BRICK BASED THERAPY OHIO FOUNDER

Joel has over 25 years  of experience  working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. He holds Master’s degrees in Social Work and Education from the Ohio State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago . Joel is a Licensed Independent  Social Worker in the state of Ohio and holds a School Social Worker Pupil Services license through the Ohio Department of Education.

Joel began his career as a research assistant at the University Chicago Department of Psychiatry, where he helped develop a coding system for analyzing family interactions of children with ADHD. Joel has worked with children and adults in a wide variety of settings, including the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School in Chicago, inpatient mental health facilities, as well as office and home-based psychotherapy with adolescents, adults, and families in Columbus.

Joel was a member of the National Association of Social Workers task force that helped to develop new practice standards for school social workers in the United States. 

The past 15 years Joel has worked as a school social worker with Columbus City Schools working with students, families, teachers, and community agencies to help address barriers to student success .  He has conducted numerous trainings for schools on working with students with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health conditions. He has facilitated numerous social skills, emotional regulation, and academic skills groups with students with autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, depression, at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. 

Joel also works as a therapist in private practice serving clients who suffer from depression and anxiety.

Joel's love for LEGOs is shared by his older brother Dr. Jonathan Pfeifer and Joel's daughter (Elle) and son (Henry).