Supporting clinicians, organizations, and communities with evidence-informed strategies, training, and cross-sector insight.
Amber Young, MA, LMHC
OCD, Anxiety & Neurodivergence Specialist | Neurodivergent Leadership | Cross-sector Systems Strategy
Professional Background
Amber Young is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over eighteen years of clinical and mental health systems-based experience. She is the sole author of the OCD entry in the American Counseling Association's Encyclopedia of Counseling — one of the field's most widely used reference works — releasing in April 2027 for ACA's 75th anniversary. She holds advanced training through the IOCDF's Behavioral Therapy Training Institute and has been instrumental in building Indiana's OCD clinician infrastructure from the ground up.
Alongside her clinical training and work within treatment systems, she has also navigated those systems as a patient and in supporting loved ones through care.
Lived Experience
She is also a late-diagnosed AuDHD woman who has lived with co-occurring health conditions, including endometriosis, each shaped by prolonged diagnostic delay and fragmented care. This layered experience—across clinical practice, lived experience, and system breakdown— shapes how Amber recognizes patterns that are often missed. Her perspective moves between clinical care and systems-level analysis, and between lived experience and institutional strategy, allowing her to identify how systems function in practice in ways that are not always visible from a single vantage point.
“Most systems aren’t broken. They’re working as designed, but often constructed in rooms where not everyone has a seat. What gets missed isn’t random. It’s shaped by whose voices are present, whose experiences inform decisions, and who is left out of the conversation entirely.”
Philosophy
Amber's work is grounded in a simple premise: the information needed to improve mental health systems is usually already present — in clinical encounters, in workforce patterns, in policy gaps. What's missing is the infrastructure to recognize it, interpret it, and act on it across levels. Her consulting and training work focuses on exactly those breakdowns: where they occur, why they persist, and what changes when they're addressed. The Cassandra Framework is an evolving model developed alongside that applied work — a way of describing the patterns she observes in practice. The framework informs the work, but the work comes first.
Professional & Clinical Expertise
Amber’s combined clinical, strategic, and personal experience positions her as a trusted partner for organizations, professional networks, and communities seeking evidence-informed solutions and systemic improvement.
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Licensure
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Indiana (2012 - present)
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Education
M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Concentration in Community Mental Health
Ball State University (2009)
B.S. in Psychological Science, Concentration in Criminal Justice
Ball State University (2007)
Associate Degree in Business Administration
Trine University (formerly Tri-State University) (2005)
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International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
OCD Midwest (IOCDF Regional Affiliate)
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Indiana Policy Committee
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Clinician, Consultant & Educator
Amber bridges clinical expertise with community collaboration, partnering with clinicians, universities, and advocacy organizations to expand access to evidence-based and inclusive care.Consultant & Facilitator (2025 – Present)
Providing workshops, CE trainings, and program support across Indiana, integrating systems thinking, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice. Collaboration with universities, grassroots groups, faith communities, and advocacy partners.Regional Advocate, OCD Midwest / IOCDF (2023 – Present)
Leading statewide outreach and education, Co-chair for Indiana’s OCD Walk, and facilitating a free monthly consultation group for clinicians. Actively involved in IOCDF committees and special interest groups focused on education, advocacy, inclusiveness, Autism, and faith.Private Practice Founder / Clinician (2016 – Present)
Providing trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming therapy for OCD, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions. Offering collaborative, evidence-informed care
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Amber specializes in OCD, anxiety disorders, and neurodivergence, with experience supporting complex and treatment-resistant presentations. Her approach integrates ERP, ACT, and emotion regulation skills within a trauma-informed, culturally responsive framework.
Areas of focus include:
OCD (all subtypes) & BFRBs
Anxiety Disorders (GAD, panic, social anxiety, phobias, agoraphobia, paruresis)
Neurodivergence (ADHD, Autism, executive functioning, burnout, diagnosis/advocacy)
Trauma-informed Care for PTSD
Family and Systems Support
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Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
Cognitive Behavior Institute (CBI), University of Pennsylvania, Center for Treatment & Study of Anxiety (CTSA)
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), Behavioral Therapy Training Institute: Advanced (BTTI)
Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD
Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University (USU)
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions Yale School of Medicine: Child Study Center
SPACE for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Supporting Adult Children
Shy Bladder/ Paruresis
International Paruresis Association (IPA) Paruresis and Shy Bladder Workshop Leadership Training
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Amber’s background spans private practice, community mental health, crisis response, school-based therapy, and multidisciplinary collaboration across healthcare, education, and advocacy systems. Her work reflects a commitment to accessible, coordinated, and person-centered care.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Private Practice Owner, Amber Young, LLC (2016 – Present)
Independent Contract Therapist, Harmony Medical Associates (2014 – 2016)
School-Based Therapist, Cummins Behavioral Health at Avondale Meadows Academy, formerly Challenge Foundation Academy (2010 – 2014)
Crisis Specialist, Meridian Services & BDDS (2009 – 2010)
Intern & Practicum Therapist, Ball State University Counseling Center (2008 – 2009)
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Outside of clinical and consulting work, Amber enjoys reading, writing, gardening (with mixed success keeping plants alive!), crocheting, listening to music, and spending time with her family. She recognizes that not everyone has the space or safety to pause, and that finding moments of joy often requires intentionally caring for oneself and staying grounded.
Writing is her personal outlet: a way to reflect, process experiences, and explore ideas about resilience, observations about the world, and creative problem-solving. Amber seeks inspiration from those who came before her, learning from their wisdom while approaching challenges with clarity and calm.
Her personal philosophy mirrors her professional one: grounded in authenticity, empathy, and curiosity. By nurturing joy, creativity, and intentional reflection, she strives to live in alignment with these values — welcoming restoration, growth, and whenever possible… a laugh along the way.
Currently Available For
University training contracts and graduate program partnerships
Clinical team OCD Competency Training Protocol (beginner, intermediate)
Organizational and systems consultation
Mental health policy advisement
Mental health workforce development
Paid speaking at conferences, convenings, and academic institutions
Media commentary on OCD, neurodivergence, and mental health systems
Connect & Collaborate
Interested in consultation, training, or collaboration? Amber partners with individuals, organizations, and communities to provide guidance, foster learning, and create sustainable solutions. Reach out to explore how she can support your goals.