Dr. Joyce Gayles, Ph.D.

For more than 25 years, Houston-based clinical psychologist Joyce Gayles, Ph.D. has made it her passion to guide adults and couples as they overcome personal and professional obstacles to achieve successful life transitions and reach their full potential.

As a psychotherapist, she applies proven approaches and techniques—including cognitive-behavioral, EMDR, and voice dialogue—to provide clients with sound guidance and knowledgeable feedback. She also performs psychological and career evaluations.

As a success coach, Dr. Gayles combines her experience as a psychologist with coaching expertise to help clients define and achieve their lifestyle, business, and professional goals. In 1996, she established the TransformationWorks program, which combines psychotherapy, career counseling, and coaching to guide and teach individuals, couples, and groups the art and skills of living a transformed life.

Recognizing her clients’ needs to develop and apply new transformation strategies as they transition into retirement, Dr. Gayles earned Certification as a Retirement Success Coach from Retirement Options. In 2013, she developed Design Your Best Retirement, a personalized coaching program that empowers new and emerging retirees to transform their 20+ “encore years” into a powerful third age of life marked by purpose and fulfillment.

Dr. Gayles leads a rich personal life. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. She served on active duty for 2 years and in the Ready Reserves for an additional 6 years where she rose to rank of Captain. As she transitions into her own phased retirement, she has begun to tackle her personal Bucket List. She is a First Degree Black Belt in Kuk Sool Won karate. She is the proud owner of a new, stealth, six-speed Camaro. Her passion for animals has led her to be an active volunteer with animal rights groups. In 2009, she did a volunteer vacation at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kenab, Utah.

Dr. Gayles has spoken at national conferences, to small workgroups, before peer groups, and in the media on topics that include developing your business style, thriving through mid-life transition, stress management, working effectively with your inner critic, effective workplace communications, and women's identity and issues.

A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, she holds a Ph.D.. in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Western Kentucky University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University. She is a member in good standing of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Gayles completed her initial coach’s training in 2001 at Coach University, which is the oldest and most respected coaches’ training program worldwide. She has been a Certified Life Purpose Coach since 2006 and became a Certified Retirement Coach in 2012.

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