How to shift from selling to serving
• Ways to identify and reach your ideal client
• How to connect with your local and online community
• Practical ideas for building trust and visibility
• Why authenticity attracts the right clients naturally
• Amber’s “Try This Week” Challenge for simple, real-world connection

If you’re ready to stop dreading marketing and start connecting from a place of authenticity, this episode is your blueprint.

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and let her know what you’re struggling with the most!

Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.

Money is one of the biggest sources of stress in private practice—not because therapists don’t earn enough, but because most were never taught what to do with the income once it arrives. Between inconsistent paychecks, surprise expenses, and tax-season anxiety, even experienced clinicians can feel like their finances are running the show.

In this episode, Amber continues the “O” in the UNLOCKED Framework—Optimize Your Income—and walks listeners through practical ways to bring structure, clarity, and calm to their business finances so they can finally feel confident about money management.

Today you’ll will learn:

• How to create a simple Money Map and give every dollar direction
• Why it’s better to budget by month, not by mood
• How to plan for the Big Three: Taxes, Time Off, and Emergencies
• Ways to pay yourself like a professional with consistent owner’s pay
• How Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First system can transform a therapist’s financial habits
• How Parkinson’s Law shapes spending and how to set healthy limits
• How to use a 30/60/90 plan to think ahead instead of reacting

Recommended reading: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz — a must-read for small-business therapists.

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and let her know what you’re struggling with the most!

Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.

Talking about money in private practice can feel overwhelming, confusing, and maybe even a little uncomfortable. But deciding what to charge your clients doesn’t have to be a guessing game.

In this episode of Private Practice Unlocked, we’re stepping into the O of the UNLOCKED Framework: Optimize Your Income. And in Part 1, we’re focusing on how to set your fees in a way that works for both you and your clients. Because your rate isn’t just a number—it’s your sustainability, your boundaries, and your ability to keep doing this work long term.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to calculate your baseline fee based on expenses and caseload.
• Why knowing your market rates gives you confidence in your pricing.
• Tips for negotiating your reimbursement rate with insurance companies.
• The most common mistakes therapists make when setting their fees—and how to avoid them.
• How to raise your rates with clarity and confidence when the time is right.
• A practical example of running the numbers so you can stop guessing and start charging with confidence.

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

👉 DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked
and let her know what you’re struggling with the most!
Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.

You dreamed of owning your own practice: making a difference, setting your own schedule, and building something that actually supports your life. But what you didn’t dream of were the late nights catching up on notes, chasing paperwork, or wondering if a client payment slipped through the cracks.

In this episode of Private Practice Unlocked, we’re diving into the L in the UNLOCKED Framework: Lay Your Systems. Because without systems, your practice runs on willpower—and that’s a fast track to burnout. With the right systems, though, you get consistency, confidence, and a business that works with you, not against you.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• The six pillars every private practice system should cover: intake, scheduling, documentation, billing, communication, and tracking your key numbers.
• Why your “client journey” is the most important map you’ll ever create.
• How to use quick wins like the five-minute note rule and “Money Mondays” to free up time immediately.
• Common pitfalls that keep therapists stuck in admin chaos—and how to avoid them.
• Why your marketing and social media presence deserve systems too—like batching posts, using templates, and setting a sustainable rhythm that doesn’t lead to burnout.
• Simple steps you can take this week to start building rails that your practice can run on.

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and let her know what you’re struggling with the most!

Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.

What You Actually Need to Launch a Private Practice (And What You Don’t)

You’ve probably seen the endless checklists floating around online about what it takes to start a private practice. One post says you need a polished website, another insists you must have the perfect logo, and before long you feel like you’re drowning in tasks that don’t actually get you any closer to seeing clients. The truth? Most of those “must-haves” can wait.

In this episode of Private Practice Unlocked, Amber breaks down the essential pieces you need to legally and ethically launch your practice—and what can stay off your list for now. You’ll walk away knowing exactly where to focus your time, energy, and money so you can start seeing clients sooner and with less overwhelm.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• The legal essentials you can’t skip (business structure, EIN, insurance, and more)
• The clinical must-haves every therapist needs before meeting with clients
• What to do if you’re planning to take insurance—and the timelines to expect
• The overrated extras that can wait until later (yes, even the fancy website and logo)
• A simple exercise to sort your to-do list into “Need Now, Need Later, and Don’t Need At All”

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and let her know what you’re struggling with the most!

Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.

Most new therapists focus on the “how” of private practice—how to get clients, how to get paid, how to set everything up. But the question that often gets overlooked (and later causes the most regret) is why you’re building your business in the first place.

In this episode of Private Practice Unlocked, Amber walks you through the importance of clarifying your vision before making big decisions. This isn’t about branding or aesthetics—it’s about aligning your private practice with your values, energy, and long-term goals, so you don’t wake up one day successful… and miserable.

If you’re a therapist or mental health provider looking to start or grow a private practice without the burnout, shame spirals, or jargon, you’re in the right place.

In this episode, Amber talks about:

• Why starting without a clear vision can lead to burnout and misalignment
• How to define your purpose, values, and identity as a therapist

https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/

• Five practical prompts to shape your mission and filter future decisions
• Her own story of saying “yes” to everything—and what finally shifted
• How vision work can prevent overwhelm and help you stay grounded
  
  

Journal Prompts:

1. What is your “why”?
2. What is your mission statement?
3. What values define your business?

If you’re in the early stages of private practice (or need to realign), this episode is your permission to pause and clarify what matters most.

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and let her know what tips you would have included in this list!

Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.

Grad school taught you how to be a therapist—but not how to run a therapy business. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the things no one warned you about in private practice, you’re not alone. In this episode, Amber is sharing 10 things she wishes she had known when she started her practice—from setting your rates and managing boundaries to marketing in a way that feels authentic (not cringey).

Whether you're just getting started or knee-deep in building your practice, these 10 lessons will help you feel more confident, prepared, and empowered to run a business that works for you.

You’ll learn:

• Why you’re more than “just” a therapist—you’re a business owner
• How to simplify documentation and streamline systems
• What makes marketing feel good instead of gross
• How to build a referral network that actually works
• Why boundaries, support, and self-trust are the key to long-term success
  
  

Plus: Practical tips, funny confessions, and reminders that you are absolutely not behind.

Inspired by her upcoming book, Private Practice Unlocked: What Grad School Didn’t Teach You.

New episodes drop every Wellness Wednesday—subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and let her know what you come up with as your WHY!

Let’s build the practice—and life—you deserve.