Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Gibson.
Hi Lauren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into the field of mental health began during high school when I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad at Oxford University. It was during that experience—being immersed in new perspectives and meaningful conversations—that I discovered a deep desire to support others through life’s challenges. That calling led me to pursue a degree in Psychology and later a graduate degree in Counseling Psychology, with the goal of becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
After graduating, I spent the next several years working in community mental health and inpatient psychiatric settings, where I had the privilege of walking alongside individuals and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. I also became a mother during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought its own lessons in adaptability, resilience, and the importance of mental health support.
After relocating to Texas, I became licensed in both California and Texas. Since then, I’ve had the honor of continuing my work in community mental health, teaching as a professor, and providing therapeutic support in hospital settings. These roles were meaningful and formative, but I began to sense a strong pull toward creating a space where I could show up more fully and intentionally for clients.
That desire, along with the growing need for accessible, quality care, inspired me to open my own virtual private practice—Cactus & Coast Counseling. I wanted to build a space where clients feel seen, safe, and supported as they navigate hard seasons or pursue healing and growth. The virtual model allows for greater flexibility and connection for clients balancing careers, caregiving, or personal challenges—all from the comfort of their own space in both states (Texas and California). It’s been a gift to integrate my clinical experience with a more personal, purpose-driven approach to care, and I’m grateful to walk alongside clients as they move toward peace, clarity, and healing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like many people in this field, my journey has included both personal and professional challenges that shaped the way I show up as a therapist. One of the earlier struggles was navigating the emotional weight of working in high-acuity settings like inpatient psychiatric hospitals and community mental health—spaces where the need is great, but the resources are often stretched thin. It taught me a lot about boundaries, burnout, and the importance of sustainability in this work.
Starting a family during the COVID-19 pandemic was another significant challenge. I was balancing the intense demands of early motherhood, navigating a global crisis, and trying to maintain my identity as a clinician and helper. That season forced me to reassess what work-life integration truly looks like and to advocate for mental health support not just for my clients, but for myself as well.
Transitioning into private practice also came with its own growing pains—learning the business side of therapy, marketing ethically, building trust in a new community, and managing the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. It’s been a humbling process, but also one that’s brought so much growth. Each challenge pushed me closer to clarity about the kind of care I want to offer and the kind of life I want to live while doing it.
While it hasn’t been smooth, I can say it’s been meaningful—and I’m grateful for the detours, lessons, and resilience it’s built along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the founder of Cactus & Coast Counseling, a virtual private practice serving clients in both Texas and California. My work focuses on supporting individuals and couples who feel stuck in patterns of disconnection, overwhelm, or emotional exhaustion—often during major life transitions, parenting shifts, or relationship challenges.
I specialize in helping clients deepen emotional intimacy, build healthier communication, and reconnect with themselves and their partners. My approach integrates evidence-based practices with a compassionate, relational lens. Many clients have described my style as warm, grounded, and collaborative. I often work with young professionals, parents, and couples navigating the in-between seasons of life—those moments where things look “fine” on the outside but feel misaligned internally.
One thing I’m especially proud of is creating a therapeutic space that feels both deeply supportive and refreshingly down-to-earth. Therapy with me isn’t just about fixing a problem—it’s about making space for curiosity, healing, and long-term change.
In my work, I draw from several evidence-based theories and interventions to meet clients where they are. I often integrate Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help individuals and couples identify negative relational cycles and build secure emotional bonds. I also use principles from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and/or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to support clients in identifying and shifting unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, stress, or low self-esteem. For those navigating trauma or relational wounds, I incorporate elements of Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic, Attachment Theory and/or Internal Family Systems (IFS) to explore personal meaning and restore inner harmony. When working with couples or families, I often rely on attachment theory, systems thinking, and communication skill-building to help clients create lasting, healthy dynamics. For clients who request it, I’m also able to integrate faith-based counseling, weaving in prayer, Scripture, and spiritual reflection as part of the therapeutic process.
What sets me apart is my lived experience as both a clinician and a parent, my background across multiple clinical settings, and my ability to bring insight, humor, and heart into the work. Whether I’m walking alongside someone in a crisis or helping a couple rebuild trust, I’m committed to holding space for both the hard and the hopeful. ‘m most proud of helping clients rediscover what’s meaningful to them and find steadiness even when life feels uncertain.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is connection—whether it’s meaningful conversation with a friend, a quiet moment with my kids, or witnessing a breakthrough in a therapy session. I find so much joy in being present with people in ways that feel real and restorative. I also deeply enjoy creating—whether that’s writing, dreaming up ideas for my practice, or even making memories through play with my children.
Spending time in nature, sharing slow mornings with coffee, and finding humor in everyday chaos also bring me happiness. These moments ground me and remind me of what matters most: relationships, purpose, and peace in the present.
I think joy often shows up in the simple, sacred, and sometimes messy moments—and those are the ones I try to stay most aware of in life.
Pricing:
- $165 per counseling appointment (50 minutes) however, I am in network with some insurances for individual patients
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cactuscoastcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cactuscoastcounseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cactus-Coast-Counseling/61575757156021/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenhgibson
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/lauren-gibson-georgetown-tx/1077876
Image Credits
Alexandra Lytle
