Gayle Bradley-Starkes , MD, LCSW-C, LICSW

Gayle Bradley-Starkes is a licensed clinician who combines a client-centered approach with mindfulness techniques. She brings 27 years of experience and a calm, practical manner to conversations about stress, anxiety, grief, and relationship strain. Gayle holds MD, LCSW-C, and LICSW credentials and practices in Maryland. She speaks English and offers several online session formats to fit different schedules.

Gayle focuses on helping people name and manage strong emotions like anger and anxiety. She also supports those facing addictions, sleep problems, low self-esteem, bipolar and ADHD concerns. Intimacy-related issues, attachment concerns, and recovery from trauma and abuse are also within her practice focus.

Her work often includes coaching around life transitions such as adoption and foster care, aging and caregiver stress, blended family adjustments, and divorce or separation. Communication problems, codependency, control issues, and forgiveness work are other areas she addresses. She aims to help clients clarify values, set small goals, and practice new ways of responding.

In sessions she listens closely and centers each person’s experience. Mindfulness exercises are used to bring attention to the present moment and reduce reactivity. The client-centered stance means the person’s priorities guide the work rather than a fixed agenda.

Gayle offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging so people can pick what fits their day. Getting started involves a short questionnaire and scheduling through the platform. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How client-centered care and mindfulness work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s own goals and strengths. The therapist listens closely, reflects what is said, and helps the client steer the conversation. This approach suits people who want support that follows their priorities rather than a set protocol.

Mindfulness therapy uses simple attention practices to reduce reactivity and increase calm. Exercises can include guided breathing, short awareness practices, and bringing attention to sensations. These tools are helpful for stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and managing strong emotions in daily life.

Deciding which approach fits best is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each client to identify goals, test strategies, and adjust the plan over time. That means trying an approach, noticing what helps, and changing course if needed.

Online sessions offer flexibility for people with busy schedules or mobility limits. Video calls let people read facial cues and use screen-shared materials. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging support shorter check-ins, quick skills practice, or ongoing coaching between longer sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent through life’s changes.