Dr. Margie Gayle’s Blog
Welcome! I created this blog to be a positive place to share insight and helpful solutions for common issues. In some blogs, I create a fictional character to help humanize these experiences. These characters are drawn from a combination of the many different psychological dynamics I observe in my work. Any similarity to actual persons is purely coincidental.
How to Feel Less Alone (Even in Isolation)
Two weeks into the coronavirus lockdown, Aidan noticed the terrible ache around his heart. Though he was used to living on his own, the fear of the virus caused him to take isolating very seriously. He gave up dating and stopped seeing his family and friends except...
The Benefits of Yoga in Your Mental Health Journey
I’m sitting on my yoga mat in my living room, listening to my yoga teacher, Sri Hari Moss, as he begins his online class. Today the theme is Yoga for Mental Health. It reminds me of my mentor, teacher, and the founder of Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP), the late...
Write for Your Life: The Health Benefits of Journaling
“Do you use a journal?” I ask Arielle, a new client and a 46-year-old executive. As if ashamed, she lowers her eyes for a moment, then looks up again and answers, “No, I never know what to write about.” I assure her that journaling doesn’t have to be complicated....
Healing From Within: Connecting With Your Core Self
Darren shows up on Zoom seven minutes late for his first appointment. Even through the screen, I can see his rigidity and tension. His face is mask-like, and his eyes are fixed and haunted. He gets right to the point of why he’s made the appointment to see me. “I...
Parenting with Love and Warmth
Parenting, even for the most emotionally stable among us, can be a challenging time of life. This season of life can come when we’re also pursuing our career ambitions and navigating endless items on our to-do lists. While there is no such thing as a “perfect parent,"...
Beyond Good Parenting: Connecting With Your Children Through Attunement
A Healthy Sense of Self Begins in Childhood Grace, a 38-year-old mother of four young children, was feeling anything but calm. She came in for therapy because she was always “blowing her lid,” and her kids seemed afraid of her. “It was bad before COVID, but now it’s...