Mary Pat Mueller, LPC-MH, QMHP, Certified Gottman Couples Therapist

Mary Pat Mueller MS, LPC-MH, QMHP, the only Certified Gottman Couples Therapist in South Dakota is an independent professional with Profession al Counseling Associates. She has over four decades of successfully helping individuals, families, couples, and organizations. She has assisted many people struggling from a host of different challenges improve their lives and go on to live happier, more fulfilling lives. Mary Pat became interested in helping other’s at an early age graduating from college with a degree in sociology/social work. She began her career working with children and families who had experienced abuse and neglect and quickly to a supervisory position in that field. In the early nineties she was chosen by the State of South Dakota to be a faculty member to provide the education and training needed in Family Dynamics to all social workers hired to work in child protection services. Her work with families led her to expand her career to include working with couples and families in business and organizations pursuing a Masters Degree in Counseling and Human Resources. While pursuing her licensure she worked as the Director of an outpatient treatment facility for alcohol and drug abuse and in a Community Mental Health facility treating individuals with many different mental health challenges.

Mary Pat’s marriage into a family who owned and operated a family business and her inclusion into the ownership of that business provided another opportunity for Mary Pat to expand her knowledge, experience, and education in that field. In the mid nineties she received a certificate in Family Business Advising from the Family Firm Institute the premiere organization working internationally with family business’s. She also pursued and earned a Certificate in Executive Business Coaching. Additionally, Mary Pat received her certificate as a Birkman Consultant in 2004 and an Advanced Birkman Consultant in 2013, a powerful tool that assists individuals discover their passions, behaviors, motivations, and interests. The Birkman is use d worldwide to assist not only individuals in career but also organizations to become more productive.

While Mary Pat’s education and training have prepared her to work with a variety of emotional, behavioral, and organizational issues her particular interest has been in strengthening relationships. At this time Mary Pat continues her passion in relationship building by utilizing the Gottman Method in her couples therapy work, one of the few scientifically proven, evidence based methods for couples therapy. This therapy is effective with individual, family and couples work. Mary Pat has presently completed Levels 1, 2, and 3 plus Practicum Training and consultation in the Gottman Method and is a Gottman Certified Couples Counselor, the only Certified Gottman Counselor in South Dakota . She also has further Gottman training in Treating Affairs and Trauma, and Couples in Addiction Recovery. Mary Pat is also a Gottman 7 Principals and a Gottman Bringing Baby Home Educator plus a member of the Gottman Referral Network.

Mary Pat also offers counseling for couples where one person is leaning out of the marriage and one person is leaning in.  View our Couples on the Brink page on this website to learn more.