A female prison psychologist has admitted having a sexual relationship with a former prisoner jailed for an aggravated burglary.
But despite the fact that there has been ‘professional misconduct’, Caroline Gorman is allowed to continue visiting clients.
Ms Gorman began treating the prisoner in September 2018, assessing him during clinical sessions, including a violence risk assessment, and signing his psychological reports until November 2019, when he was transferred to another prison.
The man was released in October 2020 and contacted Ms Gorman on Facebook the following month, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) heard.
Within two months, in January 2021, they had an “intimate and sexual relationship,” which continues to this day.
Prison psychologist Caroline Gorman (pictured) has admitted having a sexual relationship with a former male prisoner jailed for aggravated burglary
Although VCAT reprimanded Ms Gorman for her behavior on Monday, her registration as a psychologist was not suspended.
The Australian Psychological Society’s (APS) code of ethics says psychologists ‘should not engage in sexual activity with a former client… within two years of the termination of the professional relationship with the former client’.
If a psychologist wants to have a sexual relationship with an ex-patient after two years, he must ‘investigate with a senior psychologist whether the ex-client may be vulnerable and at risk of exploitation’.
They must also ‘encourage the former client to seek independent advice in this regard’, according to the APS code of ethics.
VCAT heard that Ms Gorman breached the code by entering into a sexual relationship 14 months after her patient’s last treatment and also failing to take the required steps before doing so.
Ms Gorman admitted her behavior was ‘wrong’ and apologized, but said her clinical relationship with the prisoner was not ‘extensive or consistent’.
The tribunal was told that no ‘specific harm’ had occurred to the man since their sexual relationship began in January 2021.
The psychologist agreed not to repeat her mistake, said she would adhere to the APS Code of Ethics in the future and stated that “her mistake was a solitary error of judgment and characterless.”
In August 2021, the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) imposed conditions on Ms Gorman’s registration, meaning she could only practice in places approved by the board.”
She also had to be counseled by a registered psychologist on ‘maintaining professional boundaries’.
Ms Gorman complied with the terms – which she said helped her gain “substantial insight into her mistake” – and they were removed in March 2023.
The PBA said that in addition to being reprimanded, Ms Gorman should be suspended for six months and have further conditions imposed on her registration at the end of that period.
But VCAT ruled that suspending Ms Gorman’s registration or imposing new conditions was not necessary, despite there being a ‘power imbalance’ between her and her ex-inmate partner.
‘It is not an equal relationship. Ms. Gorman’s conduct was a boundary violation of a substantial nature, and not a minor or moderate departure from the norms,” Judges Caitlin English, Marian Power and Carolyn Manning said.
“It is a clear violation of the APS code of ethics.”
Ms Gorman began treating the prisoner in September 2018 and assessed him during clinical sessions, including a violence risk assessment. The photo shows a man’s arms sticking through the bars of prison cells
‘It is not in the public interest to suspend Ms Gorman’s registration as this will be disruptive to her patients and inconsistent with facilitating access to services, particularly at a time when demand for services is high and availability and access are low. they added.
The decision also referred to “the high degree of judgment shown by Ms. Gorman and the rehabilitation she has undertaken.”
The court heard that the psychologist and her partner have a “stable, happy and long-term relationship” and that “(her partner) has not been harmed because of her relationship with him.”
Ms Gorman now works for Succoris Psychology in Sunbury, where she ‘focuses on supporting her clients to achieve their goals through a range of therapeutic approaches’.