Every therapist has questions they’re embarrassed to admit they don’t know — the ones they secretly Google or whisper in supervision. This episode is dedicated to normalizing those questions and giving therapists permission to stop pretending they have it all together.

Amber shares her own early-career moments of feeling lost and underprepared, and then walks through the most common “quiet questions” she hears from supervisees and therapists she coaches.

Listeners will learn:

• Whether you’re allowed to fire a client
• If it’s normal to get bored in sessions
• What raising your rates actually means
• Whether you have to do trauma work
• How to know if you’re a “good enough” therapist
• What to do when you don’t want private practice to be your only path

This episode lifts the shame and brings clarity, honesty, and compassion to the places therapists struggle silently.

Therapists deserve support — not secrecy.

Have your own “quiet question”?
DM Amber at @privatepracticeunlocked — you’re never the only one wondering.

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

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Most therapists build their schedules around what clients want… not what they need. And that’s exactly how burnout sneaks in. In this episode, Amber breaks down a healthier, more intentional approach to scheduling — one that centers your wellbeing, your energy, and the lifestyle you’re working toward.

Amber shares a relatable story about the days when she said yes to every client request, worked through lunch, and didn’t have a single moment of breathing room. That season taught her a powerful truth: your schedule should support your life, not swallow it.

Listeners will learn:

• Why your schedule should reflect your life before your client load
• How to build energy-based scheduling blocks
• Why buffer time and real lunch breaks matter more than people think
• The importance of setting a weekly session cap
• Why clients should choose from your availability — not the other way around
• How to adjust your schedule seasonally so it stays aligned with your needs

Amber reminds therapists that your schedule isn’t just a calendar — it’s a boundary, a business strategy, and a form of self-care. Therapists deserve schedules that leave room for rest, joy, and the full lives they want to live.

Feeling stuck with your current schedule?
DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked with the word SCHEDULE and she’ll share a framework to help you redesign your ideal week.

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

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Running a private practice doesn’t just mean showing up for sessions — it means juggling scheduling, notes, billing, phone calls, website updates, documentation, and more. The truth is: most therapists are doing the jobs of five people without realizing it. And without the right tools, everything feels harder than it needs to be.

In this episode, Amber walks listeners through the essential tools, systems, and resources that make a private practice run more smoothly — not the overwhelming list of 47 apps you’ll never use, but the handful of tools that actually change your life as a therapist.

Amber shares a relatable story from her early days in private practice, when she was doing everything manually and burning hours of her evenings on tasks that should’ve taken minutes. That wake-up call helped her realize that efficiency isn’t about working faster — it’s about letting your systems support you so your energy can go back where it belongs.

Listeners will learn:

• What to look for in a solid EHR (and why it’s the heartbeat of your practice)
• Why a separate business phone line protects your time and your boundaries
• How templates and document libraries save hours every month
• Tools that keep your bookkeeping organized and panic-free
• Website + visibility resources that help clients find you
• Automations that quietly reduce mental load behind the scenes
• Why consultation and community count as “tools,” too

This episode will help therapists feel less overwhelmed and more empowered, giving them permission to build a practice that’s smooth, simple, and sustainable.

Ready to make your practice feel lighter?
DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and tell her the one area of your practice that feels the messiest. She’ll point you toward a tool or system that can help.

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

Support the show