Premela Deck, J.D., Ph.D., LICSW received her MSW from Springfield School of Social Work; her JD, cum laude, from Western New England School of Law; and her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work. Informed by her experience as a family law attorney, Premela has a robust forensic social work practice. She primarily serves as a custody evaluator (GAL), parenting coach, or therapist for high-conflict families, couples, or individuals who frequently find themselves affected by family court.

She has extensive training and experience as a therapist for parent-child contact problems (“reunification therapy”). Premela is a prior Director of the William James High Conflict Parenting Education Program, a service offered for co-parents to attend jointly to improve their co-parenting. She is a frequent presenter for MCLE (Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education), AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts), and other organizations dedicated to the overlap of law and mental health.

Her research focuses on high conflict families, resist and refuse dynamics, parent competencies, and forensic mental health during separation and divorce. She currently serves on the MA-AFCC Board of Directors and has taught at several schools of Social Work, including Bridgewater State University, Boston College, and University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill.