Who Am I?

My name is Liz Ortland. I am a Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapist Intern from the state of Oregon, USA. I graduated from Lewis and Clark College’s MCFT program in 2017 with a specialization in Sex Therapy. After graduating, I worked at Lutheran Community Services Northwest providing therapy for individuals, couples, and families from a diverse population of international refugees and low-income clients struggling with a wide variety of mental health concerns. I have expertise working with clients of differing cultural and language backgrounds as well as working alongside interpreters and peer support specialists to deliver culture and language specific care. I have a strong interest in trauma recovery.

I recently relocated with my husband and pets to rural Yamanashi, Japan. Not only do I draw from years of experience working with resettling refugees from all over the world, I am also informed by my own personal experiences adjusting to life abroad. I understand the challenges that can come from adapting to a new culture, and I have seen that these challenges can impact us all in different ways. No matter what, I know that we can adjust to even seemingly insurmountable change when we have the right support in place! I love to be a part of people’s journeys to a healthier, happier, and more connected life.

When I am not at work I enjoy hiking with my dog, cooking, and bookbinding.