Berkeley Vale therapist Marcus Ferguson banned from counselling women
A self-styled Shaman, personal trainer, martial artist and counsellor has been banned from ever treating women again. Here’s why.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A self-styled counsellor at Berkeley Vale has been slapped with a “permanent prohibition order” after he had sex with an elderly client.
The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) investigated a number of complaints about the conduct of unregistered health practitioner Marcus Ferguson who runs “Heart Mind Spirit Therapies” from his home on Lakedge Drive.
The investigation found that during the course of his counselling sessions with an elderly female client Ferguson had sex with her on two occassions in May 2017.
The investigation found Ferguson breached Clause 13(1) of the Code of Conduct for unregistered health practitioners — Schedule 3, Public Health Regulation 2012 — which states “a health practitioner must not engage in a sexual or other close personal relationship with a client”.
The Commission was satisfied Ferguson “poses a risk to the health and safety of members of the public” because of the client’s vulnerability and the gross breach of trust displayed by him.
The Commission has made a prohibition order that Ferguson must not provide health services, either in paid employment or voluntarily, to any female or couple (married or de facto) which includes any female.
The Commission has further ordered that Ferguson must obtain written informed consent from any male person for whom he offers shamanic healing or training.
He also has to abide by the Code of Conduct made under Schedule 3 of the Public Health Regulation 2012 and ensure it is on public display in his counselling practice.
In a statement the Commission said it would not outline the details of its finding publicly because it contained “sensitive and personal information” about one or more of his clients.
Ferguson told the Express Advocate while he did not agree with everything in the HCCC findings, he acknowledged his mistake.
“I crossed the line and made a mistake and now I’m paying for it,” he said.
“I’m not appealing (the orders), as far as I’m concerned it’s over and I’m going to continue my practice in accordance with the prohibition order.”
On his website Ferguson states he holds an Honours degree in psychology, as well as degrees in physics and exercise science.
Ferguson also states he holds diplomas in “counselling and shamanic practice, multiple certifications in NLP and hypnosis, and has trained in gestalt therapy, bioenergetics, and multiple approaches to counselling, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, solution-focused counselling and narrative therapy”
“I am studying the most current, scientific end of the psychotherapy world — having recently completed an Honours degree in psychology,” Ferguson states on his website.
“I am also studying the most ancient healing traditions on earth, through Shamanism — in which I hold a diploma and an advanced diploma, and have completed an apprenceship (sic) culminating in initiation as a shaman.”