Member Spotlight: Dr. Laura Gambrel

In this Member Spotlight episode, we sit down with Dr. Laura Gambrel, PhD, LMFT, to explore her professional journey and her deep commitment to relational work.Laura began her career working with children, where she developed a strong foundation in understanding family systems and early attachment. That early experience sparked a desire to zoom out and look at the larger relational contexts shaping people’s lives. She went on to earn her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, where she discovered a profound passion for working with couples and strengthening intimate partnerships.Over the years, Laura has built a rich and varied career across community mental health, academia, and group practice. She shares what she learned in each setting—from the urgency and accessibility of community-based care, to mentoring and training emerging therapists, to refining her clinical voice in group practice. Throughout it all, one thread has remained constant: her dedication to relational healing.Now, Laura is launching her solo private practice, Relational Mindfulness, in Bellingham, Washington. In this episode, she talks about what inspired the transition to solo work, how mindfulness informs her approach to couples therapy, and why she believes training and supervision are essential to the future of our field.This conversation is a thoughtful look at professional evolution, staying connected to your “why,” and building a career that reflects your deepest clinical values. Whether you’re early in your journey or considering a shift in your own practice, Laura’s story offers insight, encouragement, and inspiration.Learn more about her practice at https://www.relational-mindfulness.org/