We are pleased to announce that Amber N. Pilkington, LPC-S, has been awarded the Best Anxiety & OCD Therapist - Scrupulosity Specialist in the US of 2026 by Evergreen Awards. This prestigious recognition celebrates Amber’s exceptional clinical expertise in treating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD), and particularly scrupulosity, an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed subtype of OCD. Her dedicated and integrative approach to mental health care has set her apart as a leading authority in her field.

Amber’s Expertise and Specialization

Amber N. Pilkington has over 15 years of clinical experience in mental health care, focusing on a range of psychological concerns, including anxiety, trauma, mood disorders, and obsessive-compulsive spectrum conditions. Her extensive background includes a Certificate in Neuropsychotherapy, which serves as the foundation for her holistic, neuroscience-informed therapy approach. Amber’s unique expertise lies in her specialization in scrupulosity, a form of OCD characterized by intrusive moral or religious fears that can cause significant distress and anxiety for those affected.

What makes Amber’s work distinctive is her combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and somatic interventions, which allow her to address both the cognitive and physiological aspects of anxiety. Her approach is not just about symptom management, it’s about creating lasting change in both the brain and body, helping clients experience a transformation that is deeply embodied and sustainable.

Scrupulosity and Its Misunderstandings

Scrupulosity is often misunderstood as a spiritual failure or moral flaw, when, in reality, it is an anxiety disorder that hijacks the brain’s threat system, attaching itself to what matters most to the individual. As Amber explains, “Scrupulosity isn’t a sign of weak faith or poor character, it’s an anxiety disorder that hijacks the brain’s threat system and attaches itself to what matters most to a person.” This misunderstanding can lead to unnecessary shame and guilt, causing many individuals to suffer in silence, believing that they should simply “pray more” or “try harder.”

Amber’s expertise in this area allows her to provide clarity and hope for those who may have been previously told that they need to simply manage their symptoms without understanding the underlying neurological processes. She has become a trusted resource for those struggling with scrupulosity, providing both therapeutic intervention and psychoeducational resources to help people better understand their condition and how to navigate it.

The Neuropsychotherapy Approach

Amber’s work stands out because of her commitment to integrating both top-down and bottom-up approaches to therapy. This dual methodology allows her to address cognitive patterns of thought and emotional responses while also focusing on somatic and nervous-system-based interventions. By doing so, Amber helps her clients experience change on a deep neurological level, resulting in therapeutic progress that goes beyond just understanding but into lasting, embodied healing.

As she notes, “All meaningful change in therapy is brain change. Whether we name it or not, therapy works by helping the nervous system learn something new, and that requires both insight and embodied experience.” This commitment to a neuroscience-informed approach has earned her a reputation as a leading expert in her field, particularly when it comes to treating complex conditions like scrupulosity.

Client-Centered Care and Ethical Practice

Amber’s practice is guided by a deep respect for each individual’s values, beliefs, and background. Her secular, evidence-based approach ensures that all clients, regardless of their faith or lack thereof, receive care that is ethical, compassionate, and effective. For clients who desire integration of faith within their therapeutic process, Amber thoughtfully incorporates spiritual values in a way that is aligned with ethical practice.

She also founded the Catholic Counseling Institute, a platform dedicated to providing psychoeducational resources for Catholics seeking faith-integrated mental health care. Through this platform, Amber has developed a course on Freedom From Scrupulosity & Intrusive Thoughts, which combines psychological science with Catholic theology to help individuals understand and overcome their struggles with scrupulosity.

Recognized Excellence

Amber’s clinical expertise, national recognition, and commitment to ethical care have made her an outstanding leader in the mental health community. Her practice has received multiple awards, including the Best Of recognition for its clinical excellence and impactful work with individuals and couples. Clients have shared their gratitude for Amber’s compassionate and effective therapy, with one client saying, “We are so blessed to have you, Amber. God has been good to us. Life is less complicated for me now that we are in a better place.”

For more information about Amber’s services, visit her website at www.amberpilkingtonlpc.com or explore the resources at the Catholic Counseling Institute: www.catholiccounselinginstitute.com.