In this podcast episode, Amber Boyd, LMFT, discusses her transition from a W-2 position to a full-time private practice after moving back to California, highlighting the challenges and growth experienced since 2019. She details the evolution of her virtual practice, the impact of the pandemic, and the decision to return to private practice due to burnout. Amber emphasizes the importance of intuition, community support, and overcoming limiting beliefs. She also shares the process of setting up a brick-and-mortar office, including receiving help from her community and creating an Amazon wish list. The episode concludes with reflections on flexibility, taking risks, and the power of community support.

Stepping into New Territory: Introduction and Background

• Amber discusses her 2019 transition to Texas, which allowed her to explore her intuition and spirit.

• The episode will cover adjusting from past truths to new possibilities, the new adventure, and allowing people to show up.

• Amber invites listeners to share their thoughts and experiences related to the episode.

  
  

  Transition to Private Practice and Pandemic Challenges

• Amber details the evolution of her virtual private practice since 2019, including moving to Texas and California, and adapting to the pandemic.

• She expresses gratitude for the flexibility and support from clients and the community during these changes.

• Amber initially planned to continue private practice part-time while searching for a W-2 position, but realized they needed to return to full-time private practice due to burnout.

• The decision to transition out of the W-2 position and return to private practice full-time was driven by a desire for agency, autonomy, and flexibility.

  
  

  Challenges and Decision to Return to Private Practice

• Amber reflects on the discomfort of working in a system that felt like a "woolly sweater" and the importance of being true to oneself.

• She discusses the emotional impact of transitioning out of the W-2 position and the realization of becoming a therapist they didn't like.

• The opportunity to open a brick-and-mortar solo office presented itself, challenging limiting beliefs and offering a new possibility.

• Amber’s colleague and sorority sister played a significant role in introducing the office space, which felt aligned and supportive.

  Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Community Support

• Amber acknowledges her belief that she needs to figure things out alone and the cognitive distortion of all-or-nothing thinking.

• Amber shares the process of seeking advice from others, including colleagues and accountability partners, to make the office space work.

• Creating an Amazon wish list for office supplies helped us receive the necessary items from the community.

• Amber emphasizes the importance of allowing people to show up for you and the positive impact of community support during the transition.

  
  

  Office Warming and Reflections on the Journey

• Amber describes the office warming event, where friends and family wrote affirmations and shared their support.

• She reflects on the significance of having a solo private practice for the first time, as well as the validation and encouragement she received.

• The episode concludes with Amber sharing insights on being open to new possibilities, doing things despite fear, and the importance of community support.

• Amber encourages listeners to share their thoughts and experiences related to the episode and to support others' growth.

🎶 Music by: Noir Et Blanc Vie

Moments of Authenticity 📧 Email: amber@amberboydtherapy.com 📱⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠ 🌐⁠⁠ Website⁠⁠ 🎧⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠ |⁠⁠ Apple⁠⁠

• Saying the Hard Things Out Loud 0:00

• • Amber Boyd, LMFT welcomes listeners and mentions the significance of the podcast episode, which is about saying the hard things out loud.

  • Amber shares a personal story about feeling overwhelmed and drowning in challenges, including moving back to California and living with family.

  • The speaker discusses how environments affect personal well-being and how returning to familiar surroundings led to discomfort and isolation.

  • There’s a discussion about the importance of acknowledging struggles and having conversations that shed light on one's experiences, which can lead to positive changes.

• Challenges of a New Job and Environment 4:59

• • Amber talks about taking on a full-time W-2 position that lacked flexibility and autonomy, leading to feelings of overwhelm and frustration.

  • She describes how the new job environment changed her trajectory and affected her mental and emotional state.

  • There’s a reflection on the impact of not being able to do the work she loved, in the way that she was used to, which felt like a loss of identity and voice.

  • The speaker acknowledges that the job helped her get back to California, but acknowledges the negative effects it had on her well-being.

• The Power of Conversation and Acknowledgment 6:00

• • Amber shares an experience of being on a podcast and feeling overwhelmed with shame, guilt, and frustration. It highlighted the importance of having conversations that allowed her to be seen, heard, and understood, which can lead to positive changes.

  • Amber acknowledged the conversation with April Williams and Jason Smith of BariNation about the need to say the hard things out loud, which changed the trajectory of her journey.

  • The conversation emphasizes the importance of not isolating oneself and the power of acknowledging and addressing one's struggles.

• Mitigating "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" and Taking Action 7:16

• • Amber discusses the challenges of dealing with "shoulda, woulda, coulda" thoughts and how they can hold one captive.

  • The speaker reflects on the importance of recognizing and acknowledging what one is holding and the impact of past experiences.

  • Amber emphasizes the need to act based on a detailed understanding of one's struggles, not just minimal information.

  • The speaker encourages listeners to take inventory of their experiences and recognize what they want to do and what they have the capacity to do.

• Encouragement to Address Shame and Seek Support 11:52

• • Amber encourages listeners to address shame and not isolate themselves, urging them to seek support from professionals or community resources.

  • The speaker highlights the importance of utilizing resources and finding safe spaces to share and address one's struggles.

  • Amber emphasizes the need to take action and not allow oneself to spiral in shame.

  • The speaker concludes by thanking listeners and encouraging them to share the podcast with others who might need it.

    
    

    🎶 Music by: Noir Et Blanc Vie

    Moments of Authenticity 📧 Email: amber@amberboydtherapy.com 📱⁠ Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ 🌐⁠ Website⁠ 🎧⁠ Spotify⁠ |⁠ Apple⁠

    
    

    
    

🎙️ The Honeymoon Is OVER!

Welcome back to another episode! Whew — where do I even start? In this raw and unfiltered episode, I’m getting real about what life has looked like after the initial excitement of change wore off. From the high of returning home to the unexpected weight of transition, I’m sharing how I’ve navigated the tough terrain of starting over (again), losing a sense of grounding, and the emotional reality of living with family, working full-time, and trying to maintain a private practice on the side.

If you’ve ever felt like you were supposed to be thriving but instead felt stretched thin, overwhelmed, or unsure of your footing, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the unglamorous (but deeply human) moments of transition and how I’m slowly reclaiming peace, autonomy, and space for myself — one intentional step at a time.

• Why moving back home felt necessary — and why it hasn’t been easy.

• How I lost myself in the transitions of housing, work, and identity.

• The emotional toll of no longer having my own space (and trying to find peace in one room).

• The impact of stress on my body, my habits, and my bariatric journey.

• How FOMO, family dynamics, and a full workload had me stretched way too thin.

• What it took to reset my priorities — and finally start building the life I needed.

• The relief and freedom I’ve found in securing my own space again.
  

This one is vulnerable, personal, and deeply rooted in truth. If you're in a season of change or feeling pulled in too many directions, I hope it reminds you that you're not alone — and that you can slow down and come back to yourself.

[00:00] Welcome back + podcast intro

[01:00] Why “The Honeymoon is Over” — reflections on returning to California

[03:00] Missing community, physical affection, and emotional connection

[04:15] Challenges of losing space and autonomy — living with family again

[05:20] Overworking, stress, and the toll on physical health [06:30] Bariatric struggles, emotional eating, and feeling ungrounded

[08:00] FOMO, people-pleasing, and spreading myself too thin

[09:30] Prioritizing housing and choosing what to focus on first [11:00] Finding freedom and peace in my new apartment [13:00] Lessons on capacity, patience, and presence

[15:00] Closing reflections and gratitude

“I lost myself in the changes… stress overtook my energy.”

“I was working 10-hour days and then doing private practice on the weekends — I was exhausted.”

“No one else in my family has had bariatric surgery. I was eating what everyone else was eating… it completely threw me off.”

“The thing that worked in one season won’t always work in another.”

“Sometimes when you knock out one of the things, it really sets in motion the other pieces at play.”

“All the things we’ve prayed for, hoped for, wished for — they’re happening. But we’re so focused on the next thing that we miss it.”

“It’s okay to need or want something different for yourself.”

🎶 Music by: Noir Et Blanc Vie

Moments of Authenticity 📧 Email: amber@amberboydtherapy.com 📱 Instagram | Facebook 🌐 Website 🎧 Spotify | Apple