Itay Lahav , PACFA

Itay Lahav is a PACFA counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, trauma and sleeping problems. She writes and talks plainly, and aims to make therapy feel manageable for someone who is worried or stretched thin.

She works with people who struggle with attachment, abandonment and dissociation as well as those affected by chronic illness or pain. She also supports people facing communication problems, codependency and difficulties linked to personality patterns. Sessions can focus on short-term coping or longer, in-depth exploration depending on what the client needs.

Her style draws from psychodynamic work alongside client-centred and attachment-based ideas. That means she pays attention to life history and relationships, while keeping the conversation grounded in what is happening now. Trauma-focused methods are used when past events are getting in the way of daily life.

Itay has 22 years of professional experience in Australia and describes the therapeutic relationship as central to progress. She aims to create a steady, reliable space where people can talk through painful memories, confusing feelings or ongoing patterns that repeat in relationships.

Practical issues are part of the work. Sessions look at sleep routines, stress management and small behaviour changes as well as deeper personal meaning and development. People who prefer either focused course-like help or open-ended exploration can find a workable approach.

How attachment and psychodynamic ideas translate online

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current ways of relating. Online sessions use that lens to map how patterns show up now and to try new ways of connecting in everyday life.

Psychodynamic Therapy looks at recurring patterns and the stories people carry about themselves. In remote sessions this can mean gently tracing those stories, noticing themes in relationships, and working through stuck feelings or long-standing anxieties.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences and the issues they want to address, then suggest whether a shorter focused plan or a deeper exploratory course fits best. This is done collaboratively and can be adjusted as therapy progresses.

Online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging offer practical flexibility. Video helps preserve visual cues for relational work, phone calls are useful when bandwidth is limited, live chat suits brief check-ins and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These options make it easier to maintain continuity and to fit therapy around busy lives.