"Do not ask yourself what the world needs.  Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."    -Howard Thurman

Listen to 'A Different Perspective' on SoundCloud, iTunes, & Google Play. 

​Inside Her Story: Dr. Amber Thornton Talks About Mental Health In The Black Community

"Jacque Reid goes Inside Her Story with clinical psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton about mental health in the black community including suicide rates among black children, tips for black women seeking care and more."

Grad School 101


​"Applying to graduate school is not a simple process.  Many of us make mistakes during this process, but the biggest mistake I've noticed is that many people either start too late or move too fast through the process. Because of that,  I have developed a 3 Phase timeline to help ensure that you start the process on time, and that you move through each step adequately."  
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​Read more here...
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The Reality of Suicide in the Black Community


​Talking about suicide is hard, for several reasons.  Not only are we constantly combating the stigma of mental health in general, but we also are frequently turning our backs to the reality of suicide in our communities.  No one wants to talk about if or when they may have felt suicidal.  Rarely do we hear about those lost by suicide or the impact that was had on their friends or family members.  Suicide has a way of leaving an eerily quiet and lingering trial of guilt, sadness, shame, and isolation, which further perpetuates stigma. 

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Are you afraid to go to therapy?

In the years that I have been a psychologist, one thing I have learned is that many people are afraid to go to mental health therapy.  I can recall several clients who have come to see me and later admitted that they were afraid to even consider coming.  Luckily, they decided to push through and soon realized that coming to therapy was one of the greatest decisions they had made. 
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There are many reasons why going to therapy can seem “scary” or produce some fear.  If you are (or have been) afraid to go to therapy, rest assured that you are not alone.  Below are the most common reasons I believe that many of us are afraid to go to therapy.  I hope this list eases some of your worries and pushes you further toward the decision to say YES to mental health therapy. 

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​"The Art of Thriving":
​Tips for living your best life within an oppressive society.

Intentionally choosing to thrive in your current life is revolutionary.  I say this because we (and our ancestors before us) live in a time and a society that often seems to be full of hate, fear, and distress.  Living in this type of environment causes us to unintentionally get into “survival mode”- which puts limits and constraints on the potential and quality for our lives.  When we live in a racist or otherwise oppressive society, it often means that we also live in constant fear and anxiety for our livelihood.  We are encouraged to become smaller, different, or told to be less threatening.  We then begin to internalize these messages from society, and even encourage our children and loved ones to live in fear, with anxiety, and with limitations. ​​

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​From Trauma to Healing

I know a lot about trauma.  Over the past few years, I have been lucky to have learned so much about trauma, in all its forms.  Learning about trauma has served several purposes for me.  At one point in my career, I worked closely with traumatized youth, many of which were children of color and had been physically assaulted, emotionally abused, neglected, homeless, sexualized, and harmed in ways one could hardly imagine.   I don’t do that type of work anymore, but I’ll always be grateful for those experiences.  More recently, the role trauma has played in my professional life has helped me to better understand all the ways that Black people and communities have been impacted by trauma.   

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Commit to #21DaysofSelfCare!
This 21 day self-care program is designed to help you develop and jump start your own unique and personalized self-care routine.  With this program, you will be able to bring discipline and habit to your self-care practice.  This program will assist you in beginning a self-care routine that is flexible and can be changed or altered continuously throughout the rest of the year.  

Want to try it?  Set aside 21 days that you plan to commit to this program, or work the program at your own pace.  You can decide whats best for you.  Ready to get started?

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Embrace minority mental health by learning more about emotional fatigue, burnout, coping strategies, and self-care.  

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Frequently asked questions and answers about African American Psychology.  
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What is 'A Different Perspective'?

"A Different Perspective came out of my frustrations with feeling as if my voice has not always been heard. I think many of us can relate to feeling as if we don't fit in, won't be accepted, or don't belong. As a psychologist, I have often felt the pressure to conform to a traditional standard that has not always fit my true self. 'A Different Perspective' gives me a voice to be the psychologist I want to be, while also attempting to give a voice to many others who have also struggled to be heard. I hope 'A Different Perspective' inspires you and many others to share your voice, your views, your opinions, and your true self with the world! "
​- Dr. Amber Thornton