Dr. Amber Thornton

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Washington D.C., DC
Dr. Amber Thornton

Clinical Psychologist & Author of ‘A Parent’s Guide to Self-Regulation’ | www.dramberthornton.com

12/22/2025

Just in case you needed some reassurance… 🤗

Now go have a good day!

P.S. Still need more reassurance? I’ve got 2 things for you:

1️⃣ Check out my book, ‘A Parent’s Guide to Self-Regulation’ (Available for purchase anywhere books are sold)!

2️⃣ News more support? You might be ready for therapy. 🔗 in bio to schedule a therapy consultation with me !

12/21/2025

In 2023, I was asked to write a book about self-regulation for parents.

At the time, my kids were 2 and 4, and I was still struggling with the adjustment of being a mom of two.

I was facing my own issues with regulating my emotions and simply didn’t think I had what it took to write a book on a topic I struggled with myself.

But I said yes and then, my life changed forever ❤️

Saying yes to “A Parent’s Guide to Self-Regulation” was the gift I never knew I needed. It felt like writing a love letter to all the parents who were just like me- those who loved their kids with everything they had but still made mistakes.

If my book has touched or supported you, I hope you know how much of myself was poured into it. It means the world to me that it has poured into you too! ❤️

12/19/2025

Have you felt it too? 👀

I wrote about something in I’ve noticed personally and professionally for parents- the immense emotional responsibility we now are so fully aware of and what it feels like to hold it.

This generation of parents are a lot more overwhelmed and partly for good reason.

I’d love your opinion on this!

Read the full article via 🔗 in my bio!

12/15/2025

For if you’ve ever wondered: “Am I doing enough?”

Emotional safety doesn’t come from doing everything perfectly! It comes from being a steady, attuned, and responsive presence. ❤️

Here are 8 signs your child feels emotionally safe with you.

And if you recognize yourself in even a few of these, you’re building something powerful.

Because when children feel safe, they don’t have to be perfect either. They can explore, express, and grow, knowing they’re loved and understood. 🌿

If you’re working to strengthen emotional safety in your home, that’s the heart of my work as a psychologist and the focus of my book, 📖 “A Parent’s Guide to Self-Regulation.”

I also offer virtual therapy for parents and professionals in 40+ PSYPACT states.

🔗 Learn more or book a free consult through the link in my bio.

12/10/2025

“Do you want to work harder?” 😟🥴🤯

Many times (if you’re open to it), there’s a lot to learn from your children…and this was probably something I needed to hear.

Was this message for you too??

12/09/2025

I heard .robinson talk about this weeks ago and finally gathered my thoughts around it.

P.S. NONE of this implies that raising a boy is any less important, but just different. ❤️

12/08/2025

“This felt like a hug.” 🫂

Look for this exact feeling as you are choosing your new therapist! ❤️

12/03/2025

WELL Why TF NOT!?

Estranged parents complaining about their adult child’s lack of conflict resolution skills has been the major irritant of my week because like… wasn’t it your job to ensure those skills were developed?

How did you model said conflict resolution skills?

What practices and skills were intentionally crafted so moments like this could have been avoided OR at least handled much differently.

The topic of “no conflict” and family estrangement has been BIG lately.

What has been your experience with this?

11/23/2025

What would you do if your child disappeared under circumstances that didn’t quite make sense… and the whole world decided it was your fault?

‘All Her Fault’ is forcing us to look at motherhood, blame, and the exhausting reality of being the “default” parent in a new way. It’s raising some uncomfortable, but necessary questions.

I had the opportunity to share a few reflections on this in a recent TODAY.com feature about default parenting, and the conversation was long overdue.

Have you watched the show?? 👀 Let me know your thoughts in the comment.

🔗 Full article linked in bio.

11/15/2025

Imperfect pictures of the most perfect day ❤️

Usually, I’m on a trip for my birthday but this year- I just wanted to be with my family.

I simply wanted to wake my kids up for school, hear them wish my a happy birthday. I wanted to spend the day hanging out with my husband. I wanted a birthday cake to share my favorite people and I wanted to eat dinner out with them too!

Today was everything I needed ❤️

Thankful for another trip around the sun. #38

11/13/2025

Many mothers never feel safe enough to reach this point in therapy.

The point where the awareness gets deeper, the emotions get louder, and the truth becomes impossible to ignore.

And yet… that’s where the real healing begins.❤️‍🩹

That is the moment everything shifts.

For so many high-achieving women and mothers, emotional safety hasn’t always been easy or available — at home, at work, in relationships, or even within themselves. So reaching this level of honesty can feel scary. But it’s also where capacity expands, patterns break, and emotional clarity finally begins.

Therapy is meant to be a safe place for this kind of inner work: a place for you to feel supported, intentional, and paced with care. And when you can stay with the discomfort instead of pulling away, the change on the other side is powerful.

If you’re ready to explore your inner world with this kind of depth, I’d love to support you.

💻 I offer virtual therapy in 40+ PSYPACT states
🔗 Learn more or book a consult through the link in my bio

11/11/2025

Part of my journey of becoming a more regulated parent has been learning to actually enjoy moments like this without fear creeping in.

Not the fears of “what if something happens,” but the deeper fears about connection, like “will they always feel close to me?” or “Will they still want to be home when they’re older?”

As I’ve learned to regulate myself, I’ve also learned to stay present in the sweetness of moments like these instead of anxiously trying to hold onto them.

And hearing my son say he always wants to be here with us felt like confirmation that the emotional work I’m doing matters. 🩶

Here’s to growing more regulated, more grounded, and more connected each and every day.

📘 ‘A Parent’s Guide to Self-Regulation’ — my book on the frameworks that help parents build emotional safety in themselves and their families.

💻 Virtual therapy in 40+ PSYPACT states — link in bio to book a consult!

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Washington D.C., DC

Website

http://dramberthornton.com/services

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About Me

My name is Dr. Amber Thornton. I am a Clinical Psychologist, wife, and mama to an amazing little boy. I live in the DC area and LOVE it here! In 2019, I took a big step forward in my career and launched Dr. Amber Thornton Consulting, LLC. It was scary but something I've been sitting on that could no longer be held back. While I provide a number of services through my consultation practice, Balanced Working Mama has become one of my greatest joys and passions. My mission is simple: to help working mothers balance work, motherhood, and wellness. I want to completely change the narrative of what is possible for working mothers.

I will no longer watch mothers sacrifice their health, joy, careers, or happiness for what society has taught us motherhood should be. I am committed to rewriting the narrative of motherhood so that we all will have a better idea of what motherhood can be- full of joy, good health, time for yourself, passionate work and hobbies, connection to other mamas, and so much more. I'm excited to connect with you!