welcome.
I’m Dr. Isabela Barros Doyle (formerly Dr. França Magalhães), a psychologist based in Santa Barbara. I offer virtual therapy to adults seeking clarity, change, and deeper connection.
Tell me more about…
working with me:
Individual Therapy
I work with adults facing a wide range of challenges, from anxiety, trauma, and grief to life transitions, identity questions, and reproductive struggles such as infertility, miscarriage, or ambivalence around parenthood.
Whether you’re in crisis or simply feeling stuck, therapy can offer a space to reconnect with your values, process painful experiences, and move toward meaningful change. Our sessions are tailored to your needs, pace, and goals.
Couples Therapy
I work with couples navigating a range of relational challenges, from communication breakdowns and recurring conflicts to trust issues, intimacy concerns, and the emotional impact of life transitions.
Whether you’re feeling disconnected from each other or seeking to strengthen your bond, therapy can provide a supportive third space to deepen understanding, rebuild trust, and cultivate connection through difficult seasons.
Approach
My style is grounded, flexible, and evidence-based. I draw from a range of approaches including psychodynamic, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), somatic, and mindfulness-based tools—depending on what feels most fitting to you and your goals. Our work might include building on practical skills, exploring emotional patterns, and reshaping the narratives that guide how you relate to yourself, others, and the world around you.
Research shows that therapy is most effective when it helps you become more open, aware, and engaged in your life– even more than when it simply feels supportive. Which is why I aim to create a relationship grounded in trust and presence, where you feel respected and free to explore deeply. My goal is that our time together will lead to psychological flexibility—the ability to move through pain with more clarity, compassion, and purpose.
Tell me more about…
specialty areas & interests:
Maternal Mental Health
Transitioning into motherhood is one of the most profound identity shifts one will ever experience- It is visceral. Your body suddenly doesn’t feel entirely like your own, and while your day-to-day world might feel like it has shrunk, you’re simultaneously being asked to stretch into new, completely unfamiliar depths.
In the middle of all this, the question I hear most often is simple: “Is this normal?” Motherhood requires us to hold complex, seemingly contradictory emotions all at once—frustration and helplessness right alongside an awe and joy that knows no bounds. It also requires space to grieve the version of yourself you left behind.
Having a therapist who can educate, guide, and hold space for these questions is vital. As a PMH-C certified therapist, I’m here to help you navigate these newfound sensations, process the quiet shifts, and feel anchored in who you are becoming.
Life Transitions & Identity
Major changes- whether in career, relationships, or life stages- often stir up deeper questions about who you are and where you belong. These shifts can challenge old roles, cultural expectations, and the sense of self you’ve relied on.
I support people navigating these uncertain spaces by helping them reconnect with what truly matters. Using mindfulness-based and acceptance-based approaches, we work to clarify your values and expand your capacity to move through uncertainty with curiosity, steadiness, and self-trust—so you can shape a life and identity that feel more authentic and sustainable.
Grief, Loss, & Reproductive Challenges
Grief can take many forms, especially when it’s tied to losses that feel more invisible like infertility, miscarriage, or the complex paths to parenthood. These experiences often bring deep emotional pain and a sense of disconnection—not just from others, but from your own body, sense of self, or imagined future.
I offer a space to gently turn toward this grief, to understand its shape and meaning in your life. Through a relational and mindful approach, we explore how to honor what’s been lost while reconnecting with your sense of self, allowing space for both sorrow and the quiet possibility of renewal.
About Me
You may have known me previously as Dr. Isabela França Magalhães, I now go by Dr. Isabela Barros Doyle. I’m a Brazilian-born clinical psychologist who grew up in Europe, Asia, and South America and has made the U.S. home for the past two decades. These cross-cultural experiences shape my appreciation for identity, belonging, and the emotional complexity of life transitions.
I earned my BA in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College, and my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley. I completed both my predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at UC Santa Barbara’s Counseling & Psychological Services. I have worked in Adult Psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente and in community-based settings such as California Counseling Clinics in Santa Barbara. I have provided individual, couples and group therapy, conducted crisis intervention and psychological assessments, and supervised doctoral trainees. I have earned a certification in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum International.
While I value the range of experiences I’ve had, my passion lies in the depth and connection of one-on-one work. My patients often tell me it is a relief to be able to unravel in our sessions, like they have a newfound capacity to articulate things they’ve been carrying for a long time. I offer a contained space where they can show up without fear of judgment, where they can untangle parts of themselves that have long been neglected. I listen closely, help connect the dots, and offer a mix of warmth and challenge that helps people move forward with greater clarity. My hope is that my clients walk away from our treatment embodying a newfound awareness and resilience.
FAQs
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes, I’m currently accepting new clients and have daytime and evening appointments available.
What is your fee?
Individual therapy sessions are $250/hour.
Couples therapy sessions are $275/hour.
Do you accept insurance?
I am currently in-network with Aetna. If you have a different insurance provider, I can provide a monthly superbill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
Many clients choose this option and find the process to be straightforward. If you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m happy to help.
How can I use out-of-network benefits for therapy?
If I’m not in-network with your insurance, you may still be able to get reimbursed for a portion of your therapy fees through out-of-network benefits. To learn more about your coverage, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits.
Here are some helpful questions to guide the conversation:
- Are there any limits to the number of sessions or total reimbursement per year?
- What is my out-of-network deductible, and has any of it been met?
- What percentage of therapy fees will be reimbursed after I meet the deductible?
- What is the allowable amount (or “reasonable and customary fee”) for therapy sessions?
If you’re feeling unsure about how to approach this, I’m happy to help walk you through it.
What can I expect in my first session?
Our first session is a chance to get to know each other. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you in, what you’re hoping for, and I’ll ask questions to better understand your background. You’re welcome to go at your own pace—there’s no pressure to share everything all at once.
How often will we meet?
Most clients begin with weekly sessions, which allow us to build momentum and continuity. We can always adjust based on your needs and schedule.
How long will therapy take?
That depends on your goals. Some people come for short-term support around a specific issue, while others engage in longer-term work to explore deeper patterns. I’ll collaborate with you regularly to ensure therapy is aligned with what you need.
How do I get started?
You can start by reaching out via my contact form or email (isabela@barrosdoyle.com). I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk through your needs and answer any questions before scheduling a first session.
Curious about working together?
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. This is a chance for us to connect, talk through your needs, and see if it feels like a good fit.
Click below to get started.