🎙️ The Honeymoon Is OVER!

Welcome back to another episode! Whew — where do I even start? In this raw and unfiltered episode, I’m getting real about what life has looked like after the initial excitement of change wore off. From the high of returning home to the unexpected weight of transition, I’m sharing how I’ve navigated the tough terrain of starting over (again), losing a sense of grounding, and the emotional reality of living with family, working full-time, and trying to maintain a private practice on the side.

If you’ve ever felt like you were supposed to be thriving but instead felt stretched thin, overwhelmed, or unsure of your footing, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the unglamorous (but deeply human) moments of transition and how I’m slowly reclaiming peace, autonomy, and space for myself — one intentional step at a time.

• Why moving back home felt necessary — and why it hasn’t been easy.

• How I lost myself in the transitions of housing, work, and identity.

• The emotional toll of no longer having my own space (and trying to find peace in one room).

• The impact of stress on my body, my habits, and my bariatric journey.

• How FOMO, family dynamics, and a full workload had me stretched way too thin.

• What it took to reset my priorities — and finally start building the life I needed.

• The relief and freedom I’ve found in securing my own space again.
  

This one is vulnerable, personal, and deeply rooted in truth. If you're in a season of change or feeling pulled in too many directions, I hope it reminds you that you're not alone — and that you can slow down and come back to yourself.

[00:00] Welcome back + podcast intro

[01:00] Why “The Honeymoon is Over” — reflections on returning to California

[03:00] Missing community, physical affection, and emotional connection

[04:15] Challenges of losing space and autonomy — living with family again

[05:20] Overworking, stress, and the toll on physical health [06:30] Bariatric struggles, emotional eating, and feeling ungrounded

[08:00] FOMO, people-pleasing, and spreading myself too thin

[09:30] Prioritizing housing and choosing what to focus on first [11:00] Finding freedom and peace in my new apartment [13:00] Lessons on capacity, patience, and presence

[15:00] Closing reflections and gratitude

“I lost myself in the changes… stress overtook my energy.”

“I was working 10-hour days and then doing private practice on the weekends — I was exhausted.”

“No one else in my family has had bariatric surgery. I was eating what everyone else was eating… it completely threw me off.”

“The thing that worked in one season won’t always work in another.”

“Sometimes when you knock out one of the things, it really sets in motion the other pieces at play.”

“All the things we’ve prayed for, hoped for, wished for — they’re happening. But we’re so focused on the next thing that we miss it.”

“It’s okay to need or want something different for yourself.”

🎶 Music by: Noir Et Blanc Vie

Moments of Authenticity 📧 Email: amber@amberboydtherapy.com 📱 Instagram | Facebook 🌐 Website 🎧 Spotify | Apple

Welcome back to another episode of Moments of Authenticity!

Transitions are a part of life and are rarely easy to navigate. In this episode, I open up about how I’ve handled some of the most significant changes in my personal and professional life. From moments of uncertainty to finding clarity through reflection, this conversation is a reminder that growth often begins in discomfort.

Whether you’re in the middle of a transition or just reflecting on what’s next, this episode offers practical insights and a little encouragement to keep moving forward—even if the path isn’t clear.

In this episode I am breaking down:

• Making the decision to make a HARD decision.

• An exploration into sustainability with limited community and a changing financial landscape

• Mitigating shame and fear

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction: Navigating transitions in life and work. [02:20] A personal story: What change taught me about trust and patience. [06:45] Practical tools for sitting with discomfort during periods of uncertainty. [10:10] Client stories: Parallels between therapy work and my own journey. [14:00] Closing reflections: Growth and resilience through transition.

Notable Quotes:

• "I’ve literally been moving in silence.”

• “I recognized how lonely I was feeling without community, in its fullness.”

• "I knew that my practice was not sustainable the way that it was, and the lack of community was not sustainable for my mental health, so I made the decision to go home!”

• "Coming home first required that I work through my own self-prescribed shame and fear of failure!”

• "In release comes movement!”

• “I appreciate that folx are making space for me back in Oakland.”

• “I’m so grateful that once I moved out of the way, there was a sense of movement and urgency…I didn’t need to know the how or the when…I just needed to move!”

• “I gave myself permission to change my trajectory about work.”

• “Biggest takeaways: don’t beholden yourself to a decision if the circumstances have changed, you are not a failure for acknowledging what you need…and going home, and STAND ON BUSINESS!”

• “My phrase for 2025 is RELINQUISHING CONTROL.”

Music by: Noir Et Blanc Vie

Moments of Authenticity

Email: amber@amberboydtherapy.com |⁠ Instagram ⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ |⁠ Website⁠ | ⁠Youtube⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple⁠

Welcome back to another episode!

Can you believe it’s been five years? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the real story behind how I built Healing Through Authenticity, PLLC, from the ground up. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t easy! From packing up my life in Oakland to diving into the deep end with no job, no safety net – just pure faith in myself – this journey has been a wild ride of risks, rewards, and so many lessons along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to chase your dreams while battling perfectionism, doubt, and everything in between, then you’re in for an eye-opener. This episode is raw, real, and full of the personal insights I’ve gained through it all.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• Why I took the biggest leap of my life – moving to a new state with no job, no insurance, just a dream.

• How betting on myself paid off in ways I never expected (but also some ways I wasn’t ready for).

• The behind-the-scenes struggles of starting my practice – clients, boundaries, and the reality of setting up shop.

• Why I’ve stopped striving for perfection (hint: it’s impossible) and started embracing my progress.

• How my clients, past and present, have shaped who I am as a therapist—and why I’m tearing up just thinking about it.

Trust me, you won’t want to miss this one.

Curious about what happens when you push past fear and bank on yourself? Hit play now and join me as I reflect on five unforgettable years of growth, healing, and authenticity!

Timestamps

[00:02] 5-year milestone in therapy practice, including training and certifications.

[04:30] Perfectionism, self-doubt, and personal growth.

[08:50] Personal growth, self-care, and professional development for a therapist.

Notable Quotes

“I believed in this business and I believed in this practice, and since then, it has sustained me. It has kept me.”

“I’m still a work in progress, wanting to continue to shift and think about what kind of therapist I want to be, because I don’t have to necessarily be one thing. I’m not a monolith.”

“The perfectionist side of me, is exhausting, and usually it doesn’t come out perfect anyway.”

“I can do hard things, and I do hard things all the time.”

“It’s okay to pace yourself.”

“I am not perfect. I will never be perfect. I will consistently be a person who wants better for themselves.”

“I recognize that I can’t control how people perceive me. I can only provide the information that I have in the way that I can, and if it’s received, then I’ve done my job.”

“I’m giving myself permission to be exactly where I’m at versus where I’m not.”

“I’m grateful, and it’s okay to, like, pause for a second and just be in it.”

Music by: Noir Et Blanc Vie

Moments of AuthenticityEmail: amber@amberboydtherapy.com | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Youtube | Spotify | Apple