Byron Bay woman ‘liked’ on dating app by her psychologist

A Byron Bay woman has shared her disgust over her psychologist messaging her on a dating app then threatening to sue her after she discussed it online.

A woman has blasted her psychologist after he messaged her on a dating app claiming not to recognise her. Picture: Instagram

A vulnerable young woman has accused her psychologist of being “grossly inappropriate” after he messaged her on a dating app claiming not to recognise her.

The young Byron Bay woman had no idea who the man was when she swiped right on his Hinge dating profile, but said after matching with him realised it was actually her psychologist.

He “liked” a photo of her wearing swimwear at the beach before sending a message that read: “Hey, I feel like we’ve matched before”.

She claims that after she responded saying, “aren’t you my psych?”, he attempted to continue the conversation by claiming he had forgotten who she was due to his expansive client base.

“Oh, that’s why you look familiar – sorry – I deal with lots of clients and it’s hard to keep up. How have you been?” he wrote.

The woman, feeling “incredibly violated”, ceased responding, knowing the man knew “deeply personal things about my past” and had “access to my personal information such as number [and] address”.

A woman has blasted her psychologist after he messaged her on a dating app claiming not to recognise her. Picture: Instagram

The woman had no idea who he was at first. Picture: Instagram

The feeling of violation continued after she shared her experience in a Facebook group, only for her post to be later “leaked” to the psychologist.

“I posted in a private, closed women’s Facebook group asking for advice, to which the general consensus was to report to AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). The post was then leaked to the psychologist, who threatened to sue me,” she said in a Instagram post on Wednesday.

The woman was further upset by media coverage on Wednesday which she said “left out a number of important details, like how he threatened me”.

She also shared screenshots of direct messages sent by the psychologist after he became aware that she had been discussing their interaction on social media.

In a message sent to her via Instagram on Saturday, he warned that she would be hearing from his lawyer “over the next week or so” to pursue her for “defamation”.

The woman was threatened with legal action by the psychologist after he became aware she had been discussing their interaction on social media. Picture: Instagram

She wrote back questioning the validity of his defamation threat, and accused him of being “grossly inappropriate” and violating ethical codes.

“You’re not allowed to approach me in public let alone instigate contact on a dating app. Even after I said ‘aren’t you my psych?’, you still tried to continue the conversation knowing full well my status as a patient of yours,” her message read.

He responded claiming his initial contact on the dating app was completely innocent.

“I genuinely did not know that you were a client before you told me. I’m sure you can appreciate that I see a lot of clients and it’s been months since you had a session,” he said.

The psychologist accused the woman of slander. Picture: Instagram

He claimed to not have recognised her. Picture: Instagram

It’s understood the woman’s complaint will be handled by the Health Care Complaints Commission. Picture: Instagram

The woman said she was unimpressed with his response.

“I’m not afraid of whatever legal action he may take because I’ve spoken the truth,” she wrote.

“His clients, by nature, are vulnerable people.”

News.com.au understands the woman’s complaint will be handled by the Health Care Complaints Comission (HCCC), which investigates matters involving practitioners in NSW.