In a professional discipline proceeding, the panel found professional misconduct based on admitted boundary crossings with a vulnerable former client in an addiction treatment context, including an intimate and sexual relationship shortly after the counselling relationship, receipt of private aftercare fees, and misuse of a protected professional title before registration.
The panel held that the misconduct reflected on current suitability to practise and supported jurisdiction even though some conduct predated registration.
Applying the public-interest approach to joint penalty submissions, the panel accepted a jointly proposed order imposing a reprimand, revocation, a five-year prohibition on re-application, publication, and costs.
The panel emphasized public protection, deterrence, abuse of trust, and the seriousness of title misuse.