Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amber Jointer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Amber thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

My name is Amber, and this is the story of how I grew my private practice. I’m honored to share 8 lessons and experiences of my personal and professional life.

I grew up under the informal apprenticeship of my grandfather who owned and operated a very successful radio station in our hometown. He became a business owner when he was 38 years old which is coincidentally the same age that I am turning this year. His business was radio but true to his nature as an Aquarius he used his business to not only broadcast his voice throughout the world, but also to create revolutionary long-lasting change in his community and beyond.

On the last day of his life in 2018, I promised him that I would continue to carry out his mission. And so it is that I sit here today 7 years later as a licensed clinical social worker and independent private practice owner using my voice to help change the world through the work that I do. I cannot share my story without including my grandfather as he laid the initial foundation for my success through his simple recipe of always being yourself and treating others the way you would want to be treated.

My career path began in 2005 when I began working with disabled adults and children by helping them with the activities of daily living so that they can live independently. Though I was only 18 years old at the time, I had a lot of experience working with people due to all of the time I spent with my grandfather volunteering for and visiting with the elderly. I noticed that while I was at work, everything came very naturally, it was not a grind, and I really enjoyed being there. I was truly awakened to my purpose early, which ignited my intuition and while sometimes it took me down a variety of paths that I may not ever go back down, each one served as important lessons for my journey.

After obtaining my master’s degree, I began working for a therapy group practice that was unique to any of the places I worked previously. It was there that I began my formal apprenticeship under a man and woman who embodied every single one of the characteristics of my grandfather. They provided an environment where it was actually safe to be yourself and growth was encouraged. One of the most important things that I learned from them was a strategy to deal with negative emotional energy that I would go on to name my business after. They offered me a space to evolve and as cliche as this may sound, they helped me learn how to fly.

And fly I did, off into the world of private practice and digital nomad land which allowed me the space and freedom to be able to live authentically, in environments that are best suited best for me, while offering my services to individuals throughout the country. Interestingly enough, when I was going back through old papers, I found a project that I did in grad school, essentially it was a blueprint for the practice that I run now. I was advocating for telehealth/telemedicine as an intervention to improve access to mental health care which has historically only existed in an office setting. We are used to it now, but back then telehealth was not something that everyone had access to. I am forever grateful for the expansion of telemedicine which has completely changed the delivery of health care for the better and I am proud to be a pioneer in the industry.

The logistics of setting up my private practice was the ultimate test of faith. I realized as I began this process that many of the challenges of times past actually helped me to build the strength and resiliency to be able to get through this last hurdle. There were long emotional nights completing paperwork, brainstorming, gathering the resources, networking, building websites, executing marketing strategies, and more, However, this is when you must rely on faith. I am a deeply spiritual soul, and although everyone may not resonate with faith or spirituality, faith still remains as a very important part of the journey Having spiritual faith in something outside of yourself but also having faith in yourself and your ability to achieve your personal mission.

Some takeaways from my experience…..

1. Always be yourself, and if you don’t know who your “self” is then I encourage you to set forth and find yourself. Spend time in nature, spend time in solitude, do things outside of your daily grind that make you feel alive. Authenticity is the highest frequency which awakens your intuition. This will always be the key back to you.

2. Have empathy for others. Having empathy goes beyond caring about others, it’s about opening yourself to the possibility of another perspective through the lens of another soul’s experience. You gain a lot of wisdom from having empathy.

3. Find purpose and make meaning of life. It is not just enough to wake up and exist in the world you were born into. Through discovering who you are, you will understand yourself and your purpose on a deeper level, when you live a purpose driven life you become a trailblazer and create your own lane.

4. Pay attention to all of the lessons along the way. Sometimes they come in unexpected packages. You can always take something away from a negative situation and alchemize it into something completely different.

5. Mentorship is essential. As intelligent and independent as you may be, you don’t hold all of the answers. Trust those who have more wisdom than you and ask a lot of questions. Seek guidance and consultation often. Build a strong support network with people that you can learn from.

6. Pay attention to your environment. Just as plants often need to be repotted in fresh soil, when they outgrow the old, we as humans should evaluate the spaces around us. Spend time in fruitful environments that enhance your energy.

7. Trust the process. Sometimes the answers aren’t always right in front of you, but they come as time unfolds. I created a blueprint for the business I run now in 2019, however, at that time the conditions of the world did not support my ideas, so I had to wait for the right time. Sometimes you just have to keep walking and the path will appear.

8. Have faith. It’s the last but most important aspect. You must have faith when doubt and anxiety creep in as they surely do along any journey. Have faith in the fact that once you build it, it will grow.

Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I offer individual therapy for adults in the states of Florida, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina. One of the things that sets my practice apart from others is that here you can expect to be treated like a human being. I utilize a holistic and person-centered approach specifically tailored to each clients needs. I also offer reduced cost therapy to individuals who do not have health insurance. My goal in creating this clinic, is to make therapy as easy to access as possible, hence my use of telehealth for all appointments. This allows clients to feel safe and participate from the comfort of their homes and provides a much more private environment than traditional office therapy. Telehealth is a perfect option for remote workers, stay at home parents, students, individuals with transportation barriers, and professionals with busy schedules.

In the future the clinic will be expanding to include additional therapists as well as wellness merchandise.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building strong relationships through networking and consistently offering high quality care. I have been in my field now for over 20 years and counting, making this my life’s work.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Networking, having a strong niche, utilizing directories, social media, and contracting with various Employee Assistance Programs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.greystoneguidance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greystoneguidance/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Grey-Stone-Guidance/61554829409817/