Amber Peifer, MA, MPS, LPCC
amber@affinitypsych.com
Hi, all! I’m glad you found your way to choosing a therapist to help you navigate life. My name is Amber, and I’m a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. I have master’s degrees in college student development and integrated behavioral health (mental and chemical health), training in addiction/recovery, trauma, and brain injury issues, and twenty years of experience advising and counseling people through life’s challenges.
I work with college/grad school-age folks, young adults to seniors, people starting their addiction recovery journey (or their loved ones), and caregivers. I enjoy helping people when life has gone all wonky, whether you need help finding a solution to a problem, going through an unexpected life transition, or tackling some heavy trauma or an ongoing mental health challenge. And, if your family gave you an “undiagnosed but pretty sure” t-shirt for your birthday, I can offer a diagnostic assessment that looks at your history and current chaos to help you get your life working better for you.
Seriously, I love to untangle messes. As a knitter, there’s always yarn barf to deal with (yes, it’s a thing). Some knitters go right for the scissors, but I like to see if I can save the yarn and get the most out of it before I hack it to pieces. Is it patience and perseverance or just plain Midwestern stubbornness? Who knows. Knitters also know the value of unraveling and starting over. Sometimes you have to take a hard look at a project and be real about the mistakes mucking it up to get to something you love.
How I Work
A session with me hopefully feels like a visit with a favorite auntie or teacher-you know, the one who thinks you’re awesome but also gives you the hard truth even if you don’t really want to hear it? Yeah, I’m that auntie. How we tackle each session will differ based on what you need, but you’ll always get encouragement, ideas or info to consider, and validation. I focus on being curious and collaborative. I’ll listen carefully for your hidden strengths and resources, offering that outside perspective we all need sometimes.
I grew up on Nancy Drew, Stephen King, and MacGyver, and you can find all of that in a session with me. Need to do some emotional sleuthing to figure out how things are connected? I’ve got questions galore to dig into it. Worried your situation is too scary, complicated, or “out there”? Nothing you share will scare me off. Need some out-of-the-box thinking to find a solution to a challenge? You’d be amazed what I can help you solve with just some markers, sticky notes, and a Hershey’s bar. I might even sketch out a therapy concept or diagram your complicated relationship drama to ensure we’re addressing all the important parts.
I think people are capable of change and will focus on what makes you awesome, help you break down a challenge into manageable bits, and help you feel better about the path you choose-all while connecting beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. And when you’re ready to deal with the really heavy stuff, we’ll go down the mood/anxiety/trauma/PTSD rabbit hole and look at how mental health and life go together for you.
As much as I’d like to be, I’m not a fairy godmother who can bop you on the head with my therapy magic wand and make life perfect. But I can remind you that even if you’re on life reboot #5742, you’re capable of handling what life is throwing at you, you’re worthy of the effort it will take to get it on track, and your cardigan-wearing, flannel-loving therapist is ready to help you feel better, think better, and reach your goals. I hope you feel valued and comfortable in my care, safe to let it all out.
What Sets Me Apart As a Therapist?
I really dislike therapy-speak. I try to use everyday language because we’re everyday people, which means I might reference John Wick, Batman, or The Goonies while offering an observation or use a DIY or baking analogy to help you have an a-ha moment. Most importantly, I know and respect the power of a little treat, sweary words, and a safe place to unravel. My candy bucket welcomes you, my space is safe to let the f-bombs fly, and I have a knack for making order out of chaos.
Did you know just 20 minutes of knitting can help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms? No wonder I have so many projects on my knitting needles. If you’re a knitter or crocheter, feel free to bring a WIP to help ground yourself in session or knit/crochet a few rows on a community project. (We’ll donate hats and scarves that we make together!)
