Frances Amaroux, Bellingen based love coach permanently banned

After last year being fined and ordered to stop operating for eight weeks, self-styled ‘love coach’ Frances Amaroux has now been permanently banned. See why:

After being fined last year and ordered to stop operating for eight weeks, self-styled ‘love coach’ Frances Amaroux has now been permanently banned.

In October the Bellingen-based practitioner, whose services include intimacy coaching and heart-wall clearing, was prosecuted for failing to respond to formal requests for information and documents required by the Health Care Complaints Commission.

The request was part of the Commission’s management of a complaint about Amaroux’s treatment and conduct.

The commission requires that any health practitioner should assist its inquiries unless they have a reasonable excuse not to.

The self styled ‘poly, kink and tantra’ coach failed to respond on four separate occasions and on October 26 was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for each offence – a total penalty of $40,000.

The commission also placed an interim prohibition that she must not, under any circumstances provide, or cause to be provided, any health services, either in paid employment or voluntarily, to any member of the public.

This prohibition has been extended and this week the commission ruled she be permanently prohibited from providing any health services in any capacity, either paid employment or voluntary.

The Commission’s ongoing investigation found Amaroux failed to provide a health service in a safe and ethical manner, engaged in dishonest conduct when treating a vulnerable patient, and employed treatment methods which failed to meet the needs of the patient.

According to the commission Amaroux also claimed to be a psychologist.

The Commission found the self styled love coach - who is currently working on a book called Succulent Singles - does not hold registration as a psychologist and failed to assist in its investigation.

Despite this, her website still claims she holds a ‘BA Psych’ and several other qualifications.

“The Commission is of the opinion that Ms Amaroux presents a risk to public health and safety in that vulnerable members of the public suffering from mental health conditions, who may be at risk of exploitation, may engage Ms Amaroux for counselling services and rely on the advice given by her, which may be detrimental to their mental health,” a statement from the commission outlined.

Young couple shocked by inappropriate comment and gesture

When the details came out about her fine and eight-week ban last year, a young couple came forward to share their disastrous experience with the Coffs Coast Advocate, telling of an inappropriate comment and gesture that left them shocked and angered.

In late 2020 Jai Stephens and Sandra Shlemon took the bold step of contacting her for help with their relationship.

“We’re both students, so it was a fair bit for us and we had to go without certain things, but we were trying to do the right thing and not just walk away,” Jai said at the time.

“We love each other so we thought ‘let’s sort it out’.”

He said they spent just over $500 in three joint sessions and two individual sessions, but it was not about the money for him.

“There were a few alarm bells - she spoke about dark entities and things like that but the first few sessions were pretty tame,” Mr Stephens said.

But it was an inappropriate comment and subsequent gesture that left them shocked and angered.

“She said something about my partner being smarter than me and it wasn’t going to work; and that she might meet somebody smarter,” he said.

He said Amaroux then made an inappropriate comment “and then she kind of looked down at herself and kind of gestured”.

Mr Stephens said it wasn’t until later after the shock of the incident passed and anger set in that he tried to contact Ms Amaroux to complain.

“She said I would have to come back and make another appointment but that would be like complaining about a ride at Movie World but you have to go back and pay to go on the ride again to make a complaint,” he said.

After being fined last year and ordered to stop operating for eight weeks, self-styled ‘love coach’ Frances Amaroux has now been permanently banned.

Love coach website still active

Amaroux was contacted for comment in relation to this latest development, via the number on her website which remains active but has not returned the call.

Amaroux’s website says she offers a range of coaching programs including conscious dating and couples retreats and also specialises in working with people from alternative communities including “poly, kink and tantra”.

On the site she describes herself as an ‘author in waiting’ currently working on four books:

1. Succulent Singles - the relationships you might be having when you‘re not in a relationship

2. Invisible Prison - escaping the old Masculinity

3. Woman Whisperer - how to deeply understand your woman

4. The Marriage Manual