About My Therapy and Counseling Style

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Heather Guttormson, MS, LMFT, Certified Discernment Counselor

My Mission and Approach

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Lasting love isn't about luck — it's about learning and growth.
My mission is to help individuals and couples develop the insight, skills, and emotional courage needed to transform their relationships from the inside out.

With over 25 years of experience, I combine the latest research on relationships, emotional health, and personal development to guide you through meaningful, lasting change. Whether you are working to strengthen your connection, heal after betrayal, or make difficult decisions about your future, I provide a roadmap that is both compassionate and practical.

A Bit About Me

Before I share more about my professional background, I want to tell you a little about myself. I grew up on a farm in the Red River Valley, where I learned that when life gets hard, you don’t give up, you roll up your sleeves and get to work. That spirit defines my approach to therapy today: practical, straightforward, and deeply committed to growth.

You can expect that I will only teach skills I believe in and practice myself. My work is about helping you create real, sustainable change, not just temporary fixes.

I’m grounded, direct, relationally focused, and from time to time, known to use a Conway Twitty reference in session. I am engaged and deeply invested in helping people understand what is actually happening in their relationships. I will take your pain seriously, but that does not mean every session will feel heavy. There is often room for warmth, humor, and the relief that comes when a pattern that has felt bewildering finally begins to make sense. My role is not to judge your relationship or tell you what decision to make. It is to help you see more clearly, take meaningful responsibility, and make thoughtful choices about what comes next.

How I Work with Clients

In our work together, I focus on the patterns that keep you disconnected or stuck, not just the surface-level arguments. Sometimes this means naming hard truths with respect and clarity, because real change often begins with real honesty.

My role is to help you:

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  • Understand the deeper dynamics shaping your relationship

  • Strengthen your connection, emotional resilience, and repair skills

  • Build the tools needed to move through challenges with hope and strength

I cannot guarantee whether a relationship will ultimately continue, but I can clearly show you what strengthens love, and what slowly erodes it over time.

My Professional Training and Experience

I began working in the mental health field in 1996 and have provided therapy to individuals, couples, and families since 2001. My experience includes working in inpatient and outpatient organizations, nonprofit agencies, university settings, and state programs. Alongside clinical work, I have trained therapists, developed therapeutic programming, and published research articles on ethics, counselor development, couples therapy, and cultural competence.

I have presented at national conferences, including the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).

I am proud to hold the following credentials:

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (North Dakota)

  • Approved Supervisor for Marriage and Family Therapy (North Dakota)

This means I have completed advanced education and clinical training beyond licensure and am qualified to supervise other therapists in North Dakota.

Specialized Expertise in Couples Therapy

I genuinely geek out about relationships. I have a bucket list of experts I hope to train with before I retire, and every year that list gets a little shorter. I still get starstruck when I meet leading researchers and clinicians at conferences.

That enthusiasm has a serious purpose. Couples deserve more than a therapist who occasionally sees couples. Throughout my career, I have pursued advanced training in Relational Life Therapy, completed all three levels of Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and studied Emotionally Focused Therapy in Toronto with its founder, Dr. Sue Johnson. I also completed Michele Weiner-Davis’s four-day Behind Closed Doors intensive in Breakthrough Couples Therapy.

My work is especially influenced by Relational Life Therapy, developed by Terry Real. RLT combines direct honesty, practical skill-building, and deep compassion. It is particularly useful for couples who are ready to move beyond blame and defensiveness, take meaningful responsibility, and create a fundamentally different relationship.

My specialized experience also includes infidelity recovery, sexual health counseling, and working with couples who are uncertain whether they want to remain married.

  • Certified Discernment Counselor

  • Founding Member of the Doherty Institute’s Marriage Counseling Specialists

Privacy and Comfort for Your Care

I provide therapy in a private, welcoming setting, not a busy group practice. I don’t share a waiting room with other counselors or therapists. When you visit my office, you’ll find a quiet, comfortable environment focused entirely on your healing, privacy, and growth.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Choosing a therapist is an important decision, particularly when your relationship is already under strain. I encourage you to read about my services and approach to determine whether I may be the right fit for what you need.

Visit my contact page, or browse my Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.