Private Practice Unlocked: Helping Therapists Build Profitable Businesses Without Sacrificing Quality Care for Their Patients

The holidays can bring a unique mix of emotions for private practice owners — gratitude, exhaustion, guilt about taking time off, and anxiety about money. For many therapists, client cancellations increase, schedules look lighter, and income can feel unpredictable. And without context, it’s easy to assume something is going wrong.

In this Christmas Eve episode, Amber offers a calm, realistic conversation about how to navigate the ho...

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 t...

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 sing...

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 p...

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 “...

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 ...

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 refl...

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 h...

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 se...

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 — K...

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...

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 wal...

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 is...

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...

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 w...

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 aesthetic...

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 s...

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 paperwork, insurance headaches, and late-night Google rabbit holes about taxes and EHRs.

In this very first episode of Private Practice Unlocked, Amber shares the real reason she started this podcast and what she wishes someone had told her when she la...

Ever feel like everyone else got the secret manual on how to run a private practice—and you’re still winging it? You’re not alone. In this episode, Amber walks you through the UNLOCKED Framework—the 8-phase roadmap she created to help therapists start, grow, and thrive in private practice without the guesswork.

This episode will explore what each letter of UNLOCKED stands for, how the framework came to life, and how it can help you ...