Our team
Tricia Chandra
Principal Psychologist/Director & Educational and Developmental Psychologist
Tricia is a passionate Educational and Development Psychologist, who believes that effective parenting is an art that can be learned. She believes that each and every parent, regardless of race or socio-economic status, wants the best for their kids - they sometimes just need a ‘parenting toolbox’ to help.
Tricia works predominantly with primary-aged children and families in schools, dealing with children’s social, emotional, learning and behavioural problems. She also provides support to parents on parenting/relationship issues via individual counselling sessions and/or parent workshops. She has successfully implemented whole-school behaviour support programs, anti-bullying programs and also resiliency programs in various schools.
Tricia is also a consultant for teachers dealing with children with behavioural, emotional and learning issues. She provides professional development in-services for teachers.
Tricia is registered as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and is a full member of the Australian Psychological Society. She gained her Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Queensland in 1994.
When she’s not at work, Tricia enjoys watching all kinds of reality TV, cooking, dreaming of spending her days at a riverfront house and most of all, hanging out with her husband and three adult daughters.
For appointments with Tricia or the rest of the Growth Assist team, please call Tricia on 0414 821 192 or email info@growthassist.com.au
Azucena (Azu) Velasco
Registered Psychologist
Azu is a Registered Psychologist with a Masters in Education and Developmental Psychology. Azu loves working with children and their families. She is currently working as a School Psychologist and understands the value of preventive practices for better outcomes. She believes there is an opportunity to grow in every situation and describes herself as a resilient and caring person. Azu’s practice framework includes Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Strength-Based, Solution-Focused Therapy and Play Therapy.
Azu speaks Spanish as her native language and understands the challenges that families face when moving countries. When she’s not working, she enjoys watching movies, seeing her son playing soccer and when time allows, dancing salsa with her husband.
For appointments, email info@growthassist.com.au
Also sharing our space as private practitioners…
Dr. Pauline King
Clinical Psychologist
Pauline is a Clinical Psychologist who works with children, adolescents and adults and has experience across a broad range of psychological problems, including anxiety, depression/mood disorders, chronic stress and health issues, relationship difficulties, grief and loss issues, child behavioural issues, parenting difficulties, life stage or transitional issues, and substance use problems.
Pauline is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Clinical College of Psychologists. She has completed both a Masters of Clinical Psychology and Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) at the University of Queensland.
Pauline is an accredited Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) provider as well as a registered provider of the 1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching Parenting program. Pauline utilises Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
For appointments, please call Pauline on 0410 045 715 or email pauline.king@uqconnect.edu.au
Dr. Judith Griffiths
Registered Psychologist
Judith is a Registered Psychologist with endorsement in Sports & Exercise Psychology. She sees clients locally in person as across Queensland via telehealth. Judith supports clients to help them cope with stress, trauma, anxiety and depression and to help them improve performance in sport, business, or everyday life.
She also has experience working with patients who experience chronic pain and functional neurological disorders and I work with athletes at all levels, from juniors through to high-performance and Masters athletes.
While it is a bit of a “mixed bag”, Judith believes the fundamentals of psychological treatments are similar, in that when we address a person’s core thinking and challenges, we can aim to influence more clarity of thought, coping strategies and more positive behaviour and then this flows on to their interactions with themselves and others.
You’ll find Judith to be honest and friendly and work collaboratively with each client to help them reach their goals and get more out of life. Over the past 20+ years, she has gathered a lot of lived experience and wisdom through her tertiary qualifications and careers as a high school teacher, researcher and psychologist - she’s currently also an Assistant Professor and psychology lecturer at a leading university in Queensland.
Judith believes that everybody has the right to live their best possible life - she’s drawn to the field of psychology for the opportunity to share her knowledge and give people techniques and strategies to overcome life barriers – so that they can grow and flourish.
For appointments, please call Judith on 0481 353 329 or email jagpsychology@gmail.com