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Psychologist referred to tribunal over Universal Medicine cult recruitment claims

27h

Summary

  • The Psychology Board has referred psychologist Cynthia Hickman to a tribunal after a former client accused her of drawing her into Universal Medicine.
  • AHPRA had placed conditions on Hickman's practice; she has not responded to the allegations.
  • Former client "Helen" says Hickman directed her to "esoteric breast massage" and alternative treatments costing about $35,000 over three years.
  • Universal Medicine leader Serge Benhayon was found by a NSW jury to have led a socially dangerous, sexually manipulative cult.
  • Medical advocates led by Professor John Dwyer call for deregistering about 40 registered Australian health professionals who follow the cult.

Reactions

  • Professor John Dwyer says health professionals promoting Universal Medicine are not fit to be registered and AHPRA has done little to rein them in.
  • Professor John Dwyer believes anything short of deregistration will fail to address the risk to patients.
  • Helen says Hickman groomed her into an exploitative cult and called her past-life abuse claim morally reprehensible.
  • Helen says she spoke out to protect vulnerable people and hold practitioners who carry regulators' imprimatur to account.

Timeline newest first

  1. The Psychology Board referred psychologist Cynthia Hickman to a tribunal over allegations she drew a client into Universal Medicine.
  2. Helen says Cynthia Hickman told her in a late 2009 session she had been sexually abused because she abused others in a past life.
  3. Helen says Hickman directed her to "esoteric breast massage" by Serryn O'Regan and further treatments costing about $35,000 over three years.

Sources newest first

  • Registered psychologist accused of recruiting for Universal Medicine cultabc.net.au· 27h

    Background Briefing's The Unbreakable Cult podcast reports that psychologist Cynthia Hickman is accused by a former client, "Helen," of drawing her into Serge Benhayon's Universal Medicine cult through therapy, "esoteric breast massage," and years of alternative treatments costing some $35,000. The Psychology Board has referred Hickman to a tribunal, though she denies nothing in her silence and AHPRA had placed conditions on her practice.