- Client-Centered Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Relationship and stress help
About Gayle
Gayle Bradley-Starkes is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) and a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 27 years of experience practicing in Maryland. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, anger, addictions, trauma and related concerns. Gayle also focuses on issues like sleep troubles, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Sessions are conducted in English and she does not accept international clients.
Gayle uses a client-centered approach that keeps the person’s goals and choices at the center of each session. She also draws on mindfulness techniques to help people manage strong feelings and reduce reactivity. In practical terms that means talking through what’s happening now, noticing patterns, and practicing simple mental habits that reduce distress.
She has many years of experience helping people with family of origin problems, blended family challenges, adoption and foster care issues, caregiving stress, and fatherhood concerns. Gayle also addresses communication problems, commitment and control issues, codependency, divorce and domestic violence aftermath, and forgiveness work. Her background supports both short-term coaching-style work and longer-term therapeutic change.
Gayle views the client as the expert in their own life and builds on existing strengths. People who choose her can expect clear conversation about goals, practical strategies to try between sessions, and check-ins on what is or isn’t working. To begin, clients follow the directory steps to match and schedule a first session.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s concerns and decisions. In practice this means the therapist listens, reflects what she hears, and helps set concrete goals you agree on. This approach suits people who want collaborative, goal-focused conversations about stress, relationships, grief, or caregiving strain.Mindfulness Therapy teaches short exercises to notice thoughts and sensations without reacting immediately. Those practices can reduce anxiety, help manage anger, and improve sleep by changing how people relate to their internal experience. Mindfulness tools are often paired with action steps to try between sessions.
Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. Gayle will collaborate with each client to choose approaches that match the person’s goals, needs, and preferences. She checks in regularly and adjusts techniques as progress is tracked.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a school schedule, workday, or caregiving routine. They also allow shorter check-ins or audio-only meetings when that helps with bandwidth or a quicker session. Many licensed professionals use remote work to help people maintain consistency and apply strategies in daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
27+ years
Listed in
Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, anger, addictions, trauma, sleep problems, self-esteem, bipolar and ADHD among other issues.
How does she approach therapy?
Her primary methods are Client-Centered Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy, focusing on the client’s goals and practical strategies to manage feelings and behavior.
How much experience does she have?
She has 27 years of professional experience as a mental health therapist.
What are her credentials and location?
She holds LCSW-C in Maryland and LICSW; she practices in Maryland.
Can I work with her in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Does she take international clients?
She does not accept international clients.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.