Psychologist equipped with ‘good intentions’ and ‘Judge Judy’ slammed for relationship with married client

A dodgy psychologist says he relied on watching Judge Judy and Perry Mason to help in his battle with VCAT over his relationship with a married client.

Psychologist Marcel Saxone fronted VCAT to face allegations that he transgressed sexual boundaries with a patient. Facebook.

A disgraced psychologist claimed he only had good intentions and a “basic knowledge of law from watching Judge Judy” to guide him through prolonged tribunal hearings after he maintained a relationship with a married client.

Marcel Saxone, 77, has been banned from practising for four years after a married woman reported him to authorities over their relationship, which she said “included numerous descriptions of sexual activity”.

Mr Saxone denied the affair, claiming the woman became “so angered” at him for rebuffing their illicit friendship that she “sought revenge” by telling authorities they were in a sexual relationship over four years to 2017.

“I was touched by her loneliness, isolation and lack of purpose, so I gave with unconditional kindness and compassion, until I was on empty and stopped,” Mr Saxone told the tribunal.

“She then turned on me by reporting (me).”

Mr Saxone maintained the affair with the married woman from 2013 to 2017.

This was refuted by VCAT after 732 emails, phone calls, text messages and evidence of him hosting the woman at his home were presented.

A panel of tribunal members upheld four misconduct allegations against Mr Saxone in late April, before handing down Mr Saxone’s practising ban on December 18.

Mr Saxone wrote to the tribunal that he was “too weary” to attend further hearings, citing that five years had elapsed since his initial suspension in 2018.

In a letter to the tribunal in October 2023, Mr Saxone said his 2018 suspension caused him to lose $400,000 in income, resulting in him being unable to pay for legal representation.

Mr Saxone said he had “no choice” but to represent himself, “equipped with good intentions and a basic knowledge of law through watching American TV shows such as Judge Judy and Perry Mason”.

Mr Saxone accepted that he had breached his professional responsibilities as a psychologist but claimed he was “too vulnerable” and “easily manipulated”.

“One major lesson I have learnt from all this is to direct my kindness and compassion where it belongs … not to a cohort of strangers,” Mr Saxone told the tribunal.

The tribunal slammed Mr Saxone’s “half apologies.”

“We considered Saxone’s half apologies or expressions of understanding of

his failures to be particularly disgraceful,” the tribunal’s report read.

“He started by expressing remorse for shortcomings but then quickly moved to placing blame on his client or on others he treated.

“He then added an assertion about his own kindness and compassion, despite holding the power in the relationship, he cast himself in the role of victim of manipulative clients.”

Mr Saxone’s age and the four year practising ban will likely mean he will never be able to return to the profession.