Celebrity psychologist loses his license after damning texts reveal he had affair with client
A star psychologist whose movies have been seen by tens of millions has been barred from practising after coming into a “sexual relationship” with a consumer, which he says couldn’t have occurred because of his erectile dysfunction.
Sydney-based psychologist Dr Ali Sahebi was discovered responsible of “unsatisfactory skilled conduct” and “skilled misconduct” on the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Thursday morning, which ordered his registration be cancelled.
Dr Sahebi, who’s from Iran, has greater than 400,000 followers on Instagram and has given a number of TED talks on psychology.
Earlier this yr, Dr Sahebi discovered himself in scorching water after describing homosexuality as a “self-destructive behaviour” in considered one of his viral movies.
A petition was made for Dr Sahebi to take the video down which he did, additionally issuing an apology.
The tribunal heard how Dr Sahebi, who on the time had a spouse and youngsters, engaged in a “sexual relationship” with considered one of his therapeutic sufferers in April and Could of 2021.
The connection got here to gentle after the affected person made a proper criticism to the Well being Care Complaints Fee in August 2021.
The connection
The tribunal heard how the connection started after she noticed Dr Sahebi for personal remedy classes about her mom’s latest dying and monetary issues.
Dr Sahebi invited her to common “group remedy classes” he would host at his dwelling which might typically result in the group socialising and ingesting collectively.
The tribunal heard that after one of many “group classes” Dr Sahebi opened a “good high quality whisky” for the pair to drink earlier than issues obtained “bodily”.
Within the lady’s assertion, she mentioned she was “nonetheless feeling drunk” when the pair had sexual activity however was “acutely aware and shocked” as she “didn’t anticipate that”.
“I requested what are we doing and what’s this. He mentioned that he likes and loves me a lot that he needed to stick with me and be my associate,” she mentioned in her assertion which was submitted to the tribunal.
The pair started a relationship of types earlier than Dr Sahebi informed her he wanted to return to Iran in mid-Could to see his sons, the tribunal heard.
“I felt I used to be in a full relationship with him,” she mentioned.
“He led me to consider that he was in a damaged marriage and there was no relationship between them like husband and spouse. When Mr Sahebi left for Iran after our sexual relationship, I used to be indignant.”
The affected person mentioned she had paid for eight classes however had solely attended 5.
“He refunded me the entire quantity for all eight classes,” she mentioned within the assertion.
A number of messages and voice messages had been additionally submitted to the tribunal, with Dr Sahebi telling the affected person in a single textual content that she wanted a therapeutic massage and was at her “service”.
In Could, Dr Sahebi despatched a voice message to the affected person stating: “You made me loopy, I’m enchanted by you” earlier than stating: “I’ll lick you throughout, I need you.”
Dr Sahebi denied he was in a sexual relationship with the affected person and informed the tribunal the pair had been merely “shut pals”.
Dr Sahebi’s protection
Throughout his proof, Dr Sahebi informed the tribunal the voice messages and texts had been “mistranslated” from their unique Persian and mentioned the “lick you throughout” message was “a metaphor”.
“It isn’t practical literal phrases. It’s actually affectionate and caring that usually that’s saying to the daughters or sons, as a result of ‘I’m licking you’ it’s a shortened time period for, ‘I’m licking you want a cow that licks her calf’,” he informed the tribunal throughout his proof.
“That’s the metaphor in Persian language and it is a actually, actually flawed one. It doesn’t imply something sexual. I’m simply appreciating her qualities.”
When pointed to a voice message he despatched in Could, the place he informed the affected person he liked her “athletic physique”, Dr Sahebi mentioned that was additionally a “metaphor”.
“This isn’t simply meant to girls. I like your physique; that’s it. This isn’t sexual in any respect,” he mentioned.
“It means when the individual is [an] energetic and wholesome individual.”
Dr Sahebi additionally informed the tribunal he couldn’t have had a sexual relationship with the lady as he suffers from erectile dysfunction.
“I had an accident some years in the past and since then I misplaced my erection and am completely sexually dysfunctional,” he informed the tribunal.
“I’m prepared for any medical or forensic examinations on this regards.”
The findings
The tribunal discovered Dr Sahebi responsible of “unsatisfactory skilled conduct” and “skilled misconduct” for each his sexual relationship with the affected person in addition to the “group remedy classes”.
The tribunal heard from two different sufferers who gave proof about Dr. Sahebi’s dwelling “group remedy classes” with one of many purchasers saying “The gatherings had dancing and music, meals and ingesting, principally alcoholic”.
In its determination, the tribunal panel labeled Dr. Sahebi as “persistently untruthful” in his proof.
“The respondent was not a reputable and dependable witness,” the choice said.
“This dishonesty was an egregious breach of his responsibility. Slightly than admit his conduct and deal with the explanations for it, the respondent has neither apologized for his habits nor expressed any regret or contrition.”
The tribunal panel mentioned he engaged within the conduct for his “personal sexual gratification”.
“A reprimand wouldn’t be enough to denounce the skilled misconduct of the sort which we have now discovered,” they mentioned.
Dr. Sahebi’s registration was canceled and is now prohibited from offering any well being service.
He will probably be unable to use for a overview of the orders for 2 years and was additionally ordered to pay the prices of the HCCC.
Dr Sahebi has been contacted for remark.
