About Isabella

Pronouns: She/Her

Isabella Lay is a clinical psychologist who helps adults understand why they feel, react and relate the way they do - not just manage the symptoms. Most people can describe exactly how they are; what they've rarely been given is the why. That's where her work starts.

Her work focuses on emotional intensity and regulation, relationship and attachment patterns, people-pleasing and boundaries, self-worth and shame, burnout and overcontrol, and the repeating patterns people notice in their lives but have never had explained.

Isabella is AHPRA-registered and provides individual telehealth psychology for adults across Australia, including rural and regional areas. Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Care Plan from a GP.

Therapy with Isabella is collaborative and grounded in evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT and attachment-informed therapy. Referrals are accepted from GPs and psychiatrists Australia-wide, and adults can also contact the practice directly - no referral is needed to begin, although a GP Mental Health Care Plan is required for Medicare rebates.

Approach

Every person arrives with a different history, strengths, and set of experiences. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, Isabella works collaboratively to understand the factors shaping each individual's emotional responses, relationships and day-to-day functioning.

Where appropriate, therapy is complemented by structured psychological assessment to provide additional clarity. Standardised measures, clinical interviewing and formulation are integrated to build a clearer understanding of the patterns contributing to a person's difficulties, allowing treatment to be targeted to what is most likely to create meaningful change.

The goal is not simply symptom reduction, but helping people develop a clearer understanding of themselves so that change becomes more intentional, sustainable and aligned with what matters most to them.

Qualifications:

• Master of Clinical Psychology (Advanced Entry)

• Master of Professional Psychology

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Psychology

• Bachelor of Science - Psychology & Psychophysiology

• Bachelor of Business - Human Resource Management

Experience and Areas of Focus

Isabella works with adults experiencing a range of emotional, relational and neurodevelopmental presentations. Her areas of focus include:

• ADHD assessment (adults)

• Autism (ASD) assessment (adults)

• Relationship and attachment pattern analysis

• Emotional regulation and interpersonal difficulties

She has experience working with a range of presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and personality-related patterns.

Clinical Interests

Much of Isabella's work involves helping adults understand patterns that have become difficult to change despite insight or repeated efforts. These commonly include emotional intensity, relationship and attachment patterns, self-worth, people-pleasing, burnout, recurring interpersonal dynamics and the impact of trauma on current functioning.

Her work also includes experience supporting adults presenting with difficulties consistent with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) traits and other presentations involving significant emotional and relational complexity.