An Australian psychologist charged with indecently assaulting a female patient told a court that forcing her to wear a dog collar and call him master was within ethical guidelines.
Bruce Beaton, 64, has pleaded not guilty in the Western Australia district court in Perth to four charges of sexually assaulting the 22-year-old woman he was treating for bulimia at his clinic in the neighbouring city of Fremantle between January and March 2005.
Mr Beaton told the court he had resorted to drastic treatment because gentle methods were not working.
He said he thought role-playing a dominant/submissive relationship would help build a more trusting relationship so he made her wear a dog collar and call him master, and he cracked a whip in treatment sessions.
He said such treatment was allowed by the country's largest professional association for psychologists, the Australian Psychological Society. "It is right within the ethical guidelines."
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