A South Australian psychologist has been disqualified for three years after beginning a sexual relationship with a police officer she was treating for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled that Dr Samantha Angelakis, a clinical psychologist formerly at PsychMed, engaged in professional misconduct after she developed an intimate relationship with Inspector Craig Arthur while he was still her patient in 2019.
The tribunal found that boundaries between the pair blurred during treatment, with flirtatious emails and social meetings occurring before therapy officially ended.
The day after their final session, they met privately, and the relationship soon became sexual. Both later separated from their spouses and married in 2021.
Under the Psychology Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct, psychologists are prohibited from having sexual contact with former clients within two years of ending treatment.
The tribunal found that Dr Angelakis misled the Board to suggest nothing occurred during the treatment period and concluded that she had breached ethical standards.
While acknowledging her rehabilitation efforts and prior good record, the tribunal said her conduct “took advantage of the situation,” stressing that the public and profession must be assured such behaviour will not be tolerated.
Source: The Advertiser
