Amber McKinney shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Amber, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Gardening. I ABSOLUTELY love being outdoors, gardening and being with my partner and dog. I love cultivating life and watching it flourish. The non-verbal communication of needs between plant and self, tuning in, getting out of the head and being in the moment. It’s beautiful. Seeing the process and the product is beautiful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that runs a professional corporation that provides therapy services throughout the states of California and 6 other states.
My practice specializes in a holistic approach. I strongly believe that therapy is not a fast-food service or a one-size-fits-all model. Throughout my career in working for others I came to see over and over again the fragmented services that called for sending people in dire need to five different places for five different needs, which can be not only confusing but re-traumatizing to a person who has to relive their trauma repeatedly amongst strangers just to receive support.
As a result, I became specialized in an array of approaches to meet a wide-range of client needs. These approaches include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), The Gottman Method couples therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Sex Therapy, Eating Disorder Therapy and more.
The goal is to provide a one-stop shop, holistic and systemic approach. True to the social worker roots that I came from, I believe that our environment can directly impact our situation. That includes our physical, social, financial and other environments. In my approach, I look at the person’s entire ecosystem to see how things are coming into play. I look at the client as a collaborator, where we both hold expertise. After all, the client know themselves best in how they best learn and receive information and I take that into consideration in tailoring my approach to meet their needs.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
As a kid, noticing an elderly unhoused man pushing his grocery cart along the side of the freeway immediately opened my eyes to the disparity that exists in the world and to also opened my eyes to my life purpose. I felt a rush of energy and as soon as I got home I wrote a poem about that man. Fast forward some years later as a young adult, I found myself serving the unhoused population. Doing this work filled my cup so much and I learned so much. I would look forward to walking down the San Diego version of Skid Row because everyone would say hi and smile. It was my home away from home.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I read Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, something shifted. I finally understood the difference between shame and vulnerability—and how much power there is in choosing the latter. For so long, I thought hiding my pain was strength, but in reality, it was disconnection. Her work helped me see that real courage is letting yourself be seen, scars and all, and trusting that connection is where healing happens. That’s when my pain stopped being a secret I carried alone and started becoming the fuel for growth, empathy, and purpose.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say what matters most to me is connection—deep, raw, vulnerable, and authentic connection. It’s the thread that runs through my life and the reason I was drawn to this work in the first place.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I’d stop giving in to my “what ifs.” Fear and hesitation steal too much life. Instead, I’d choose to say yes more boldly, love more unapologetically, and live as if possibility was always on my side
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ambermckinney.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ambermckinneymorganlcsw
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambermckinneymorgan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmberMcKinneyLCSW
Image Credits
Brandon Merrick
Alison Huntley
