Trauma Therapy for Infants, Children, and Teens
Where sharing hard stories and bearing them together builds bravery
At Storytellers Child and Family Therapy, our team specializes in supporting children and teens (ages 5–18) who are navigating life’s complexities, big feelings, and relational dynamics. Whether a young person is working through the deep impacts of trauma—such as exposure to violence, abuse or neglect, adoption, and developmental trauma—or navigating common developmental hurdles like school stress, relationship challenges, identity development, and major life transitions, our clinicians are here to support them.
Who We Help
Trauma treatment for infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents, including:
- Abuse or neglect
- Natural disasters
- Exposure to violence
- Accidents
- Developmental trauma
How We Work
Nervous System & Regulation Tools
Especially for youth navigating trauma or anxiety, understanding the body's response is key. We teach practical, somatic (body-based), and mindfulness tools to help youth recognize their fight/flight/freeze responses and learn how to calm their nervous systems.
Sand
Using a specialized tray of sand and miniature figures, children and teens build "worlds" that mirror their internal experiences. This powerful, non-verbal tool provides a safe distance to process tough memories and trauma without having to vocalize them right away.
Caregivers as Partners
For children navigating trauma or adoption-related experiences, Elizabeth believes healing begins with safety, consistency, and the freedom to explore difficult stories. Parents are supported in learning how to hold and bear these stories alongside their child.
Specialized Training
- Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) – Learning Collaborative Graduate (Elizabeth Orthmann, LMFT)
- Therapeutic Life Story Work Certificate – Trained under Richard Rose (Elizabeth Orthmann, LMFT)
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Trauma Response Services – George Fox University (Josie Buchta, MA)
Getting Started
To help us understand your family's needs and match you with the right clinician, please fill out our online inquiry form. It takes just a few minutes to share basic details about what you are seeking support for.