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A former Brisbane psychologist has been barred from his profession after confronting his ex-partner with a knife and texting homicidal thoughts to a police officer.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, was brought before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal by the Health Ombudsman last month after pleading guilty to threatening his ex-partner and her family with a knife.
The tribunal was told the woman was home in 2022 with her partner, two friends and three children when she heard a loud bang.
Within 30 seconds, the psychologist appeared at the top of her stairs holding a knife.
“Hi guys,” he said, the tribunal was told.
The man then told the woman “you’ve ruined my life, you called the cops on me” to which she replied “(you) ruined it yourself”.
He pointed the knife at her new partner and referenced a previous fight between the pair.
At this point, a friend stepped in and tackled the man to the ground.
A fight broke out between some of the adults at the home, with the woman’s new partner holding the psychologist in a headlock until police arrived.
Sporting a black eye and cuts to his face, the man was arrested and taken into custody.
In a police interview shortly after the incident, he admitted to the offending but claimed he had brought the knife for protection.
He told officers he wanted to talk to the woman, as he was frustrated and believed she had used his money to purchase concert tickets for herself and her partner.
He acknowledged he was intoxicated at the time, stating he had “made a stupid decision” and “a ridiculous judgment”.
He was charged with threatening violence (domestic violence offence) and contravening a domestic violence order to which he pleaded guilty.
Convictions were recorded on both occasions.
The man was ordered to serve 12 months probation for the threatening violence offence after spending 209 days in presentence custody.
The tribunal was also advised of previous domestic violence offending from 2013 and 2023 –13 offences to which the man had pleaded guilty.
At his hearing, the tribunal was told he pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence in 2023 relating to excessive texts to a police officer.
The officer had contacted him as part of a domestic violence prevention program, but the man began expressing suicidal and homicidal ideations to both the police officer and his children.
At the same court appearance, he pleaded guilty to six counts of breaching bail (domestic violence offence), one of which, the tribunal was told, involved him removing his ankle monitor while living in NSW.
During his offending at his ex-partner’s home, he was registered to work as a provisional psychologist.
Taking all of his criminal actions into account, the Ombudsman argued the man exhibited behaviour substantially below the standard expected of a registered psychologist, even one with as limited experience as him.
The claim extended further, stating his behaviour made him unfit and improper to perform in the profession.
The tribunal noted, while the parties agreed to the facts of the case, the man struggled to “move past (criminal and relationship) issues in any meaningful way” in his submissions.
At the hearing, the self-represented psychologist claimed he was the true victim of family violence and suffered with complex PTSD, although he could not produce any formal evidence of a diagnosis.
He claimed to have healed his alcohol abuse issues; however, a report from a recent psychologist visit indicated he was drinking a bottle of wine every night just two months earlier.
Judge Dearne Firth found the man had exhibited professional misconduct and reprimanded him, noting the serious of his domestic violence crimes.
“The offending was serious and inappropriate; it was conduct likely to have caused fear, and it occurred while children were present in the home,” she said.
“Such conduct is plainly incompatible with the standards expected of a person seeking to practice as a psychologist.”
She said the man had attempted to “minimise his conduct” and continued to “blame others” rather than accept his wrongdoings, noting he had limited insight into the offending to which he had pleaded guilty.
“Psychologists work closely with individuals who are often vulnerable, including those who may have experienced family violence.
“It is therefore imperative that members of the profession comprehend the seriousness of such conduct and the harm it causes.
“As such, the disciplinary response should reflect a commitment to safety, respect, and the highest standards of professional integrity.”
Judge Firth ordered his registration be cancelled and barred him from applying for reinstatement for six months.
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