she/her · LMSW

Kiersten
Gutherman

Licensed Master of Social Work · Rutgers University

Kiersten Gutherman, LMSW received her master's in social work from Rutgers University with a concentration in violence against women and children and worked on policy related to Title IX and mental health parity. She has experience in intake and admissions, outpatient counseling, crisis treatment, group therapy, and school-based services.

Most recently, Kiersten led a suicide prevention program in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties under a Zero Suicide grant. While in this role, she spearheaded a program to distribute free gun locks to community members and was awarded NAMI Michigan's Advocate of the Year.

Kiersten believes that recovery is possible and that everyone can build a life worth living. She is passionate about mental health, neurodiversity, disability justice, and suicide prevention, especially in the LGBTQIA+ community and survivors of sexual assault. She believes in utilizing lived experience to confront stigma and advocate for change.

Outside of work, you can find Kiersten reading, sewing, snuggling her cats, and doing aerial arts. She is very good at trivia and likes to pretend she is good at karaoke.

kierstengutherman@gmail.com 215-666-2357
Career

Experience

2025 – 2026

DBT Therapist

DBT Institute of Michigan

  • Provided individual dialectical behavior therapy for high-risk outpatient and intensive outpatient clients ranging from young adolescents to older adults.
  • Facilitated group therapy sessions focusing on mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
  • Co-led a group therapy cohort specifically designed for LGBTQ+ clients.
  • Provided phone coaching and crisis support outside of regular office hours.
  • Coordinated care with psychiatrists, medical doctors, school personnel, and career services.

2021 – 2025

Suicide Prevention Program Lead

CNS Healthcare

  • Developed programming, trainings, and outreach events based on current research and innovations in suicide prevention.
  • Performed budget allocation and oversight, data collecting and reporting; regularly met with SAMHSA and other Zero Suicide grantees.
  • Supervised a team of clinical and macro social workers and an MSW intern, cultivating an environment centered on lived experience and neurodiversity.
  • Oversaw enhanced outpatient services for individuals in suicide care, training therapists, case managers, supervisors, and medical staff.
  • Forged partnerships with Veterans Affairs, AFSP, school districts, faith-based organizations, and Wayne State Medical School.
  • Served as lead of CNS's LGBT committee and the Oakland County Suicide Prevention Lethal Means subcommittee.

2020 – 2021

Suicide Prevention Clinical Specialist

CNS Healthcare

  • Designed suicide care protocol for high- and low-risk clients.
  • Developed and delivered training materials on best practices in suicide prevention, risk assessments, and evidence-based safety planning.
  • Consulted with clinical staff weekly on documentation, enhanced engagement protocol, and creative options for reducing access to lethal means.

2018 – 2019

Lead Clinician

Children's Crisis Treatment Center

  • Developed treatment plans and goals based on exhibited behaviors, assessments, and objective measures.
  • Conducted individual and group therapy sessions in a school-based setting with ongoing crisis intervention and de-escalation.
  • Advocated for student interests while collaborating with counselors, teachers, administration, police, caregivers, DHS, and outside providers.
  • Supervised Therapeutic Support Staff.

2016 – 2018

Children's Librarian Assistant

Union Library Company of Hatborough

  • Utilized cultural competency while providing service to patrons experiencing concerns related to homelessness, intellectual disabilities, mental illness, immigration status, and ESL.
  • Partnered with community organizations, businesses, and schools to strengthen the library's position as an inclusive community institution.
  • Designed and implemented interactive enrichment opportunities and free programming for children, teens, and adults.
Expertise

Skills & Abilities

Public Speaking

Accomplished speaker at conferences, professional development days, school visits, and community events on self-care, burnout, anti-stigma, reducing access to lethal means, and suicide in the LGBT community.

Training Design

Designed and facilitated evidence-based suicide prevention trainings, including supplemental media such as infographics, flyers, and presentations.

Community Outreach

Developed and led community outreach programs in academic and professional settings for groups ranging from elementary school to older adults.

Coalition Building

Engaged key stakeholders and experts in coalition building, policy advocacy, event planning, and collaborative projects.

Credentials

Education & Licensure

Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW)

State of Michigan

Master of Social Work

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Concentration in Violence Against Women and Children

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

University of Delaware

Speaking

Conferences & Presentations

2025

Reframing Recovery: Finding hope and growth in the process

Kevin's Song Conference

2025

Strengthening Suicide Prevention Through Lived Experience

CMHA Conference

2024

Comprehensive Solutions for Saving Lives: Enhancing safety planning and lethal means safety practices

CMHA Conference Fall 2024

2024

Suicide Prevention in a Clinical Setting: Processes and outcomes from the field

Kevin's Song Conference

2024

Bright Futures: Safeguarding girls from suicide

All Girls Matter Conference

2024

Suicide Prevention in Surgeons

Ascension Genesys, surgery residents and attending physicians

2024

Suicide in LGBT Youth

2023

Suicide Prevention in a Counseling Setting

Samaritan Center

2023

Suicide in the African American Community

Delta Sigma Theta presentation

2022

Workplace Mental Health and Self Care

CNS Healthcare

2022

Working With Families to Reduce Access to Lethal Means

2022

Social Media, Technology, and Mental Health

Clarenceville Schools

2021–25

Suicide Prevention for Medical Residents

Wayne State University (yearly)

2021

Anti-stigma vs Anti-sanism: Suicide prevention and liberating neurodiversity

Kevin's Song Conference

Zero Suicide in Mental Health and Healthcare Settings

Zero Suicide & National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, Washington DC

Lived Experience in Suicide Prevention Panel

Zero Suicide & National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, Washington DC

Combating Surgeon Suicide

St. John's Hospital surgery residents and attending physicians

Events

Event Development & Implementation

2025

A Discussion on Universal Suicide Screening in Medical Settings

2024

Together We Thrive: Collective efforts for a suicide-safer community

2023

Suicide Care Through Lived Experience: Celebrating mental health professionals with lived experience in suicide

2022

Securing our Community: A conversation about creating a suicide-safer community by reducing access to lethal means

2021

Let's Watch Together: A virtual conversation series

Recognition

Awards

NAMI Michigan Advocate of the Year

2023

Kevin's Song Saving a Life Award — Organizational Honoree

2023

Service

Committees

CNS Healthcare LGBT+ Committee, Chair
Oakland County Suicide Prevention Task Force
Oakland County Suicide Prevention Task Force Lethal Means Subcommittee
With One Voice Suicide Prevention Coalition
Portfolio

Selected Work

Comprehensive Solutions for Saving Lives

Enhancing safety planning and lethal means safety practices for suicide prevention

CMHA Conference Fall 2024

Suicide Prevention in LGBTQIA+ Youth

Unique experiences, risk factors, and ways we can help

Infographic 2025