Our People

Deborah Perrott

Director of Lifespan
Registered Psychologist (New Zealand)
Member of New Zealand Psychological Society

Languages

English

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Speech & Language Therapy (University of Canterbury)
• Bachelor of Arts - Psychology & Linguistics (University of Canterbury)
• Master of Applied Linguistics (Macquarie University, Sydney)
• Doctor or Philosophy - Linguistics (Monash University, Melbourne)

General Information and Work History

With over 25 years of professional practice, Deb began her career as a Speech-Language Therapist and completed her clinical training as a Psychologist in Melbourne. She has a particular interest in the link between communication skills and mental health, an emerging area of research. She writes in the area that interfaces mental health, therapy and communication and enjoys teaching in this area.

Deb has worked in Melbourne in mental health in both the public and private sectors. She completed her Master's in Applied Linguistics and PhD in Linguistics, researching the social skills of depressed young people. With her combination of backgrounds in psychology, speech-language therapy and applied linguistics, Deb has an interest in rehab, disabilities and trauma with a focus on practical skills and strategies to optimize an individual’s potential.
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In addition to her therapeutic work, Deborah serves as a Director at Lifespan alongside Jacqui Rose.

Areas of interest

Individual supervision for clinicians, GP’s, medical specialists, allied health, corporate sector and educationalists. Counselling of children, youth and adults. Individual and group-focused work for stress, burn-out and debriefing and grief and loss counselling. Further areas of interest include anxiety management and exam/study skills performance and fears/phobias. Social skills, communication skills, supporting neurodivergence, parenting skills, relaxation therapy and well-being and resilience growth. Deb also works in the area of sports psychology.