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.

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.

Welcome to The Dr. Amber Show—the podcast where parenting psychology meets real life.

In This Episode

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.

I'm unpacking something that happened on a recent flight — a stranger telling a mom to control her kids, and everything that exchange revealed about how we treat parents (especially moms) in public. We talk about the difference between being genuinely annoyed and taking authority over someone else's parenting, why moms so often get blamed more than dads in these moments, and what it actually looks like to regulate your own emotions instead of trying to manage someone else's kids.

Ways to Work With Dr. Amber

✨ Reflection Prompt:Next time you feel triggered by someone else's parenting in public — a screaming kid, a meltdown, a moment that isn't yours to manage — ask yourself: is this actually my responsibility, or is this me needing to regulate my own emotions?

📖 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.

Have you ever looked at your child and felt overwhelmed by how beautiful the moment is...only to immediately feel sadness because you know it won't last?

In this episode of The Dr. Amber Show, we're talking about what I call beautiful sadness—the bittersweet experience of loving something so deeply that you're already grieving its eventual change.

Together, we'll explore:

-Why parents experience anticipatory grief

-The psychology of impermanence

-How beautiful sadness can quietly pull us out of the present moment

-The "dark side" of beautiful sadness: clinging to the past, fearing the future, and missing what's happening right now

-How the PCR Framework from A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation can help you return to the present when these emotions arise

As always, I'll end with a reflection to carry with you throughout the week.

If you've ever wished you could freeze time with your children—or found yourself grieving milestones before they've even passed—I hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone.

Resources Mentioned

📘 A Parent's Guide to Self-RegulationLearn the PCR Framework and practical tools for staying grounded during difficult parenting moments.

🌱 Becoming the Parent You Needed (BPYN)My upcoming 8-week parent transformation program designed to help you heal old patterns so you can parent from a more regulated, connected place.

➡️ Join the interest list: https://mailchi.mp/dramberthornton/ydni3b92sj

💛 TherapyIf you're interested in working with me individually, join my therapy waitlist:

➡️ https://www.dramberthornton.com/therapy

🧠 Psychological EvaluationsComprehensive virtual evaluations for ADHD, autism, and diagnostic clarification.

➡️ https://www.dramberthornton.com/psychological-testing

🎤 Speaking & WorkshopsInterested in having me speak to your organization, school, or event?

➡️ https://www.dramberthornton.com/speaking1

📚 Order My BookA Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation

➡️ https://www.stablebookgroup.com/products/a-parents-guide-to-self-regulation?_pos=1&_sid=8fc69306a&_ss=r

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to:

✨ Subscribe to the channel

✨ Like this video

✨ Share it with another parent who may need this reminder today

✨ Leave a comment letting me know: Have you ever experienced "beautiful sadness"?

Thank you for spending this time with me. See you next week on The Dr. Amber Show.

The Nolan Wells story has weighed heavily on the hearts of many parents—especially Black parents.

As I listened to the details, I couldn't stop thinking about my own son and the fears so many of us quietly carry. How do we prepare our children for the realities of the world without allowing fear to take over our parenting?

In this first episode of The Dr. Amber Show, we talk about:

• Why stories like this affect our nervous systems so deeply
• The difference between protective fear and anxiety
• How Black parents can honor both love and vigilance without parenting from panic
• How the PCR Method can help us respond from regulation instead of fear

If you've found yourself feeling overwhelmed, heartbroken, or wondering how to balance protecting your child with preserving their sense of safety, this episode is for you.

🌱 Something to Notice This Week:
Ask yourself, "Is this response coming from today's reality—or from my nervous system trying to protect me from tomorrow's uncertainty?"

About The Dr. Amber Show

The Dr. Amber Show is where psychology meets real life.

Each episode helps parents understand what's really happening beneath their emotions so they can respond with more intention, regulation, and connection—not perfection.

Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, licensed psychologist and author of 'A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation.'

Dr. Amber and her good friend, DC Native and all things social connector-Chelsey Christensen, talk all things summertime, summer overwhelm, and how to manage it all.

Today's episode of Dr. Amber's Know and Grow Podcast is the FINALE of Dr. Amber's Virtual Book Tour.

Order your copy 'A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation: A Practical Framework for Breaking the Cycles of Dysregulation and Mastering Emotions for Parents & Children' !

https://www.dramberthornton.com/new-book

If you loved today's episode, leave a 5-star rating and review, sharing exactly what you loved about the episode! 
Want to connect? 
Email Dr. Amber at [email protected] or connect with her on any social media platform- @dramberthornton 
Tune into Dr. Amber's Know & Grow Podcast 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.

Tune in as Dr. Amber and special guest- Dr. Raquel Martin, discusses the importance of our children's emotional safety and how our own emotional dysregulation may hinder their ability to feel safe.

Today's episode of Dr. Amber's Know and Grow Podcast is part of Dr. Amber's Virtual Book Tour, in celebration of the release of 'A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation: A Practical Framework for Breaking the Cycles of Dysregulation and Mastering Emotions for Parents & Children.' 
Pre-Order your copy of the new book at https://www.dramberthornton.com/new-book

If you loved today's episode, leave a 5-star rating and review, sharing exactly what you loved about the episode! 

Want to connect? 

Email Dr. Amber at [email protected] or connect with her on any social media platform- @dramberthornton 

Tune into Dr. Amber's Know & Grow Podcast 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.

Are you a burned out mama?

Let's break the cycle of burnout together! Listen as Dr. Amber and Precious K. Williams (@preciouskwilliams) discuss how to break cycles of burnout through wellness and how it all relates to your emotional wellbeing.

Today's episode of Dr. Amber's Know and Grow Podcast is part of Dr. Amber's Virtual Book Tour, in celebration of the release of 'A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation: A Practical Framework for Breaking the Cycles of Dysregulation and Mastering Emotions for Parents & Children.'  
Pre-Order your copy of the new book at https://www.dramberthornton.com/new-book

If you loved today's episode, leave a 5-star rating and review, sharing exactly what you loved about the episode! 
Want to connect? 
Email Dr. Amber at [email protected] or connect with her on any social media platform- @dramberthornton 
Tune into Dr. Amber's Know & Grow Podcast 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.

Struggling with overstimulation as a mom is hard, and all too common for millennial moms parenting today. If you've struggled with anxiety, excessive worry, feeling out of control, and a whole host of other symptoms of overstimulation- this episode is for you! Listen as Dr. Amber and Katrice Taylor, two millennial moms- talk all about the journey of coping with overstimulation and what to do about it.

Today's episode of Dr. Amber's Know and Grow Podcast is part of Dr. Amber's Virtual Book Tour, in celebration of the release of 'A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation: A Practical Framework for Breaking the Cycles of Dysregulation and Mastering Emotions for Parents & Children.' 
Pre-Order your copy of the new book at https://www.dramberthornton.com/new-book

If you loved today's episode, leave a 5-star rating and review, sharing exactly what you loved about the episode! 
Want to connect? 
Email Dr. Amber at [email protected] or connect with her on any social media platform- @dramberthornton 
Tune into Dr. Amber's Know & Grow Podcast 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.

Are you working to break generational cycles of emotional dysregulation in your parenting? If so- this episode is for you!

Tune in as Dr. Amber chats with Tiffany Grant Brown (IG: @tiffanytheempress) about this very topic!

____________________________________

Today's episode of Dr. Amber's Know and Grow Podcast is part of Dr. Amber's Virtual Book Tour, in celebration of the release of 'A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation: A Practical Framework for Breaking the Cycles of Dysregulation and Mastering Emotions for Parents & Children.'  

Pre-Order your copy of the new book at https://www.dramberthornton.com/new-book

If you loved today's episode, leave a 5-star rating and review, sharing exactly what you loved about the episode! 
Want to connect? 
Email Dr. Amber at [email protected] or connect with her on any social media platform- @dramberthornton 
Tune into Dr. Amber's Know & Grow Podcast 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.