What is the Authentic Therapist’s Guide?
Ever wished there was a guide for all the things no one warned you about in grad school, your first therapy job, private practice, or the mental health field in general? Me too! When I couldn’t find anything that quite fit what I needed, I decided to create it myself. I wanted to create a place where I could share all the things I’ve learned the hard way - so that you don’t have to.
There will be no lazy ‘it depends’ answers. There will be no flowery language to decipher. No clinical jargon or superiority complex. No vague, BS answers that leave you with more questions than before. This is my attempt at a direct antidote to all those things - the same hurdles that caused so many unnecessary struggles in my own career.
This is a space for new therapists, seasoned therapists, grad students, interns, solo practice owners, group practice owners, LMHC/LMFT/LCSW/LPC/HSPP/etc. Whatever letters go after your name, wherever you come from, there is something for you here.
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You’ll get exclusive content like informative articles, comprehensive guides, opinion pieces, and other insights from the perspective of an experienced therapist.
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Who’s behind the Guide?
I’m Amber, a licensed mental health counselor in Indiana. I’ve worked in community mental health, nonprofits, and most recently my own solo private practice. Throughout my therapist journey, I’ve encountered my fair share of misinformation, unclear answers, confusing rules, unsatisfying explanations, and other frustrations. After learning countless lessons the hard way, I wanted to share the truth in the only way I know how: by being myself.
I take a clear, concise, no-BS approach to life (and my career). It used to get me into trouble, but I worked hard to channel it into a strength. Now, it’s something that people express appreciation for, and a quality I want to use to help others. We so often preach honesty and authenticity as therapists, and yet many of us find it hard to embody those traits with ourselves. I hope that by being honest about this work and this field, I can normalize the messy reality and encourage other clinicians to give themselves grace. My goal is not to create shock value or controversy, but rather to give helpful information without all the excess “fluff” clouding the message.
Welcome :)
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