LOUGHTON: Arts therapist struck off (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LOUGHTON: Arts therapist struck off

11:15am Tuesday 2nd June 2009 in

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AN arts therapist who fell asleep during sessions with patients, swore at them and suggested one take advantage of “unlimited sex” has been struck off.

Derek Gale, who practiced at the Gale Centre, in Whitakers Way, Loughton, also smoked cannabis in front of patients, made a number of them help rebuild his practice, and wrote to one signing himself “daddy”.

The Health Professions Council’s Conduct and Competence Committee has been hearing evidence against Mr Gale since March with four former patients making allegations against him.

Among allegations upheld by the HPC are that he read one patient, JB, a bedtime story while playing with her hair and pinging her bra strap.

During a one-to-one therapy sessions with the same client he told her he was writing a novel in which the main character was a therapist who “Gets f***** in every way” and “gets f***** by the client.”

Mr Gale also admitted he told the patient a fantasy he had of dropping his trousers in front of his ex-wife.

He asked another client, GD, to cut his hair for free, and told other members to help him re-build the Gale Centre.

During the hearing Mr Gale described himself as “A ‘non-mainstream’ practitioner who adopts a confrontational and provocative position in relation to his clients in both individual and group settings”.

The committee heard that Mr Gale often went on holiday with another client, broke another patient’s confidentiality by telling his group she was self-harming, and failed to keep full notes.

Its report summary states: “The Panel has come to the firm view that he has a cavalier attitude towards the needs of clients and the requirement to follow guidelines.

“Mr Gale’s current fitness to practise is impaired because a person who is capable of adopting this attitude represents a significant risk to clients who may come his way, and that there is this risk with some potential clients is not negated by the acknowledged fact that he has helped people.”

Mr Gale has been struck off the HPC’s register.

Speaking to The Guardian after the hearing, one former client, who asked not to be named, said: “It was what we were hoping for. It was a long and difficult case and they did their job admirably.

“I don’t think he’s fully aware of the damage that he does, and it’s a concern. I think we all survive these things but it’s taken a long time to come to terms with the fact and impact it’s had on my life. The HPC verdict has offered a certain amount of closure but it’s a concern that he continues to practice.”