A NSW psychologist has been permanently banned from counselling after he engaged in bestiality with a client.
Gareth Michael Dawes sent numerous emails to a client in 2011 and 2012 encouraging them to engage in sexual acts with a dog before carrying out the fantasy with the same client at another man's home.
Dawes has been banned from providing counselling and mental health services in NSW, with the Civil and Administrative Tribunal declaring they would have cancelled his registration were he still practising as a psychologist.
"Even if the conduct was not in this extreme category the tribunal would not be satisfied that any other order ... would protect the public (or) maintain the standards in the profession," the tribunal said.
Dawes does not deny having sexual contact with his client at his offices in Penrith and Parramatta, and outdoors.
The tribunal heard of numerous email exchanges starting in early December 2011 where Dawes detailed his intense interest in observing his client, who had a history of attachment trauma, abuse and sexual abuse, engaging in sexual intercourse with a "huge dog".
He also sent her music, including the song Daddy by Korn, which details the experience of being molested as a child and not believed.
The client was highly distressed at receiving the song.
Of particular concern to the tribunal was an April 2012 incident where the client contacted Dawes to tell him a friend of her partner died in a drug incident.
After sending him emails using phrases such as "the pain is enough to make you want to kill yourself" and "I have so much guilt", Dawes initially responded with messages of support before returning to the subject of dogs.
The tribunal also heard of an email exchange about photos Dawes had taken of the client engaging in intercourse with a dog, as well as detailing plans for a further encounter with a husky after contact with the owner was made.
In another email he said he wanted them to engage in sexual activity with "... as many dogs as we can imagine".
The tribunal heard he also made arrangements for them to meet with a dog, a Staffordshire terrier or pit-bull cross named "Vladamir".
But the encounter ended after the client "freaked out" when the dog kept scratching her.
Dawes is permanently banned from providing community health services, mental health services and health education services in NSW, and cannot register as a psychologist for another decade.
