Children's Psychologist Suspended Over Inappropriate Relationship with Former Patient
Benjamin French, a NSW psychologist, has had his registration suspended following an investigation into thousands of text messages sent to a former patient, a tribunal has found.
A children's psychologist in New South Wales, Australia, has been suspended for professional misconduct after initiating an inappropriate relationship with a former patient, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) announced. Benjamin French, 46, sent approximately 9,000 text messages to the woman, who had been his patient between late 2016 and December 2020.
French was initially stood down in February 2025 and his suspension was extended for another six months by NCAT this week. The tribunal heard that French, then 36 and a principal psychologist at Port Psychology in Port Macquarie, began treating the woman, then 24, in late 2016. He provided 52 treatment sessions, discussing her mental health and bipolar disorder diagnosis, and even offered her a job at his practice.
Months after their professional relationship concluded in December 2020, French added the former patient on Facebook. Their interactions evolved into an intimate relationship, marked by approximately 9,000 text messages exchanged over the next few months, alongside meetings for dinner and walks.
On May 25, 2021, French invited the woman to his home, where they shared a meal and watched television. He accompanied her to her car, hugged her, and kissed her goodbye. Later that night, French texted, 'You are always awesome to hang out with... miss you here on my lounge with me... sweet dreams.' The following day, he expressed concern about potentially being perceived as a 'dodgy guy' and acknowledged the 'power dynamic' of their past client-therapist relationship, stating, 'You were my client. So just had a wave of paranoia today.' He also admitted to wanting to 'take [her] upstairs' and confessed that the desire to kiss and make out with her felt significant.
The tribunal also heard that French later provided the former patient with Oxycodone (Endone) after she complained of back pain. He also prepared a report on her potential Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and coached her on obtaining medication, backdating the report to coincide with their therapeutic relationship, despite no longer being her psychologist.
Their communication ceased from June 2021 to February 2023, until French reinitiated contact. The former patient eventually reported the relationship to her new psychologist, who then lodged a complaint with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
The tribunal's findings also revealed that French engaged in a six-month intimate relationship with a female colleague in 2023, during which he disclosed inappropriate information about her National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients. He had access to sensitive details about these clients due to his role as their treating psychologist, including information about one client's suicide attempt and details about the patient's father.
In its judgment on October 6, NCAT concluded that French had demonstrated a 'reckless disregard' for professional boundaries. The panel stated, 'Psychologists occupy positions of particular trust with vulnerable patients, making boundary violations especially serious.' They expressed concern about French's suitability to provide services to vulnerable mental health patients, particularly those involved in stressful family disputes, and determined that he poses a substantial risk to the public. French's registration as a psychologist remains suspended on the AHPRA register.