My journey began in 2005 when I decided to pursue a career in psychology, completing my undergraduate program at The Ohio State University in 2009. That fall, I began my doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Wright State University School of Professional Psychology.

Through intensive training with special emphasis on child and family psychology, I matched at the WestCoast Children's Clinic in Oakland, California for a year-long predoctoral internship, gaining specialty expertise in complex childhood and relational traumas.

After graduating with my doctorate in 2014 and completing a postdoctoral fellowship, I obtained independent licensure as a clinical psychologist in 2016 and began working full-time in community mental health, college counseling, and public school settings.

A pivotal moment came in 2019 with the birth of my first child, introducing me to motherhood's realities. This personal shift led to a professional transformation, changing my focus from children and adolescents to parents and adults.

In 2020, I began leading wellness groups for mothers, focusing on building skills for self-care, mental health support, and resources that benefit a mother's overall quality of life.

This culminated in establishing Dr. Amber Thornton Consulting, LLC in 2022, offering individual therapy services focused on the needs of parents and adults.

In 2024, I authored my first book, 'A Parent's Guide to Self-Regulation: A Practical Framework for Breaking the Cycles of Dysregulation and Mastering Emotions for Parents and Children.'