Mental health systems are struggling to serve the people they’re meant to support. Understanding why is where the work begins.
Amber Young works with clinicians, organizations, and institutions to identify system gaps and build approaches that are more effective for everyone.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor. OCD specialist. Late-diagnosed AuDHD. Systems thinker. Mental health policy advisor.
Available for consultation, training contracts, speaking engagements, and mental health policy advisement.
“Most of what looks like system failure is actually system design. The question worth asking isn't what broke. It's what was never built."
— Amber Young
Grounded Expertise, Visionary Impact
Amber sits at an intersection most people don’t occupy: she is a clinician who has engaged with OCD treatment systems both as a specialty provider and as a supporter of loved ones, while also navigating her own experience as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent person. This dual perspective—both inside clinical systems and inside lived experience—shapes a distinct form of analysis.
She is the sole author of the OCD entry in the ACA Encyclopedia of Counseling, has led Indiana’s OCD clinician network, and developed an OCD competency curriculum now being implemented across universities, hospitals, and community mental health centers. The curriculum is designed to reduce misdiagnosis and mistreatment before they occur, while also providing accessible pathways for clinicians who want to build competency without committing to intensive specialty training.
About Amber
Amber Young is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and educator integrating clinical practice with systems-level strategy. She works at the intersection of mental health, neurodiversity, advocacy, and public education. She helps leaders and organizations navigate complex needs with clarity and compassion.
Her work centers trauma-informed approaches, neurodivergent inclusion, and equitable access to care.
Collaborative Consultation & Education
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Strategic Consultation & Advisory
For organizations and institutions that need someone who can see the whole system, name what's not working, and help design something that does.
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Professional Workshops & Community Learning
Evidence-based OCD and neurodiversity training for graduate programs, clinical teams, and agencies. Deployable at introductory through advanced, depending on your needs. Survey-validated, CEU requirement-ready. Invited back repeatedly.
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Speaking & Advocacy Opportunities
Available for conferences, universities, policy convenings, and legislative settings. Amber speaks on OCD care infrastructure, neurodivergent systems, and what gets lost in translation between policy and practice.
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Mental Health Policy Advisement
For agencies, legislators, and advocacy organizations that need clinical and systems expertise to inform legislation, workforce policy, and access-to-care initiatives. Nonpartisan. Evidence-grounded. Operationally realistic.
Trusted Expertise for Strategic Impact
Sole author, OCD entry — ACA Encyclopedia of Counseling (releasing 2027)
Advanced IOCDF Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) graduate
Co-founded Indiana's inaugural OCD Walk; leads Indiana OCD clinician consultation network
Graduate-level OCD competency curriculum: deployed at Ball State University, invited back repeatedly
NAMI Indiana Public Policy Committee member
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Indiana, since 2012
Leading transformative initiatives that advance mental health systems, strengthen professional capacity, and champion neurodivergent leadership, each program is designed to create measurable impact, foster cross-sector collaboration, and address systemic challenges in mental health care. Explore each initiative to learn how Amber’s work is shaping policy, expanding clinician access, and building sustainable solutions across communities.
Strategic Initiatives Shaping Mental Health & Leadership
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Amber partners with both national and state policymakers, advocacy organizations, and mental health stakeholders to inform evidence-based legislation and regulatory practices. By integrating clinical expertise with strategic foresight, this initiative supports the development of equitable, effective policies that improve access to care, strengthen workforce sustainability, and drive systemic innovation.
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Amber is leading the foundation of the Indiana Cross-Discipline Mental Health Coalition, a statewide initiative uniting LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and APRN’s, across practice settings. The Coalition addresses workforce challenges, fosters interprofessional collaboration, and strengthens the delivery of high-quality mental health care throughout Indiana. Through strategic planning, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, the Coalition builds sustainable systems that benefit both providers and the communities they serve.
Learn More - Coming Soon!
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The Cassandra Nexus is Amber’s visionary initiative designed to harness the strategic insights of neurodivergent experts in their respective fields to address emerging societal challenges. Currently in development, the Nexus will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, thought leadership, and public education. By centering neurodivergent perspectives and amplifying strategic foresight, the project aims to influence systemic change, destigmatize neurodivergence, and build sustainable solutions for communities both within Indiana and beyond.
Learn More - Coming Soon!
Hear From Partners…
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"Amber’s passion and expertise have had a transformative impact on Indiana’s mental health community. She leads initiatives that connect clinicians, community members, and organizations, while advocating for accessible, evidence-based treatment and educating the public. Her leadership in programs like the Indiana OCD Clinician Consult Group and the first Indiana OCD Walk demonstrates her ability to create meaningful, measurable change."
-Elle Skelton, BC-TMH, LCPC, LPCC, LPC, LPC-MHSP, Self-Empowerment Counseling, OCD Midwest Board Member (IOCDF Affiliate)
A “Sneak Peek” Into Impact
A taste of upcoming engagements, highlighting collaborations and initiatives that advance mental health, leadership, and neurodivergent inclusion.
Let’s Connect
Amber partners with clinicians, organizations, and community leaders to advance evidence-based care and systemic change. Whether you’re a clinician, organization, or community leader, she provides tailored consultation, workshops, and guidance to advance mental health, neurodivergent leadership, and systemic innovation.
If you're building something in mental health, neurodivergence, or mental health workforce infrastructure and you've hit the wall where good intentions meet broken systems — that's exactly where she excels.