Frances Amaroux Love Coach reacts to health complaints commission ban

“I don’t recognise any of it” says banned love coach Frances Amaroux after the Health Care Complaints Commission ruled she was a risk to public health and safety.

A defiant Frances Amaroux has slammed the Health Care Complaints Commission’s ruling, banning her from providing any health services.

“I am not taking the direction of people who are evil,” Ms Amaroux said after the recent ruling was made public.

“I don’t recognise any of it. They have no authority over me.”

After being fined $40,000 in October last year and ordered to stop operating for eight weeks, the self-styled ‘poly, kink and tantra’ coach has now been permanently banned from providing any health services in any capacity, either paid or voluntary.

“They tried this on me fifteen years ago,” she said, indicating the commission wants to eliminate competition with psychologists.

Part of the commission’s finding was that Ms Amaroux claims to be a psychologist but does not hold the appropriate registration.

Her website claims she holds a ‘BA Psych’ which Ms Amaroux says is true - she has a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology.

A google search showing her contacts and website still active in June 2022.

She says the allegations against her are “all false” and just “silly stuff” and that she offered to enter a mediation process with the complainant who the commission described as vulnerable.

They made special mention of this in their ruling.

“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.

But Ms Amaroux has made it clear she does not accept the findings and has had a successful 30-year career with countless happy clients along the way.

“I will do what I chose because I have caused no harm.

“I am free to live my life free from any encumbrances.”

One couple who came forward after her initial fine and eight-week ban last year described a disastrous experience with the Bellingen-based therapist.

Inappropriate comment and gesture

They told the Coffs Coast Advocate about 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.

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”.

Author in waiting

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”.

The site also claims that between 1999 and 2002, she conducted a series of workshops called Unleash the Flirt Within! - how to become more playful, succulent, and irresistible - and that over five years in Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Bellingen she facilitated the The Intimacy Circle groups to bring women and men together from diverse communities to explore the complexities of modern day relationships.

On the site she also 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