About the therapist
Formal Training and Expertise
Elizabeth Orthmann is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than a decade of experience working with children and families. Throughout her career, she has had the honor of working with families from various cultural and religious backgrounds. Born and raised in Australia, Elizabeth came to America as a teenager. Following her move to America, Elizabeth had the opportunity to live and work in various locations. Each transition provided her with the opportunity to learn more about various cultures, beliefs, and family values.
Elizabeth's formal training is as a Marriage and Family Therapist from Arizona State University which she achieved in 2010.
Additional Certifications:
- Infant/Family Clinical Practice Certificate (Post-Graduate 2-year program) from the Harris Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training Institute in Arizona.
- 4 Levels of training from the Center for Sand Tray Play in Mesa Arizona.
- Completion of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Learning Collaborative.
- Therapeutic Life Story Work Certificate
Clinical and Professional Work Experience:
- Suicide prevention center intern clinician
- 10 years experience as a therapist in Non-Profit work providing care to foster and adoptive youth - both in- home and clinical settings
- Clinical part-time therapist in a private group practice
- Adjunct teaching in an undergraduate psychology program at a 4 year university
Clinical Approach
As a client at Storytellers, you can expect to receive not only evidenced-based care from an experienced clinician but you can also expect to receive compassion, kindness, and respect for your unique experiences and culture. Elizabeth wants each child, individual, and family to feel welcomed and encouraged through her services. Elizabeth utilizes a clean environment, a consistent routine in the therapy session, a collaborative approach, and hope-focused language to work towards that goal.
Therapy Modalities Utilized in Treatment
- Family Systems Therapy including Bowenian Family Therapy, Structural, and Strategic Family Therapy.
- Solution Focused
- Narrative Therapy
- Sand Play Therapy
- Child-Parent Psychotherapy
- Therapeutic Life Story Work with Richard Rose
- Play-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Polyvagal Theory
- Watch, Wait Wonder
- Collaborative Problem Solving and Motivational Interviewing
Areas of Expertise
Elizabeth's areas of expertise and knowledge can help with the following:
- trauma treatment for infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents
- attachment needs
- adoption
- managing transitions
- dysregulation such as difficulties managing worries, fears, anger, and sadness
- diagnosis and treatment of children between the ages birth through 5
- self-actualization and adolescent identity formation
- middle school transitions, self-esteem, and peer-related concerns
- vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout
- transition into adulthood (otherwise known as "adulting")
- adults who feel "stuck"
- building a connection between how our past experiences influence current behavior
- building awareness of the connection between the mind and body (for all ages)
Areas that are outside of Elizabeth's expertise:
- co-parenting plans
- active court cases (family or dependency)
- separation or divorce where this is the primary goal
- adults seeking treatment for complex diagnostic needs
Elizabeth reserves the right to refer clients to another therapist or appropriate resource at any time if their needs in therapy are not a good match for her skills or experience.