The Dr. Amber Show

Dr. Amber Thornton

Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show! Here, you're never alone in navigating life's biggest moments and toughest lessons. Join Dr. Amber Thornton, psychologist, author, & mother of two, as she explores relationships, parenting, career, mental health, and the ongoing journey of personal evolution. These conversations are sure to evoke laughter, tears, reflection, insight, and, most importantly, growth. Tune in weekly for an inspiring, informative, and thought-provoking dose of content designed to propel you further on the path to becoming the best version of yourself.

  1. 6d ago

    Did I Completely Misunderstand 'Why Did I Get Married?' in My 20s? | The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 11

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life. Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships. In This Episode With the newest "Why Did I Get Married?" movie finally out, I rewatched the first two — something I hadn't done in almost 20 years — and I'm breaking down every couple through a completely different lens than I had in my 20s. From Mike and Sheila to Gavin and Patricia, I'm sharing what I completely missed the first time around, what disturbs me now that I'm almost 40 and married myself, and what these fictional marriages taught me about the beliefs I used to hold about love, trust, and infidelity. ✨ Reflection Prompt: Think back to a piece of media — a movie, a show, a book — that you loved when you were younger. If you revisited it today, what do you think you'd see differently, and what would that say about how much you've grown? Ways to Work With Dr. Amber 📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation Learn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting. 🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN) An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation. 🧠 Psychological Evaluations Comprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults. 🎤 Speaking & Workshops Available for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being. 🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.com Listen Everywhere 🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify Stay Connected Instagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthornton Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershow Website: www.dramberthornton.com If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today. Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

  2. Sep 21

    Can You Love Your Children and Still Not Enjoy Parenting? | The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 10

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life. Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships. In This Episode Is it possible to love your children and not enjoy parenting? I'm answering that as honestly as I can, starting with a moment from about a year ago when I was up in the middle of the night, pleading with a higher power to protect my closeness with my kids because I felt like my day-to-day stress was ruining everything. From there, I'm laying it all out — the top 10 things I genuinely don't enjoy about parenting, and the top 10 things I love about my kids — because I think we need to normalize holding both at once. The love you have for your children and how much you enjoy the experience of parenting are two different things, and they were never supposed to be the same. Reflection Prompt: What would it feel like to give yourself full permission to separate how much you love your kids from how much you enjoy the day-to-day task of parenting? Ways to Work With Dr. Amber 📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation Learn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting. 🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN) An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation. 🧠 Psychological Evaluations Comprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults. 🎤 Speaking & Workshops Available for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being. 🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.com Listen Everywhere 🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify Stay Connected Instagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthornton Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershow Website: www.dramberthornton.com If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today. Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

  3. Sep 14

    Am I Parenting My Child- or Memories of My Childhood? | The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 9

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life. Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships. In This Episode Have you ever had a strong reaction to something your child is going through, and later realized it had almost nothing to do with them? I'm unpacking exactly that — starting with a personal story about why my son's nightly homework routine was so much harder for me than it needed to be, and what it took me back to from my own childhood. From there, I walk through five everyday moments (friendships, academic performance, sibling relationships, emotional closeness, and transitions/milestones) that tend to quietly trigger old memories for parents, and I share seven reflection questions you can come back to any time you're not sure if you're parenting the child in front of you or reparenting yourself through them. Reflection Prompt: The next time your child does something that stirs up a strong reaction in you, pause and ask: what is actually happening with my child right now — and what does this remind me of? Ways to Work With Dr. Amber 📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation Learn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting. 🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN) An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation. 🧠 Psychological Evaluations Comprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults. 🎤 Speaking & Workshops Available for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being. 🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.com Listen Everywhere 🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify Stay Connected Instagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthornton Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershow Website: www.dramberthornton.com If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today. Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

  4. Sep 7

    Am I Ready for My Child's Next Chapter? Back to School with Ms. Monica | The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 8

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life. Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships. In This Episode This week I'm bringing you a conversation I got to have with Ms. Monica — yes, that Ms. Monica, of "Circle Time" fame, who got so many of us through the pandemic — that originally aired live on Instagram. We talk about the big, layered feelings that come up for parents during major school transitions like kindergarten, moving up a grade, or dropping a kid off at college, why comparison and shame show up so easily in these seasons, and what it actually looks like to prepare yourself emotionally, not just your child, for what's next. ✨ Reflection Prompt: As your child moves into their next chapter, what would it look like to ask yourself, "Am I ready?" — and to give that answer as much attention as you give theirs? Ways to Work With Dr. Amber 📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation Learn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting. 🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN) An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation. 🧠 Psychological Evaluations Comprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults. 🎤 Speaking & Workshops Available for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being. 🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.com Listen Everywhere 🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify Stay Connected Instagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthornton Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershow Website: www.dramberthornton.com If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today. Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

  5. Aug 31

    What Postpartum Mental Illness Actually Looks Like | The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 7

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life.Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships.In This EpisodeFollowing up on our conversation about the Lindsay Clancy case, I'm walking through everything I wish more people understood about maternal mental health during the postpartum period — the real differences between baby blues, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD/intrusive thoughts, bipolar disorder, and postpartum psychosis, what each one actually looks and feels like, and how to know when it's time to seek help. I also share my own experience with postpartum anxiety after the birth of my second child, and walk through three levels of care so you have a clear sense of what to do if you're ever worried about yourself or someone you love.✨ Reflection Prompt: If a frightening or unwanted thought has ever crossed your mind as a parent, what would it feel like to know that having the thought doesn't mean you're dangerous — and that support is available either way?Ways to Work With Dr. Amber📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation Learn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting.🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN) An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation.🧠 Psychological Evaluations Comprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults.🎤 Speaking & Workshops Available for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being.🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.comMaternal Mental Health Resources📞 National Maternal Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) 🚨 In immediate danger or noticing a loss of contact with reality in yourself or someone else: call 911, or call/text 988Listen Everywhere🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 SpotifyStay ConnectedInstagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthornton Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershow Website: www.dramberthornton.comIf this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today.Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

  6. Aug 24

    The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 6- Making Sense of The Lindsay Clancy Case

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life. Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships. In This Episode This week I'm stepping outside our usual parenting conversations to talk about the Lindsay Clancy case — the Massachusetts mother currently on trial in the deaths of her three children, whose defense has centered on severe postpartum psychosis. I'm not here to hand down a verdict. I'm here as a psychologist to sit in the discomfort with you: hindsight bias and how it distorts the way we judge behavior after tragedy, what mental illness does and doesn't look like from the outside, and why our minds crave a clean either/or when cases like this force us to hold complicated, sometimes contradictory truths at the same time. ✨ Reflection Prompt: Where in your own life are you resisting the possibility that two seemingly opposite things can both be true at once? Ways to Work With Dr. Amber 📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation Learn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting. 🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN) An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation. 🧠 Psychological Evaluations Comprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults. 🎤 Speaking & Workshops Available for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being. 🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.com Listen Everywhere 🎧 YouTube 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify Stay Connected Instagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthornton Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershow Website: www.dramberthornton.com If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today. Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

  7. Aug 17

    The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 5- It's not the behavior (It's the story you tell yourself about it)

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life. Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships. In This Episode I'm answering the question I get from parents more than any other: how do I stop being so triggered by my child? The short answer — it's not actually the behavior that sets you off, it's the story your brain tells you about it in the moment. I walk through exactly how that process works, use some real scenarios to show what it looks like to catch and rewrite that story in real time, and talk about why your reaction doesn't have to look like anyone else's — including your co-parent's. ✨ Reflection Prompt:Next time your child's behavior sets you off, pause and ask yourself: what is the story I'm telling myself about this moment — and is it actually true? Ways to Work With Dr. Amber 📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-RegulationLearn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting. 🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN)An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation. 🧠 Psychological EvaluationsComprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults. 🎤 Speaking & WorkshopsAvailable for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being. 🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.com Listen Everywhere 🎧 YouTube🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify Stay Connected Instagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthorntonInstagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershowWebsite: www.dramberthornton.com If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today. Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

  8. Aug 10

    The Dr. Amber Show | Ep. 4- Why do I keep becoming the parent I promised I'd never be?

    Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life.Each week, licensed psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton explores the emotional side of parenting, relationships, healing, and being human. Through thoughtful reflections, practical psychology, and honest conversations, you'll gain tools to better understand yourself so you can show up with greater intention in your life and your relationships.In This EpisodeA listener wrote in with a question so many parents carry quietly: "Why do I keep becoming the parent I promised myself I'd never be?" I'm answering her directly and using it as a jumping-off point to talk about the gap between the parent we imagined we'd be and who we actually are — where those expectations come from, why forcing ourselves into an idealized version of "good parent" can backfire, and what it actually looks like to parent from your authentic self instead.✨ Reflection Prompt:How much of the parent you're trying to be is infused with your authentic self — and how much of your energy is spent trying not to become someone, rather than becoming who you truly are?Ways to Work With Dr. Amber📖 A Parent's Guide to Self-RegulationLearn the PCR Method and practical tools for calmer, more connected parenting.🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN)An 8-week transformational program for parents who want to break generational patterns and parent from a place of emotional awareness and regulation.🧠 Psychological EvaluationsComprehensive virtual ADHD, Autism, and diagnostic evaluations for children and adults.🎤 Speaking & WorkshopsAvailable for keynotes, trainings, and organizational workshops on parenting, mental health, emotional regulation, and psychological well-being.🌐 Learn more: www.dramberthornton.comListen Everywhere🎧 YouTube🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 SpotifyStay ConnectedInstagram: www.instagram.com/dramberthorntonInstagram: www.instagram.com/thedrambershowWebsite: www.dramberthornton.comIf this episode resonated with you, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who may need it today.Thank you for being here. I'll see you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

5
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show! Here, you're never alone in navigating life's biggest moments and toughest lessons. Join Dr. Amber Thornton, psychologist, author, & mother of two, as she explores relationships, parenting, career, mental health, and the ongoing journey of personal evolution. These conversations are sure to evoke laughter, tears, reflection, insight, and, most importantly, growth. Tune in weekly for an inspiring, informative, and thought-provoking dose of content designed to propel you further on the path to becoming the best version of yourself.

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