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.

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Choosing whether to accept insurance, operate as a private-pay therapist, or pursue a hybrid model is one of the most important decisions a private practice owner will ever make. And it’s a decision that often comes with pressure, mixed opinions, and a lot of anxiety — especially for new therapists.

In this episode, Amber breaks down the realities of each model with honesty and nuance. Instead of telling therapists which path they “should” take, she explores what each approach really looks like in everyday practice: the workload, the benefits, the emotional impact, the income differences, and the lifestyle implications.

Drawing from her own early experiences — including the overwhelming confusion of her first insurance applications — Amber helps therapists understand that there is no morally superior or universally correct choice. There is only the choice that aligns with your values, your vision, and the life you want your practice to support.

Listeners will learn:

• The pros and cons of taking insurance
• The freedoms and responsibilities of a private-pay model
• Why hybrid practices can offer stability and flexibility
• How each model affects your schedule, stress, and sustainability
• The real question every therapist must answer before choosing

Amber reminds therapists that choosing a payment model isn’t just a business decision — it’s a lifestyle decision. And when your business reflects your values and needs, you naturally show up with more confidence, clarity, and grounded energy.

Trying to figure out which model fits your life and your goals?
DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and share which direction you’re leaning — she’ll help you think through the next right step.

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

Even the most experienced therapists struggle with doubt — especially when they’re building, growing, or evolving their private practice. In this episode, Amber gets honest about imposter syndrome: why it shows up, what it’s really trying to protect, and how private practice owners can move through it without getting stuck in fear, comparison, or perfectionism.

Amber shares a vulnerable story from her own clinical work — the moment a client’s confidence in her triggered a wave of self-doubt — and how she learned that imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. It simply means you’re growing.

Listeners will learn:

• Why imposter syndrome resurfaces at every new level of business
• How isolation fuels doubt — and community dissolves it
• Why imposter thoughts aren’t evidence (they’re old programming)
• The truth that confidence comes after action, not before
• Why authenticity matters more than perfection in the therapy room
• A practical way to track wins and rebuild a grounded sense of competence

Amber reminds therapists that they are not behind, not accidental, and not alone. Imposter syndrome isn’t a sign you’re unprepared — it’s a sign you’re stretching into the next version of yourself.

Feeling ready to loosen the grip of imposter syndrome?
DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and tell her the imposter lie you’re working through. She’ll help you replace it with something truer, steadier, and more empowering.

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

Two therapists can start their private practices with the same training, same niche, and same goals — yet their paths unfold completely differently. One thrives and builds a sustainable business, while the other struggles to keep their head above water.

In this episode, Amber explores what truly separates therapists who thrive from those who simply survive in private practice. Spoiler: it’s not luck, it’s mindset.

Sharing candid reflections from her own journey — including the day she realized that a full caseload doesn’t automatically equal fulfillment — Amber offers an honest look at how success in private practice often comes down to alignment, boundaries, and intentional growth.

Listeners will learn:

• The quiet mindset shifts successful therapists make every day
• Why sustainable business practices and clinical excellence go hand in hand
• How to redefine success in a way that fits your values, not someone else’s
• The role of reflection and recalibration in long-term success
• Why integrity and balance matter more than constant hustle

Amber reminds therapists that real success isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters. When you stop chasing someone else’s version of success and start defining your own, your work becomes lighter, your business becomes clearer, and your life feels like yours again.

Feeling ready to redefine success on your own terms?
DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and tell her what kind of success you’re building toward — she’ll send a few tools to help you get there.

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

Even the most seasoned therapists can find themselves on autopilot — sessions flow smoothly, notes get done, clients seem content. But truly excellent therapy requires more than competence. It requires curiosity, presence, and a willingness to adapt moment by moment.

In this episode, Amber shares a story that reshaped how she thinks about quality care. That experience became a powerful reminder that even the “right” clinical moves have to be guided by connection, not just procedure.

Exploring the “D” in her UNLOCKED Framework — Deliver Quality Care, Amber unpacks what it really means to provide ethical, intentional, and human-centered therapy in private practice.

Listeners will learn:

• How to center the client experience in every aspect of your practice
• Why clinical curiosity keeps your work alive and evolving
• How to balance empathy with accountability in session
• What it means to reflect your ethics in your business structure
• Why caring for yourself is caring for your clients
• How asking for feedback builds stronger therapeutic relationships

Amber reminds therapists that delivering excellent care isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. It’s about putting down the clipboard when it becomes a barrier and returning to the connection that makes therapy powerful in the first place.

Feeling inspired to bring more intention and alignment into your practice?
DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and share one way you’re recommitting to presence this week — she’d love to hear what’s resonating with you.

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

At some point, every therapist reaches a crossroads — the calendar is full, the caseload is steady, and yet… something feels stuck. In this episode, Amber explores what it really means to expand your impact as a therapist without adding more sessions to your week.

Continuing with the “E” in her UNLOCKED Framework — Expand Your Impact — Amber walks through practical ways to grow your practice creatively and sustainably, so you can serve more people, protect your energy, and rediscover your excitement for the work you do.

Listeners will learn:

• How to reframe “expansion” as service, not self-promotion
• How to identify your personal zone of genius and build from it
• The three core types of growth: clinical, educational, and creative
• Why experimentation is the key to finding what fits
• How to strengthen systems so your next chapter has room to grow
• Why protecting your purpose is the most important part of expansion

Amber reminds therapists that growth doesn’t always mean doing more — it often means doing different. If you’ve been craving more creativity or freedom in your private practice, this episode will help you find the next right step.

Ready to expand your impact without burning out?

DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and tell her what dream project or next step you’d love to explore — she’ll point you in the right direction.

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