Meet the Team

Dr Catherine Matthews


Senior Clinical Psychologist & Director
DPsych (Clin), BSc (Hons), MAPS, Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists

​Catherine is the founder and Senior Psychologist at Southern Child & Family Psychology. As a registered clinical psychologist with over 12 years experience working in child and family psychology, Catherine has worked in a range of clinical settings, including the Royal Children's Hospital, Monash Health Early in Life Mental Health Service, The Melbourne Clinic, and private practice. Catherine is a board approved supervisor, and has experience in providing professional supervision to both training and registered psychologists, as well as to training child psychiatrists, child psychotherapists, and allied health professionals.  

Catherine has lectured for Monash University's Doctor of Psychology program and Mindful's Developmental Psychiatry Course, and has consulted to Child Protection Services, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, and a number of non-government organisations.  
Catherine is passionate about providing evidence based treatment to young people and their families, working in a collaborative way to develop a shared understanding with families about what types of treatments and interventions may be helpful.  

Catherine works with a broad range of mental health issues in young people aged 0-18 years, with a special interest in anxiety disorders (including OCD, separation anxiety, & phobias), depression, Autism, attachment disorders and relational difficulties, and school refusal.

To make a psychology appointment, please call 9069 3199, or send an email via the link below.

Indra Townsend

Psychologist
BA (Psych) (Hons), MEd&DevPsych/PhD Candidate, Assoc MAPS
 
Indra is a registered Psychologist. Indra is currently undertaking a combined Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology and Doctor of Philosophy at Monash University and is an Educational and Developmental Psychology Registrar.

Indra has worked with children and adolescents for a number of years and has experience in both private practice and school settings. Indra works with a broad range of mental health issues and has a special interest in anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, social skills development, and behavioural challenges.
 
Indra utilises a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques including, cognitive behavioural therapy, play therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Indra takes a strength-based and person-centred approach, and works collaboratively with children and their families to identify children’s unique needs and goals to promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
 
Indra also conducts comprehensive cognitive, educational, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental assessments.

To make a psychology appointment, please call 9069 3199, or send an email via the link below.
 

Dr Michelle Lindsay-Dawe (Books closed)

 Clinical Neuropsychologist
DPsych (Clin Neuro), BSc (Behavioural), Post Grade Dip (Psych), MAPS, Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists

​Michelle is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with over 10 years experience in the assessment of children, adolescents and young adults. She has worked in a variety of hospital settings, including Acute Rehabilitation Units, The Royal Children’s Hospital Learning Difficulties Centre and The Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service.  Michelle has also worked in Acute Paediatric Inpatient Units and currently works part time within the Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry Team at Monash Early in Life Mental Health Service.

Neuropsychologists specialise in assessing a young person’s thinking skills and learning.  They have an in depth understanding of brain structure, function and dysfunction, and the effects multiple factors have on cognitive, behavioural and emotional functioning.  

Michelle has experience in the areas of:
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ADHD, Intellectual Disability, Learning Disorders, Autism)
  • Brain Injury (including mild TBI / Concussion)
  • Neurological Conditions (ADEM, Epilepsy, Encephalitis, Stroke)
  • Endocrine Disorders (such as Diabetes) 
  • Effects of Drug and Alcohol use 
  • Psychiatric Disorders including psychosis  
  • Trauma 

Michelle offers tailored cognitive assessments for young people aged 3 – 18 years. Assessments range from a basic cognitive (IQ) assessment to a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment covering multiple areas such as IQ, academic functioning, memory and attention. Assessments may be either diagnostic, to identify strengths and weaknesses, or to provide a baseline or track changes over time.

Michelle has a passion for helping young people and their families better understand the impact of cognitive difficulties and how to best utilise cognitive strengths.

To make a neuropsychology appointment, please send an email via the link below. No new patient bookings at present.

Dr Martin Tuszynski
Paediatrician
 
Dr Martin Tuszynski is a Paediatrician with wide-ranging expertise in child health, growth, development and behaviour.  Martin works in General Paediatrics and Paediatric Emergency at Monash Children’s Hospital, Clayton.  He consults privately at both Cheltenham and Clayton.
For more information, go to monashkids.com. You can also make a paediatrician appointment online via the link below.

Dr James Meyer-Grieve (Books closed)

Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist 
MBBS MPM FRANZCP (Certificate Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
 
Dr James Meyer-Grieve is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist with specialist experience in child neuropsychiatry, behavioural disorders, and psychotherapy.  His psychotherapeutic experience extends from anxiety and mood disorders to more complex presentations of social/emotional difficulties.  He has worked for over 20 years in public psychiatry, and took the clinical lead for the development of Monash Children’s Endeavour Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry team and The Oasis Child Neuropsychiatry Inpatient Unit.  He is an Adjunct Lecturer at Monash University, and provides State-Wide training for the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders through Melbourne University’s Mindful program. 

To make a psychiatrist appointment, please send an email via the link below. No new patient bookings at present.

Psychology Interns


​Southern Child and Family Psychology is committed to the training of Provisional Psychologists through our Internship program. Psychology Interns are affiliated with a University, and are required to complete on site placements, much like the medical registrars you may have encountered in hospitals or GP clinics.  All interns are qualified and experienced to provide psychological assessment and treatment under the supervision of a Board Approved Supervisor. Our Interns are able to provide low cost assessments and treatments to children and families, and with no requirement for a Medicare referral, there are no limits on the number of sessions that can be accessed.