About

About Me

Amy Pfeffer from Orchard Park is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a background as a military veteran and police officer. In 2017, she began working as a Mental Health Specialist and a Substance Abuse Counselor for Horizon Health Services in New York. Then moved on to Venture Forthe Inc., where she was a community based counselor.

In October of 2019, Mrs. Pfeffer moved to Gateway Longview as a Mental Health Counselor and is now employed at Harris Hill Counseling (formerly known as Thriveworks). She works with teenagers, children and families who have been through many types of trauma as they work to regain control of their lives and improve the quality of life of them and their family members. Amy Pfeffer is also a Certified Autism Provider and a Certified Technology Addiction Provider, she is actively working with patients with these ailments.

Educational Background

Mrs. Pfeffer studied Criminal Justice for several years, then joined the New York State Army National Guard after the September 11th terrorist attacks. After training, she spent one year deployed in Iraq, where she was given the Combat Action Badge and several other commendations.

After her time in Iraq, she went back to school and earned an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Hilbert College. She then became a police officer with the Rochester Police Department, and during her time serving the community was given the Life Saving Award and the Key to the City. She was also awarded several other accommodations for various actions during her tenure. Amy also continued her education while serving as a police officer and earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration. 

Amy also earned a Master of Science in Social Work at Daemen College. She did this while working as a private investigator in the states of New York, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. After finishing graduate school with a perfect grade point average, she began her first therapy job with Horizon Health Care. 

Treatment Experience

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mrs. Pfeffer focuses her treatment on child and family matters, helping clients learn healthy coping mechanisms, achieve growth and resolve issues from past trauma. During her career, she has helped clients with a variety of issues, including the following:

• Sexual abuse 

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Physical abuse

• Parenting

• Marriage and couples

• Depression

• Conduct disorder

• Chemical dependency and substance abuse

• Anger management

• Anxiety

• Autism

• Adjustment difficulties

• ADHD

Mrs. Pfeffer focuses her services on treatment methods proven to improve mental health in adolescents, children and families. These include Trauma Informed Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Therapy. She has an open mind about the constantly evolving types of therapy and developments in mental health and stays educated and updated on new research that will help her clients.

Along with using the traditional therapy methods, Amy Pfeffer from Buffalo also relies on her dog Roxy as a service dog during sessions. She completed the Pawsitive for Heroes training program (WNY Heroes) to qualify Roxy as a service animal.

Charity and Volunteer Work

Along with her professional work, Mrs. Pfeffer is also an active volunteer within her community. Because of her work with children and teenagers, she is extremely invested in helping those around her find creative and healthy outlets to occupy their time. She is a peer mentor with the Niagara Falls and Buffalo Veteran Court. She was a softball and tee ball coach with the Orchard Park Little League organization and she previously volunteered as a suicide hotline operator for Crisis Services.

During her time in the United States Army, she gained an appreciation and respect for the members of the United States military and the sacrifices they make to serve. She honors them by providing peer mentor services at Buffalo and Niagara County Veteran Courts. She has also participated in a photography program for combat veterans through Project Odyssey.  Which is a  veteran mental health program that helps service members create fulfilling and productive environments where they can thrive and develop strong resilience skills as they overcome the invisible wounds they may have received during their time in combat. Upon completion of this program, Amy works with the originator to continue providing services to other veterans. 

Amy Pfeffer is also a certified Foster Care Provider with Child and Family Services in Buffalo, NY.  She and her family take in various children that are involved in the foster care system. 

Personal Life

Amy Pfeffer is a lifelong resident of Orchard Park, New York. While growing up, she was an active child and played field hockey, volleyball, basketball and softball. She has one sibling and graduated from high school in 2000. While she was a police officer, she married and started a family, switching careers to something more fitting for her family life and her future. She currently lives with her daughter and her husband in Western New York.  

Her background in Criminal Justice, as a Police Officer, as an Army Veteran and as a Private Investigator give her unique insight into the brains of people in all walks of life. It also gives her compassion and empathy for those who struggle with mental health problems that are out of their control. During the last four years, she has been particularly successful in working with children on the Autism Spectrum.

Through proven counseling techniques, she helps her clients find ways they can improve their own lives and cope with the issues that present themselves. Mrs. Pfeffer stays busy with her professional practice, her family and her constant volunteer work within the community.