About Elizabeth Durbin Counseling, PLLC

I’m a Michigan native with humble roots and a lifelong passion for serving others—especially those who feel vulnerable, unseen, or unheard. My educational path reflects this commitment: I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy, and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary. In addition, I am a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate and am trained in EMDR.

My heart for healing work began early. While at the University of Michigan, I worked at a domestic violence shelter, supporting women and children as they stabilized and rebuilt their lives. During my corporate career as a management consultant in organizational behavior with a global firm, I continued volunteering in trauma-related work—supporting survivors of sex trafficking, helping individuals exit “the life” and begin their healing journey. I also partnered with a Kenyan nonprofit to assist widowed mothers living with AIDS, helping them access care, begin psychological healing, and develop sustainable livelihoods.

These experiences ultimately led me to make a formal shift into Clinical Mental Health Counseling, where I now focus exclusively on helping individuals navigate trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and other forms of emotional pain.

I work with people who’ve experienced a wide range of traumas—whether it’s childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, or high-acuity experiences like PTSD, suicidal ideation, or dissociation. Sometimes a single event can trigger distress, and that too deserves deep attention. Symptoms like disordered eating, self-harm, or anxiety often stem from pain that hasn’t been given space to heal.

What makes my counseling approach unique is the seamless integration of my business and leadership experience with a deep passion for neurobiology and the physiology of emotions.  I take a trauma-focused, root-cause approach. Rather than applying a temporary fix, I help clients uncover and heal the source of their distress—empowering them to reclaim their voice, their life, and their sense of self. 

My therapeutic toolbox encompasses diverse approaches such as Animal Assisted Therapy, Ketamine Assisted Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Through the integration of these evidence-based models, including the Polyvagal Theory and other somatic-based approaches, I empower clients to connect emotions to physical responses, providing greater control over reactions in challenging situations.