It's All Relational

The national MFT exam is not testing your clinical brilliance - it’s testing whether you can decode the test writer’s game. Rob Guise reveals exactly how to stop overthinking, spot the trap answers, and prepare with a system that has helped more than 120,000 clinicians get licensed. If you’re a new grad, a recent MFT student, or anyone staring down the AMFTRB exam, this conversation gives you the...

In the final episode of our fifty-year retrospective, Trevor White sits down with former WAMFT president Dr. Rebecca Cobb, who led the association through one of the most consequential transitions in its history. When AAMFT changed its relationship with state divisions, WAMFT had to decide what kind of organization it wanted to be. Rebecca describes guiding the association through its move to Inde...

Trevor White sits down with former WAMFT president Anthony Pennant to talk about two threads that ran through his tenure: pushing the association's anti-racism work past statement and into structure, and building WAMFT into a more active force in Olympia. Anthony describes what it takes to move anti-racist commitments from language into the actual operations of an organization, and the resista...

Trevor White sits down with Dr. Jennifer Sampson, who led WAMFT through the early stretch of the pandemic, to talk about what the job asks of a president when the ground is moving. Jennifer describes leading an association whose members were absorbing a crisis in their own practices while the organization tried to stay useful to them, and the decisions that came with it about what to cancel, what...

Trevor White sits down with Dr. Michelle Finley, WAMFT president from 2021 to 2022, to talk about leading the association through a period when nearly everything about how it operated had to be rebuilt. Michelle describes the push to expand virtual offerings for members, from continuing education to the connective work that had always depended on being in a room together, and the questions that ca...

In the second episode of our fifty-year retrospective, Trevor White sits down with former WAMFT president Julie Woods to talk about widening the door: who the association was built for, and who it needed to make room for next. Julie describes the creation of the WAMFT scholarship fund and the broader effort to make the association accessible to students, from lowering the practical barriers to par...

In the first episode of our fifty-year retrospective, Trevor White sits down with former WAMFT president Scott Edwards to talk about the association's early work and the pieces of it that are still standing. Scott walks through the campaign to establish LMFT licensure in Washington State — what the profession looked like before it, what the effort required, and what changed for clinicians once it...

Before she became one of the most influential voices in psychotherapy, Dr. Diane Gehart was a University of Washington student who almost ended up at the CIA! 👀 In this keynote preview episode, Dr. Gehart joins us to talk about her journey and the work she has dedicated her career to: a Unifying Framework for Psychotherapy that brings together over 500 recognized psychotherapy theories into somet...

The 2026 WAMFT Annual Conference is coming and we're getting a sneak peek. I sat down with Claudia Johnson to talk all things Roots of Connection: Deepening Systemic Practice in Changing Times , happening September 25–26 at Great Wolf Lodge and virtually across Washington. From the three conference tracks to what makes this year's gathering especially meaningful, this episode is your insid...

WAMFT's own foreign correspondent checks in from Bergen, Norway. In this episode, we send our regards overseas as Henry Phillips brings us a firsthand dispatch from the International Family Therapy Association World Congress in Bergen, Norway. As WAMFT's unofficial correspondent on the ground, Henry sat in the rooms where the global conversation about family therapy is happening, and he's here to...

WAMFT is turning 50 — and we're marking this milestone with one of the most significant organizational changes in our history. In this episode, we reflect on half a century of advancing the marriage and family therapy profession in Washington State before turning our attention to the future: our transition from a 501(c)(6) trade association to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. I'm joined...

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 shapi...

On this episode of It’s All Relational , we’re giving you a preview of the WAMFT Spring Ethics Series: MFT Mythbusters — a five-week exploration of some of the most persistent (and limiting) myths about Marriage and Family Therapists. Ethics chair Katie Jo Glaves joins to discuss what we have on deck this year. Each episode highlights one of the upcoming ethics sessions: 5/1 – What Can an MFT Diag...

In this State of the Union episode, we’re joined by WAMFT President Billie Tyler for an in-depth conversation about the direction of the association and what’s ahead for members in the coming months. We cover key updates, opportunities for engagement, and important initiatives shaping the year ahead. Topics include: Legislative advocacy goals and current priorities at the state level How members c...

Get ready for a night of connection, celebration, and cinematic sparkle! In this special preview episode, we’re sharing what’s in store for WAMFT’s upcoming Holiday Party on December 13th, themed Holiday Movie Magic . From festive attire inspired by beloved holiday films to opportunities to mingle with fellow members, enjoy seasonal treats, and celebrate the year’s accomplishments, this event prom...

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Darnley, Chief Strategic Officer at AAMFT , to discuss the evolving landscape of marriage and family therapy and what lies ahead for our profession. We cover some of the most pressing topics shaping the field today — including license portability and its impact on clinical mobility , the upcoming 2025 Workforce Study and what it means for the next generation...

In this episode, we sit down with Commissioner Patty Kuderer and her team from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to discuss how their office supports Marriage and Family Therapists in Washington State. Together, we explore the challenges therapists face with insurance reimbursement , the ongoing fight for mental health parity , and how legislative advocacy can help create a more equitable l...

New Member Spotlight episode of It’s All Relational In this episode, we sit down with Amisha Gandhi , creator of the brand-new podcast Let’s Chai and Chat , launching Wednesday, October 8th. Amisha shares the vision behind her show, which dives into relational issues within the South Asian community and beyond, creating space for conversations that are often overlooked. Together, we explore what i...

Get ready for our Annual Conference with our Mega-Pod preview! First, I am joined by President-Elect Claudia Johnson to discuss the Conference Theme and everything she has done to make this a dynamic educational and professional experience. Then, I am joined by Keynote speaker Dr. Katie Gordon who talks about her talk  "How to Spark Hope in Hard Times" where she discusses her expertise a...

Anyone in our field knows about the horrors of "The Test". The AMFTRB Licensure Exam is an essential stepping stone for the licensure process. However, it is a daunting obstacle for many and can be hard to prepare for. Our pre-clinical committee chair devrim özkan joins us today to discuss how WAMFT is helping to prepare members for the exam. She is also asking anyone that is interested...

In this episode of It's All Relational , we sit down with marketing expert for therapists Sydney Shufelt to talk about how therapists can find and connect with their ideal clients. Sydney shares actionable strategies for building an authentic online presence, refining your niche without feeling boxed in, and creating marketing content that builds trusts with clients from the start. Whether you...

In this member spotlight, we’re joined by Kayla Moore, LMFT and founder of Reclaiming Stories Therapy. Kayla shares her mission to help women and couples heal from the grip of patriarchal narratives and reclaim a deeper, more connected relationship with their bodies, desires, and relational intimacy. Drawing from sacred feminine practices, Kayla empowers clients to move toward embodied pleasure, e...

On this episode of It's All Relational we are previewing our Spring Ethics Series! Katie Jo Glaves joins to talk about our exciting offerings of Ethics trainings every Friday in May from 9-11 am. Download and Listen, and then sign up on our website!

Did you know: WAMFT is launching a member directory on our website on 4/15! Join former WAMFT President Dr. Michelle Finley, Program Administrator Cary Ambler, and Technology Chair Trevor White as they discuss the long and winding road to the official WAMFT directory! After years of work, WAMFT is about to go live with its member directory! This will be a value addition to your membership, as you...

In this episode of It’s All Relational , we highlight WAMFT member Lisa Dale Miller ! As a professional community, WAMFT recognizing that individual distress is often rooted in larger family, social, and cultural systems. Lisa’s journey, from artist to therapist, reflects this systemic perspective. Her early work with war survivors in Kosovo exposed her to the profound impact of collective trauma...