The woman reported the alleged incident – which the therapist denies – to ACC, the counsellor’s employer and his professional body for investigation.
She allegedly found out he had a history of violent offending after beginning counselling with him.
A sexual abuse survivor says her ACC-funded counsellor responded to an advertisement she made, offering sex work services.
The woman also alleges she was not told of the Southland man’s history of violent offending before beginning therapy with him.
ACC, the therapist’s employer and his professional body confirmed the womanfiled a complaint. His employer said an investigation is under way, but he denies the allegations.
The woman said that about a year into the ACC counselling, she began struggling financially and discussed the option of returning to sex work with her therapist as she had concerns for her mental health.
“I cried so hard, this is a man I fully trusted, I fully put everything into. I’ve been trying to heal so hard.”
Prior to starting with the counsellor last January, she told the Herald she had been waiting for an ACC sensitive claims counsellor for several months.
She said he was the first option she was provided.
When she initially started seeing the therapist, she said she had stopped sex work, but they frequently discussed her prior career in the industry.
On one occasion, she claims he asked her how much of her sex work did she “actually enjoy”.
When she said none of it, she alleges he told her “give me a percentage, though, did you enjoy like 10% or 15%”.
She also told the Herald the sessions were only 15 minutes long.
“I just talked fast, I just thought this must be what they’re normally like.”
She later learnt he had been funded for 60-minute sessions with her through ACC.
ACC system commissioning and performance acting deputy chief executive Chris Ash told the Herald the agency requires counsellors who provide services to kiritaki (clients) to be registered with an appropriate professional body, “to ensure they meet professional and ethical standards, and to undertake a police check”.
“Any adverse findings are treated on a case-by-case basis,” Ash said.
“In this case, the counsellor’s historic[al] offending was disclosed and considered in conjunction with letters of support from his employer and supervisor. We are confident that all information was appropriately considered before the contract was confirmed.”
The agency confirmed it had been funding 60-minute therapy sessions for the woman and is working to find her a new counsellor.
Dapaanz executive director Sam White said the complaint was an employment matter.
“We’ve referred her back to the employer in the first instance.”
The employer would alert Dapaanz if any concerns were raised from their investigation, White said.
“It is his career and we just have to make sure that the allegations are accurate.
“From what I’ve seen, from the stuff the client sent through, it’s one of those he-said-she-said situations.”
When the Herald pointed to the screenshot evidence provided by the woman to back up her main claim, White said there were “a lot of things” that were troubling about the situation.
If some of the allegations were upheld, she would expect it to come through to Dapaanz.
White told the Herald Dapaanz investigated fewer than 10 complaints a year.
The man’s employer said it was investigating the complaint.
“As it is important the investigation process is fair, thorough and respectful of privacy, [the employer] will not comment further at this time.
“If any kiritaki who has made a complaint is unhappy with the process or any conclusion reached, [the employer] will support them to take their complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner for further investigation.”
The counsellor was approached for comment but did not respond.
Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who covers issues including sexual assault, workplace misconduct, media, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020.
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