Erin Debono, AMFT

*More About Erin*

As a therapist and human, I understand the importance of connection. Our experience of the world is informed by our relationships to ourselves, others, and the larger systems we exist in. My priority is to help you feel understood and to navigate these connections in a way that feels aligned to you.

*What To Expect From Our Work Together* 

Life can be hard; therapy is a place to honor the challenges you’ve encountered and the ways you’ve learned to cope with these challenges. I don’t subscribe to the idea that there are “right” or “wrong” ways of coping. Instead, we can get curious, exploring how these strategies came to be and how they impact us, positively and negatively. This work, combined with building skills in mindfulness, emotional awareness, and self-compassion, can help you have more integrated, satisfying relationships to yourself and others.

The creation of a safe space is the foundation for the challenging work of growing and changing. A strong therapist-client relationship is central to my approach and the starting point on our journey together. There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” approach to therapy; every client has their own identities, experiences, and context that cannot be separated from the issues that bring them in. I strive to understand your story and co-create a therapeutic experience that feels meaningful to you.

*What You Need to Know About Me* 

First and foremost, I am a person who loves relationships. Whether that manifests in my professional career as a Marriage and Family Therapist or in my personal life, unpacking the interpersonal dynamics of the latest episode of the reality TV show I’m watching, I am always oriented toward our connections to one another. I was born and raised in metro-Detroit and my love of the state of Michigan is something that I rarely get through an introductory conversation without mentioning at least once. In my free time, I can likely be found walking my dog Goose, baking, or shopping at Trader Joe’s.

I attended Michigan State University for my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Purdue University Northwest for my Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy where I completed my master’s thesis on developing a model for affirming couples therapy for couples navigating a gender transition. I have completed Levels 1 and 2 of the Gottman Method Couples Therapy training and am a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator