Suspended Psychologist Now Works With Children on NDIS After 'Sexual Nature' Relationship

A child psychologist in New South Wales, Australia, who was suspended for engaging in a relationship described as 'sexual in nature' with a former patient, is now providing services to children through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Benjamin French, 46, was suspended for "unsatisfactory professional conduct" which began within months of him treating the woman.

The psychologist was investigated by the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission and initially stood down in February 2025. His suspension was extended for an additional six months by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) this month. Despite being banned from practicing psychology for the past 20 months, French has established a learning support service for children and teenagers with disabilities.

French's NDIS service offers programs such as an 'ethical hacking' group, designed to help young people "turn curiosity into cyber-confidence." He also provides literacy and numeracy classes, vocational support, and has authored a book for neurodivergent adults on understanding their brains. NCAT proceedings revealed that French, then 36 and a principal psychologist at Port Psychology in Port Macquarie, met the patient, then 24, in late 2016. He conducted 52 therapy sessions with the single mother between February 2017 and December 2020, discussing her mental health and bipolar disorder diagnosis, and at one point offered her employment at his practice.

Three months after their therapeutic relationship ended in December 2020, French added the former patient on Facebook. Over the following months, they developed an intimate relationship, which included meetings for dinner and walks, and exchanged approximately 9,000 text messages. In messages presented to NCAT, French expressed concern about having "taken advantage" of her, a day after inviting her to his home, kissing her goodbye, and acknowledging the "power dynamic" of their past professional relationship.

The woman described one exchange as having made her feel uncomfortable, guilty, and confused. Communication between them ceased from June 2021 to February 2023, until French re-established contact via Facebook Messenger. During this period, the woman sought his advice regarding an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. NCAT heard French agreed to "coach her" to obtain the "right meds" and prepared a report on her potential diagnosis, backdating it to align with their previous therapeutic relationship, despite no longer being her psychologist.

The pair ceased contact again in August 2023. Two months later, the woman disclosed the relationship to her new psychologist, who subsequently filed a complaint with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Further complicating the case, NCAT heard that French engaged in a six-month "intimate relationship" with a female colleague later in 2023. During this relationship, he divulged "inappropriate information" about his NDIS clients to her. As the treating psychologist for several of this colleague's clients, French had access to sensitive details, including one client's suicide attempt and related family information, which he shared. This colleague also filed a complaint against French with AHPRA.

In a judgment delivered on October 6, approximately 20 months after French's initial suspension, NCAT upheld the complaints. The tribunal panel found that French had "demonstrated a reckless disregard" for professional boundaries. "Psychologists occupy positions of particular trust with vulnerable patients, making boundary violations especially serious," the tribunal stated, expressing particular concern about French providing services to "extremely vulnerable" mental health patients, especially in the context of stressful family disputes.

French's registration as a psychologist remains suspended on the AHPRA register. The Psychology Council of NSW is reportedly aware of his current employment. The Daily Mail has sought comment from French.