Our psychologists are highly trained professionals with a minimum of a Masters level training in Psychology. This means a minimum of 6 years postgraduate training. Our team have varied work experience across government and academic settings in the Gold Coast community. All psychologists are well regarded for their specialist knowledge and expertise in the assessment and treatment of psychological problems in children. Team members are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia and are bound by the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics. This Code promotes sound professional practice and safeguards the welfare of clients and their families.
Shelli Hastings – B.A., P Grad Dip Psych, M Clin Psych; Director of Families in Focus and Clinical Psychologist
Shelli has more than 20 years’ experience in providing psychological services to children and their families. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Griffith University. Early on in her career, Shelli worked in the Disability area, as well as the Tertiary Education sector. For the last 17 years, Shelli has worked in the public health sector assessing and treating children with complex developmental difficulties. Specifically, Shelli’s expertise lies in the assessment and treatment of children with developmental, behavioural and emotional problems including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Global Developmental Delay and learning/academic difficulties.
In November 2013, Shelli travelled to Canada to be trained by clinicians from the internationally renowned Asante Centre in multidisciplinary diagnostic team assessment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Shelli is a founding member of Australia’s first community based, multidisciplinary, Neurodevelopmental Exposure Disorder (NED) Clinic. During her time at the NED clinic, Shelli has been involved in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children who have a wide variety of significant organic and functional impairments associated with prenatal alcohol and drug exposure. Shelli is regularly involved in the training of other medical and allied health professionals in the assessment and diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Shelli has undertaken research, and a number of these studies have been published in peer reviewed journals.
Kym Houston – B App Sc, Grad Dip App Sc, M Clin Psych; Director of Families in Focus and Clinical Psychologist
Kym Houston has 20+ years of experience working in the field of Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Griffith University. Kym has worked in the public sector at Queensland Community Child Health, in Tertiary Education and in private practice in Queensland. Kym is experienced in working with most child and adolescent difficulties and disorders including depression, anxiety, autism, behavioural problems, adhd, grief/loss, social skills deficits, relationship difficulties and anger management. She has a keen interest in family focussed therapy. Kym works closely with the referred child/adolescent, their family/carers, and their school teachers and support staff to enhance the outcomes for the child/young person and to increase the chance of them maintaining their therapy gains in the longer term.
Dr Tracy Ludlow – B.A., B Psych (Hons), PhD Clin Psych; Director of Families in Focus and Clinical Psychologist
Tracy is a clinical psychologist, and one of the Directors of Families in Focus Psychology Service. Tracy completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University, and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, and the APS Clinical College. She has previously been employed as an academic at Griffith University, as well having held clinical roles in government and private settings. In addition to her role as a clinical psychologist, Tracy continues to be active as a clinical supervisor, and has an interest in research. Tracy has presented her research at conferences internationally, and has published studies investigating parenting programs, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of a program designed to assist children with health conditions. Tracy is passionate about providing services for children and families, and working with them to bring about positive change. She enjoys working with a range of child and adolescent concerns, but has a speciality interests in the assessment of developmental difficulties, including autism spectrum disorders, and in the treatment of anxiety and depression, tic disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and behavioural concerns. She also enjoys working with parents to improve family functioning.
Lara Aquino –B.A., P Grad Dip Ed, M Ed Psych, Psychologist
Lara has a Masters degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Queensland, and specialises in the evaluation of children and adolescents with learning difficulties and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She works together with families to help them access appropriate support and accommodations at school, with children individually to help facilitate improved learning and attention behaviours, and with parents to help manage behaviour at home. Lara also works with children and adolescents who present with anxiety and pervasive developmental disorders, with the goal of reducing impact upon schooling and social-emotional functioning.
Lara has worked in the public sector at Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMHS) in Queensland, and in private practice both in Australia and Europe. She has also worked in the role of school psychologist at an international school in Italy, and provided training to parents and staff at international schools in Switzerland.
Elizabeth Locke – B Psych (Hons), M Clin Psych; Clinical Psychologist
Elizabeth completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate psychology studies at Griffith University, receiving a Bachelor of Psychology with 1st Class Honours and Master degree in Clinical Psychology. During her studies she developed a special research interest in children’s coping. In addition to private practice work, Elizabeth has had experience working as a psychologist with both adults and children in a range of settings including an Acute Mental Health unit, within the education domain, and providing community psychology support for families of young children with a disability. She is skilled at incorporating her creative abilities into the therapeutic intervention process, particularly when working with young people. Elizabeth is very committed and motivated to supporting families and individuals with Autism, and has undertaken specialist training in the assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. She has been trained in administering the ADOS as part of the Autism Spectrum diagnostic process. Her other intervention interests include working with children and adolescents with ADHD and Anxiety. She has also undertaken extensive training in mindfulness, and previously developed and conducted an Early Intervention Project for families with a child with a disability. Part of this project included running a number of workshops for parents experiencing considerable distress, using a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy / Mindfulness framework.
Caroline Cave-Wilkinson – B Psych (Hons), M Clin Psych; Psychologist
Caroline Cave-Wilkinson has completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University and has been working as a paediatric psychologist for Queensland Health at the Child Development Service for approximately four years. She has also had experience on the children’s and rehabilitation wards at the Gold Coast Hospital, in the Griffith University Psychology Clinic, and has treated clients at ACT for Kids. Caroline’s clinical experience extends to adults, but has focused mostly on children. Her strengths include the assessment and treatment of autism, social skills training, anxiety: especially treating the effect of anxious parents on anxious children, parenting strategies, ADHD, and mood and anger management.
Dr Mary Mihuta – B.A., BPsySc (Hons), M.A., PhD Clin Psych; Psychologist
Mary has completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Griffith University, Gold Coast. Her PhD thesis examined the effectiveness of an online cognitive rehabilitation program for improving cognitive functioning in cancer survivors.
Mary is experienced in conducting cognitive assessments to evaluate intellectual functioning and academic achievement in both children and adults. Mary specialises in the evaluation of specific learning disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents who are struggling at school. Mary has a keen interest in working with anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, peer relationship difficulties, behavioural problems, and emotional dysregulation with children, adolescents and their families.
Rosanne and Tracey – Receptionists
Rosanne and Tracey are the first points of contact at Families in Focus handling phone calls, emails and managing bookings. They handle all client enquiries in a friendly and professional manner. They support the work of all Families in Focus psychologists who work across three locations and manage the day to day running of the clinics.
Rosanne has 12 years experience working in Psychology clinics having worked for Families in Focus for the past 4 years as Office Manager. Tracey’s background includes working for General Practitioners in Adelaide for 10 years, in a busy Paediatric Clinic in Benowa for 15 years prior to joining Families in Focus in March 2016.
