Counsellor had sex with female clients

A counsellor who has been working in Auckland for more than a decade has admitted to having sex with clients who had been previously sexually abused.

Geoffrey Mogridge, who advertises as a life-path counsellor and promises to "improve physical and emotional health", told the Herald on Sunday that he had sexual affairs with two women who had come to him for help during therapy sessions they paid for.

One of the women and her husband - a senior Auckland medical professional - last week laid a complaint with the Health and Disability Commissioner, alleging "sexual misconduct" that was "highly unprofessional, immoral and unethical". Mr Mogridge said everything that took place was consensual.

The complainants expected the case to be passed to the Human Rights Tribunal, as Mr Mogridge was not registered as a medical practitioner and did not hold any officially recognised qualifications.

He was not understood to be affiliated with any registered natural therapy organisation.

Mr Mogridge works from his Hillcrest home, and advertises his service using photocopied flyers. Clients knew him only as Geoffrey and paid cash.

He said he relied on his life experience, rather than training.

Both women had been raped - one just weeks earlier - and went to Mr Mogridge in 2003 expecting numerology readings, counselling and meditation classes to help them deal with the sexual abuse.

After a few sessions, he had sex with them. One sexual relationship lasted two months, the other nine.

The women said they were embarrassed, and felt stupid and naive for consenting. They hoped he would be banned from practicing.

Mr Mogridge admitted to the Herald on Sunday that there had been "sexual experimentation" with them and another woman but disputed the women's claims that there were others.

He had been in New Zealand for more than 11 years and before that worked in Australia.

A letter obtained by the Herald on Sunday, written by Mr Mogridge to the husband who complained of the sexual relationship the healer had with his wife, said he fled that country because of credit-card debt. Other letters contained details of his "affairs". "Many of my girlfriends had been clients... yes that involved sexual experimentation.

"I am not proud for what I have done and the [effects] that has had on many lives. What I thought of as innocent flirtations I no longer see that way."

Acting commissioner Tania Thomas said the HDC had accepted complaints about "healers" in the past.

"If a person is making themselves out to be a healer, to help heal mind, body or emotional well-being, those sorts of things - then we would look closely at our Act. But that only works if the person is part of a registered authority."

It would be six weeks before the complainants received an official response.