Payal Patel is the Founder, Practice Owner, and Principal Psychologist at Pause Allied Health. She is an experienced Registered Psychologist dedicated to improving access to high-quality mental health care for individuals and communities across regional and remote Australia.
With 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Payal has worked extensively with not-for-profit organisations, government agencies, and individuals across Australia and India. Her career has focused on supporting people with moderate to severe mental health needs through person-centred, trauma-informed, recovery-focused, and culturally competent care.
Payal brings extensive expertise in quality assurance, compliance, clinical governance, and multidisciplinary leadership, with a special interest in complex mental health presentations, neurodiversity, and culturally sensitive mental health care. She has a strong background in developing and implementing evidence-based quality improvement initiatives while ensuring alignment with regulatory, accreditation, and NDIS standards. Her ability to combine clinical insight with strategic leadership allows her to create systems and services that are both compassionate and outcome-focused.
She holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) from Central Queensland University, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of New England, and a Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery from India, alongside postgraduate training in Homeopathy and Psychotherapy. She has recently been offered a place in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) program at ISN Psychology, further strengthening her commitment to advanced clinical practice, evidence-based intervention, and specialist psychological care. Payal is an AHPRA Registered Psychologist, an Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner endorsed by the NDIS, a Committee Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and a member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc. (AAPi).
Throughout her career, Payal has worked across a wide range of settings, including corrective services, youth justice, disability support, community mental health, and private practice. Her clinical expertise includes comprehensive psychological assessments, behavioural assessments, forensic case formulation, risk assessment, and evidence-based interventions for individuals experiencing trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, and complex behavioural presentations.
Payal is trained in a range of therapeutic modalities, including CBT, DBT, ACT, TF-CBT, ARC Model, Narrative Therapy, MBT, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed interventions. She is also experienced in psychometric and behavioural assessments, including WAIS, WISC, WPPSI, PAI, ABAS, and ABCL.
As a leader, Payal is passionate about building strong multidisciplinary teams and fostering person-centred, collaborative, and culturally competent care environments. She has pioneered community outreach initiatives aimed at making psychological care more accessible and affordable for underserved populations, particularly within regional communities. She has been recognised for her leadership and community impact as a finalist in the Tamworth Regional Business Awards and continues to advocate for improved mental health equity and service accessibility.
Having called regional NSW home for more than 15 years, Payal values the strong sense of connection and community that regional living offers. Her diverse professional background, combined with her compassionate and grounded approach, enables her to support individuals and teams with empathy, professionalism, and authenticity.
Outside of work, Payal enjoys reading, travelling, movies, and exploring different cuisines. She believes in lifelong growth, meaningful human connection, and leading with purpose, values reflected in both her personal and professional life.
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s words, “Be the change you want to see,” Payal strives to embody this philosophy in the work she does every day.
And on a lighter note, she has a unique talent: she can roll her tongue 180 degrees."