Psychologist suspended after having ‘personal relationship’ with patient

A Sydney psychologist, who tried to protect the identity of her famous brother-in-law, has had her registration suspended after an affair with a vulnerable client.

A psychologist who tried to keep her identity a secret to protect her famous brother-in-law has had her registration suspended after having a “personal relationship” with one of her patients.

Sydney therapist Julie Ann Catt was handed a 12-month suspension in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Monday after failing in her bid to anonymise her identity to shield her family from “embarrassment and distress”.

Ms Catt is married to the sister of high-profile Australian actor Alex Dimitriades, who starred in the 90s teen series Heartbreak High.

The tribunal refused Ms Catt’s request, saying the concerns for her family were no more important than other medical professionals who faced similar proceedings.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal issued an order on Monday suspending Julie Ann Catt for 12 months. Picture: Supplied

“To have the Tribunal anonymise the name of a practitioner on those grounds would see many of the Tribunal’s decisions anonymised and it would also conceivably lessen the deterrent role of the judgment itself,” the decision said.

“The public has the right to know the identity … so that it can make its own decision as to whether to use her services when she returns to practice.”

Ms Catt began treating the patient in 2009 before the pair began sharing “flirtatious” emails at the end of 2012.

“There’s a saying in the biz: “You do in the room what you do in the world.” And that’s why I have all kinds of complicated feelings about being flirtatious with you,” she wrote in an email in November 2012.

In October 2014, the patient even asked Ms Catt to be referred to a different psychologist, however, she continued to treat the client until about late 2015.

“Shut my therapy with you down because I just can’t. Refer me to somebody you trust,” the patient wrote.

Australian actor Alex Dimitriades 'Heartbreak High' cast member during the 90s. He is not accused of having any direct connection to case or any wrongdoing. Picture: TV Week

Australia actor Alex Dimitriades pictured in December 2023. Picture: Hanna Lassen/Binge

In December 2015, Ms Catt told the patient she had “fallen in love” with her.

“That is a very hard sentence for me to write, because it is laden with questions and ethical problems,” she wrote.

The Health Care Complaints Commission told the tribunal the practitioner engaged in “sexual activity” with the patient from May 2015 to May 2017 with the pair having physical contact at Sydney’s ARQ nightclub and Della Hyde bar on two separate occasions.

“[Ms Catt] failed to maintain proper boundaries and let that escalate to a full-blown emotional affair with the patient. The boundary violations, inappropriate communications and emotional affair lasted many years,” the HCCC stated.

In March 2018 in an email with the now-former patient, Ms Catt acknowledged the rules set out by the Australian Psychological Society which states therapists must not engage in sexual activity with a former client for two years.

“I feel like my decision to connect romantically with you, despite my best (and lame) efforts to manage the timing of it all, has been ethically dodgy … I should have waited until the two years was up before I allowed myself to enter into any dialogue with you,” she wrote in the email.

Ms Catt was originally treating the client for depression. Picture: Supplied

The patient finally ended the relationship via email in March 2019.

At the tribunal, Ms Catt acknowledged the patient was “highly vulnerable” and that it was now “exceedingly obvious” by the end of 2012 she should have referred the client to another therapist.

She said she had the “utmost respect for the Tribunal and its decision” in a statement supplied to news.com.au through her lawyer.

“At a difficult time in my life, I made some questionable decisions and am totally accountable for them. I’ve worked very hard to become a better person over these past several years, and as a result a better therapist,” she added.

In a statement given to the HCCC in 2021, the patient said she had been greatly affected by her former relationship with Ms Catt and said she had “no idea” she was being “retraumatised, rather than loved”.

“I often recoil against sexual, physical or emotional advances from people. I am squeamish about being hugged or touched in a non-sexual way by friends. I have become cut off from intimacy and feel isolated from society,” she said.

Ms Catt’s suspension runs until January 2025 where – if she decides to return to psychology – she will be required to report to supervisor every fortnight, complete an ethics court, and only practice in the presence of another person.

Ms Catt has been contacted for comment.