Doctor defends his unconventional treatment ‘ethos’

A psychiatrist with a unique therapy style has been cleared of boundary violations after a patient declared feelings for him and broke into his home

A psychiatrist who continued treating a patient who declared feelings for him and broke into his home has been cleared of wrongdoing, after a tribunal found he continued to maintain clear boundaries.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) heard the psychiatrist used unconventional psychological and aggressive pharmacological treatment, combined with an “ethos of availability” through frequent texts, telephone and email contact and consultations.