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  • Balanced Working Mama
    • BWM Retreat 2021
    • Empower Wellness Program
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      • How To Improve Retention & Well-Being For Your Working Mothers
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    • 1-on-1 Wellness Program
    • Wellness Assessment
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5/31/2020 0 Comments

Black mothers are fighting back against racism by taking control of their wellness & empowering other mothers to do the same.

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Like many of you, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about our world. It hurts me to my core to know that Black people continue to be seen as threats in our society. It hurts me to know that there never has been and may never be the appropriate amount of accountability and action taken for all the precious lives that have been lost. I hate feeling this way, but more importantly- I hate to see my community hurt in this way. ⁣
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Racial trauma is real. Inter-generational trauma is real. Collective trauma is happening. Each and every time we see one of our own murdered or hurting, it hurts us too because we are one people. No, we are not a monolith, but we are a collective group who’s identity and existence is deeply connected with one another. ⁣
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THAT is why this hurts so bad. THAT is why you feel so angry and exhausted. THAT is why it’s so hard to focus. ⁣
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In moments like this, I never want us to lose sight of the things that STILL matter. The world would lead us to believe that our lives don’t matter, but they still do. We absolutely must continue to pursue our goals, dreams, and passions. We must take really really good care of ourselves. We must continue to love and support each other the best we can.  These things matter and they are forms of activism because it fights back against a system that would rather see us dead. 
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My son turned 1-year-old in May of this year and I've been reflecting so much on what it means to be a Black mother during times of extreme stress, injustice, and unrest.  What I constantly come back to is that my son needs me to be healthy, thriving, and alive.  Because of that, I strive to take care of myself the best I can every single day and my passion and purpose is to ensure other mothers will do the same.  

Being a mother is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles I've been blessed hold.  Connecting with other mothers has been one of the greatest joys of my life.  I know that we need more support and it is my mission to ensure that we get the help we need to stay healthy, happy, and present for our babies.  They need us more than ever before. 
So, when was the last time you were able to truly work on and invest in your well-being?  If you're a working mother, its possible that the answer is quite some time, or much longer than you'd like to admit.  If that is the case, I have something I want you to consider.  
Women are powerful and we hold the most power when we work together.  We need the community and support of one another to become the best versions of ourselves.  This is vital for our community, our children, and most importantly, for ourselves.  
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Starting the week of July 5th, the Balanced Working Mama Empower Wellness Program will begin.  I developed this program with Black women in mind, because our challenges and struggles are unique and need to be taken seriously.  My hope is to help as many of us as possible to improve wellness so that we can ensure that we are present and able to continue to raise healthy and conscious children.
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In this program, you're guaranteed to:

  • ​Resolve your most pressing wellness issue.
  • Build community and social support with others mothers.
  • Better identify and meet your wellness needs.
  • Decrease your stress, guilt, & fatigue.​​
  • Improve your confidence in taking control of your own well-being. 

This 6-Week Program includes:

​-1 Free Initial Consultation

-2 Balanced Working Mama Wellness Assessments (Pre & Post)

-1-on-1 Weekly Check-ins w/ Dr. Amber Thornton

-Small Group Weekly Session w/ 5 other EMPOWERED women
All for $55/Week
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Please don't underestimate the importance of pursuing your passions, taking care of yourself, and fiercely loving your family in times like this.  These are forms of activism.  Self-care is still a worthy and necessary form of political warfare.  I look forward to connecting with you! 

Space is limited.
Register now to learn more about this powerful program & to reserve your spot today!

Register Now

Dr. Amber Thornton is a clinical psychologist and wellness consultant.  She resides in the Washington, DC area with her husband and 1-year-old son.  She is most passionate about helping mothers and women of color to take control of their wellness and find the balance needed to live purposeful and empowered lives. 
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0 Comments

5/22/2020 0 Comments

Here's how to take control of your wellness and empower other mothers to do the same.

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Hey Mama!

How are you doing?  How is your wellness?

When was the last time you were able to truly work on and invest in your well-being?  

If you're a working mother, its possible that the answer is quite some time, or much longer than you'd like to admit.  I have something I want you to consider.  

Women are powerful, but we hold the most power when we work together.  If you've struggled with not feeling well, difficulty prioritizing your needs, or not taking care of yourself, its possible that you are in need of community and support from other women to help.  

Please join me (Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist, Personal Development Coach, & Wellness Consultant) and 5 other EMPOWERED women on a journey together by joining
Balanced Working Mama: Empower Wellness. 
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In this program, you're guaranteed to:

  • Resolve your most pressing wellness issue.
  • Build community and social support with others mothers.
  • Better identify and meet your wellness needs.
  • Decrease your stress, guilt, & fatigue.​​
  • Improve your confidence in taking control of your own well-being. 
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This 6-Week Program includes:

​-1 Free Initial Consultation

-2 Balanced Working Mama Wellness Assessments (Pre & Post)

-1-on-1 Weekly Check-ins w/ Dr. Amber Thornton

-Small Group Weekly Session w/ 5 other EMPOWERED women
All for $55/Week
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Space is limited.
Register now to learn more about this powerful program & to reserve your spot today!

Register Now
0 Comments

3/17/2020 0 Comments

Managing Your Mental Health During COVID-19 & Social Distancing: Things You Should Know

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For most people, the idea of isolating yourself for any reason can lead to fear, anxiety, sadness, and many other uncomfortable emotional experiences.  This is likely to feel even worse if you already have a mental health concern.  This coupled with the reality of a global pandemic is enough to push any mental health condition into overdrive.  

While you can not change the reality of what is happening around the globe with COVID-19, you can take steps to ensure that you protect and maintain your mental health as much as possible.  This will help to decrease the likelihood that a mental health concern will develop during this trying time, as well as protect from any existing mental health concerns from worsening. 

You are probably now familiar with the term social distancing, as it has been recommended on local, state, national, and global levels.  This has led to some confusion and concerns about social isolation, which has been known to produce and aggravate mental health concerns.  I highly recommend that we all continue to practice social distancing, in order to protect ourselves and those around us from contracting and spreading COVID-19.  However, there are additional steps you should take to help protect and maintain your mental and emotional well-being.  

Continue to socialize from afar.

While you may not be able to have as many in person gatherings at this time, you should not forget about the other ways to be social.  Continue to call and text your family, friends, coworkers, and other significant people.  Consider using Google Hangout, Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, GroupMe and other tools to communicate and even video chat.  This is likely an ideal time to reach out to that person who you’ve been having trouble making time for or that person who you haven’t caught up with in so long.

Bonus Tip:  Schedule time for socializing just like you would any other work-related or important meeting.  You may find that other tasks or priorities can easily fill up your time, so make socializing from afar a top priority by scheduling it into your day and week.  

Take social media breaks seriously. 

In efforts to socialize from afar, you may find that you are using social media more than usual.  While social media is so useful in allowing you to communicate with people who are not nearby, it can also negatively impact emotional and mental well-being if not used properly.  This is especially true while there is high fear and anxiety around the spread of COVID-19.  This means you need to learn how to use social media in a healthy manner.

I highly recommend that you take breaks throughout the day from social media.  This will help ensure that you’re able to take time away from the mounting fear and anxiety that is often projected onto the internet via social media.  

Similarly, play around with filtering your social media feed to minimize anxiety-provoking information, and increase content that feels peaceful, helpful, or puts your mind at ease.  It's good to stay informed but you do not have to become inundated.  

Bonus Tip:  Take a few minutes today to follow 3-5 new accounts that offer some calm, peace, reassurance, or fun.  It's important to have a good balance within your social media feeds and following these new social media accounts can help. 

Keep a set schedule and routine.

Whenever life changes rapidly, i.e. during a global pandemic, you may notice that you lose track of your schedules and routines.  Developing and maintaining routine is healthy because it helps to ward off uncertainty, anxiety, boredom, or even depressive moods.  Schedules and routines keep us engaged in the moment, and helps us to anticipate what is needed and how to prioritize tasks.  

Therefore, I highly recommend that you determine what your new schedule and routine will look like.  It's possible that this will be different than what you’re used to because you may now be working from home or spending much less time outside of work or home.  Therefore, take the time you need to ensure that your new schedule and routine is reasonable, realistic, and adaptable to future changes that may come. 

Bonus Tip:  When you figure out the schedule and routine that will work for you, make it visual and tangible!  The schedule and routine you create will be much more effective if you write it down, print it out, post it, or put it up somewhere.  Make sure that your schedule is visible for you to see so that you are more likely to stay on track. 


Practice healthy self-talk. 

You may have wondered if it's okay to talk to yourself.  I want to let you know that it is absolutely okay to talk to yourself and it's something I recommend.  Healthy self-talk is necessary during moments of crisis or challenging situations because your thoughts will likely feel more negative, fearful, or tense during those times.  

One thing you must know is that healthy self-talk takes practice and something you should work on every single day.  It's normal for this practice to feel awkward or forced at first, but the more you practice, the better and more natural it will feel.  

Additionally, I want you to understand that positive self-talk is not always healthy self-talk.  Therefore, as you practice self-talk, remember that it does not always need to be overly positive (which can sometimes feel invalidating).  The goal is to practice healthy self-talk, self-talk that will support your mental and emotional well-being without invalidating your current reality or feelings.  

Bonus Tip:  If you are having trouble knowing what counts as healthy self-talk, try the following:  

Remind yourself of what is going well in your life.
Remind yourself that current challenges will not last forever.
Ask yourself to recall a happy memory.
Tell yourself you are doing a good job.
Think of someone who inspires you.
Remind yourself of something you are proud of. 

Don't neglect your basic self-care.

Crises, big changes, challenges, and other unexpected events may lead you to unintentionally forget about the basics. So remember: 

Practice good hygiene everyday!
Drink all your water.
Eat regularly and consistently throughout the day.
Make time to exercise.
SLEEP.
Get some fresh air. 

Generally, take extra good care of your body.

Bonus Tip:  Do you need some extra help with improving your overall self-care?  If so, I recommend that you schedule a free Personal Development Consultation for more help. 

Dr. Amber Thornton

Clinical Psychologist | Personal Development Consultant | Balanced Working Mama Coach | Speaker | Mental Health Expert

www.dramberthornton.com
www.balancedworkingmama.com

​hello@dramberthornton.com 

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0 Comments

2/18/2020 2 Comments

Six Black Women Creating Spaces for Black Working Mothers

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​For many Black women, motherhood means learning how to navigate and balance both our passion for being mothers along with our passions for our work and careers.  With Black women continuing to be the most educated group in the United States and so many of us being caretakers for children, it's no wonder that we may struggle to find resources and spaces that meet our unique needs.

Being a mother has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life. I love spending time with my son.  Watching him grow and learn has been amazing! Being a psychologist is the other most rewarding part of my life and it’s hard to imagine who I’d be without being able to help others.  Being a working mother has allowed me to have so much compassion and empathy for the unique struggles of other mothers who passionately work and care for their children.  We need support, guidance, validation, and the occasional “I see you sis!” 

Here are a few strong Black women who are dedicated to creating space for Black working mothers. 

Balanced Working Mama

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​Dr. Amber Thornton is a mama with expertise as a Clinical Psychologist and Personal Development Consultant.  She is especially passionate about personal development and wellness for working mothers.  “Being a working mother has allowed me to have so much compassion and empathy for the unique struggles of other mothers who passionately work and care for their children.”

Dr. Amber has been very candid about her experiences of motherhood as a working professional. Dr. Amber has created “Balanced Working Mama”- ​Coaching services and resources for working mothers in balancing work, motherhood, and demanding the support they deserve.

Website: dramberthornton.com
IG: @dramberthornton


Let's Bloom Together

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​Ariel Smith is a mama of three who is committed to self-care for Black women.  “Self care in its wholeness saved my life. I noticed that the beautiful roles of mother and wife consumed me to the point that I lost myself! As a result, I nearly lost everything! I see moms and wives around me, and beyond, get to that breaking point and I believe it’s totally preventable.”

Ariel is fully transparent in sharing the lessons she’s learned along the way to help other women bloom into their best selves.  Ariel creates content related to self-care for Black women, offers coaching services, and hosts the “Let’s Bloom Together” podcast. 

Website: letsbloomtogether.org
IG: @bloomwithari



Mom2Mogul

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​Jasmine Chanelle is a mama who is passionate about inspiring millennial moms to have it all.  “I teach female entrepreneurs how to craft meaningful brand stories to attract their dream clients. I help my clients find their authentic voice and develop strategic tactics to share their brand across digital platforms.”

Jasmine is incredible at highlighting “what it takes to be a boss in the boardroom and at home.”  She is popular on Instagram, YouTube, and has recently launched the Mom2Mogul course for working mothers who are ready to devote to their online businesses full-time. 

Website: jasminechanelle.com
IG: @_jasminechanelle


Bloom Life Coaching

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​Alece Coleman is a mama who is dedicated to creating healing spaces and opportunities for Black women.  Alece is also transparent about her own journey toward healing.  “Not only was I sent to do this work but I was COMMANDED to do the work right alongside you as well.”

Alece is a Black Women’s Wellness Facilitator and a Licensed Psychotherapist.  She is currently offering a Free Self Love Guide for those in need of activating self love and beginning the healing process.

Website: coachingatbloom.com
IG: @healatbloom


Real Moms Too Podcast

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​Alana Parks and Xia Chekwa are two mamas who are passionate about discussing the stories of Real Mom Life.  “The podcast for the mom who is looking to connect with other Relatable, Empathetic, Authentic, Liberated Moms, and where we keep it Real!”

Alana and Xia embrace and connect with their “Virtual Mom Village” weekly with episodes that can be found on all major podcast streaming apps.  

IG: @realmomstoo


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​We see you, sis! 
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    Dr. Amber Thornton

    Clinical Psychologist | Personal Development Consultant | Balanced Working Mama Coach | Speaker | Mental Health Expert

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