Award-winning Victorian psychologist Mohammad Yousuf has been prohibited from practising for six years after having sex with two vulnerable clients and advising a third where to self-harm to keep the scars hidden.
Yousuf also admitted disclosing confidential information about other patients and grooming one client into taking a job at the clinic where she was receiving treatment.
The misconduct occurred between March 2021 and January 2022, while Yousuf, who was married, worked at his parents’ medical practice in Gippsland.
In 2021, he received a Rising Star Award at the Victorian Rural Health Awards. However, an article celebrating the honour has since been removed from the Gippsland Public Health Network website.
His registration was suspended after the allegations emerged and was later surrendered. The Psychology Board of Australia subsequently brought the matter before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Yousuf now works in human resources for a government department in Canberra.
During treatment sessions with a client identified as YFX, Yousuf raised the possibility of an open relationship and directed her to websites featuring sexual “kink”, the tribunal heard.
He also speculated about how his wife might respond if she discovered him visiting such a website.
Award-winning Victorian psychologist Mohammad Yousuf has been banned for six years after having sex with two vulnerable clients under his care
Yousuf encouraged YFX to wear a bikini and urged her to apply for a peer support worker position at the clinic where she was being treated. She was later hired, the tribunal heard.
After her treatment ended, he engaged in sexual activity with her three times between September and November 2021—at her home, in her car and at his home.
On August 30, 2021, Yousuf sent YFX messages describing sexual fantasies involving his sister-in-law. The following day, he asked her to delete the messages, saying he could “get in trouble with the Board”.
Three days later, he told her his wife had left him, that he was suicidal and that he had “nothing good in his life”. He also said they could not be friends for two years because of ethical concerns.
He suggested they meet secretly, provided his home address and warned that they should not use the messaging app because other people “may see the messages”, the tribunal was told.
A second client, identified as NUJ, attended treatment between August 2021 and January 2022. During their sessions, Yousuf gave her his personal email address and Snapchat username.
NUJ said Yousuf told her he had entered an arranged marriage because he wanted to have sex, explaining that, as a Muslim, he could not have sex unless he was married.
He also told her that he “liked to please women”. After her treatment concluded, he had sex with her on five occasions, the tribunal heard.
Mohammad Yousuf advised a third client where to self-harm so the scars would not be visible and has been barred from practising psychology for six years
A third client, identified as IDV, was being treated for depression between June and November 2021. Despite her refusal, Yousuf encouraged her to resume using marijuana.
When IDV spoke about self-harm, Yousuf showed her where on her body she could do it “so people won’t be able to see the scars”, the tribunal heard.
The tribunal also found he disclosed confidential information about other patients without permission, including that one had an eating disorder and an Asperger’s diagnosis, and that he had arranged a job for another client.
Yousuf did not attend the hearing and did not contest the allegations, instead submitting an agreed statement admitting all 12 counts of professional misconduct.
He was reprimanded, disqualified from applying for registration until August 2031 and prohibited from providing any mental health, psychological or counselling services in any capacity, as an employee, contractor, manager or volunteer, until he is re-registered.
The misconduct came to light after notifications to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in April and May 2022.
Yousuf surrendered his registration in November 2023 rather than face discipline.
Yousuf declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail but said: ‘That’s fine’ when told a story would be appearing about the tribunal’s findings.
His parents, who still practise as widely respected rural doctors and are not accused of any wrongdoing, did not respond to requests for comment.