INSTITUTE FOR RELATIONAL MINDFULNESS
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Laura Eubanks Gambrel, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC, LMHC

About the Founder and Director Dr. Laura Gambrel

Welcome to my website! I am a therapist, clinical supervisor, mindfulness teacher, researcher, and scholar.  My clinical and research interests focus on how to improve couple and family relationships, specifically through mindfulness-based interventions. My work is centered on an integrative relational mindfulness framework that brings acceptance and awareness to self and other to promote intra- and interpersonal attunement. I specialize in couples therapy, mindfulness instruction, the transition to parenthood, self-of-the-therapist work, and supervision/training of family therapists. ​

I have over fifteen years of experience working with children, adolescents, families, and communities, both in the United States and abroad. I have worked in educational, community, government, and non-profit settings.  I have experience in teaching, clinical work, and both quantitative and qualitative research.  I have over twenty years of personal meditation experience, which I integrate into my professional work. My research interests center on clinical applications of mindfulness for couples and families, creative methods in MFT training, and supporting couples through the transition to parenthood.  I was awarded the Family Process Institute Dissertation Grant, the 2013 Virginia Tech Outstanding Dissertation Award,  and the 2013 AAMFT Dissertation Award for my research related to mindfulness and pregnant couples.

I am currently an associate professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and the director of the Institute for Relational Mindfulness.  I also provide virtual therapy and supervision through Inside Passage Counseling. Previously, I was an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at La Salle University in Philadelphia. I have my doctorate in marriage and family therapy from Virginia Tech. I completed my doctoral internship at Appalachian State University in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling where I taught and supervised graduate level therapists-in-training.

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in North Carolina and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Colorado, and a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Washington state. I have my master's degree in contemplative psychotherapy from Naropa University. I am an AAMFT approved supervisor as well and have provided supervision mentorship to people training to be supervisors. I am trained in mindfulness and meditation, play therapy, sandtray and art therapy, Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy, the Gottman Method of Relationship Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, PREPARE/ENRICH, and group facilitation. I am a certified mindfulness instructor through MNDFL, having completed intensive training with Rev. angel Kyodo williams. I enjoy guiding experiential therapy with people of all ages. I specialize in mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches with couples, families, and parenting. Much of my recent research has been related to interventions to enhance the couple relationship for new parents. I have taught meditation and mindfulness in a variety of settings.  I am also the founder of the Blacksburg Meditation Group.

Personally, my husband and I have been together for 15 years and we have 3 children, including twins. I experienced "three under three" and know the joys and challenges of motherhood and raising multiples.  I also understand through my own life, my research, and my work as a therapist the common struggles of dual-career couples who are also wanting to be involved parents. I am currently located in Western North Carolina, and provide a variety of virtual services around the world. 


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  • Home
  • About me
  • Services
  • Contact me
  • Mindfulness
  • Parents-to-Be
  • Publications