Dr Debra Wood

They/Them
Psychiatry + Gestalt Psychotherapy

MBBS FRANZCP FACEM GradDipClinEpi BA(hons) AdvCertRelationalGestaltTh

Areas of specialisation:

  • Adjustment disorders and difficult life stages

  • Depression

  • Anxiety disorders

  • Bipolar type I and II

  • Grief and bereavement

  • Mood Instability (mood swings)

  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Psychodynamic Therapy

  • Psychosis

  • Psychotherapy

  • Psychotic depression

  • Schizophrenia

  • Trauma backgrounds

  • Mental health concerns associated with medical conditions, or interactions with the health care system

People want to feel seen and heard, and there are so few sacred spaces for this in our society. My hope is to deeply meet a client and to understand their suffering. I believe that with the support of another we can accept painful aspects of ourselves and our lives, and so find some ease and growth.

I welcome anyone seeking individual gestalt therapy (supporting parts of ourselves we feel are unwelcome in the world) and / or an opportunity to discuss mental health concerns or medications. My particular interests are informed by my professional and personal history, including trauma resurfacing during major life events or transitions; hearing voices or having experience of psychosis; mental health concerns associated with medical conditions or interactions with the health care system; and burnout.

Although medically trained (in psychiatry and emergency medicine), I believe that medications are at most only a part of what may help a person’s suffering, and often they are problematic. My orientation is therefore towards understanding a person’s experience, and offering from my preferred approaches of gestalt psychotherapy, de-medicalisation, and rational de-prescribing.

Please note that I do not treat autism or ADHD, and am not available to write medico-legal reports (including, but not limited to for court, income protection insurance, Worker’s Compensation, NDIS or DSP).

Outside of the clinic I enjoy forest walks with my dog Iggy (who may be with me during appointments), making food with yeasts (salami, ginger beer, panettone…), and being a not-very-accomplished student of the lute.