Therapist Cleared to Challenge Disciplinary Ruling Over Relationship with Former Patient

A seasoned UK psychotherapist who entered a romantic relationship with a former patient shortly after therapy ended has successfully challenged disciplinary action taken against him by his professional body.Neale Haddon, a psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience, faced professional misconduct charges after the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) ruled that he had breached ethical standards. The charges stemmed from a six-month relationship he began with a woman he had treated for a driving phobia.According to reports, the former patient had shown romantic interest during therapy, even asking Haddon if he found her attractive. While Haddon initially declined her invitation for a drink after therapy ended, he agreed to meet her 10 days later. Their relationship soon became intimate, including encounters at her home and once in his car, and involved the exchange of explicit messages between December 2019 and June 2020.UKCP deemed the timing of the relationship inappropriate, stating that Haddon failed to maintain a sufficient boundary between his professional and personal life. As a result, he was found guilty of “serious misconduct” and was removed from the UKCP register.Haddon appealed the decision in the High Court, arguing that the relationship only began after the professional therapeutic relationship had formally ended and that the client had shown clear signs of recovery, particularly by overcoming her fear of driving in high-traffic conditions.Deputy Judge Rory Dunlop agreed that Haddon had not allowed enough time to pass before entering into a personal relationship, calling the 10-day gap “plainly not enough to ensure proper closure.” However, the judge also found that the disciplinary panel had shown bias in handling the case, particularly after hearing Haddon’s oral testimony.“The panel took against the claimant and failed to fairly balance their impression of him with the full body of evidence,” the judge concluded.The case will now be reviewed by a new disciplinary panel. The reassessment will determine whether Haddon’s sanction will be upheld, reduced, or overturned entirely.