A 77-year-old therapist in the United Kingdom was sentenced to 11 years in prison after convincing a female client to have sex with him as part of what he described as a form of therapy.

According to the Daily Mail, Gordon Peck, a psychologist from Brighton, exploited his position as a therapist to sexually abuse a woman who had trusted him to help her deal with depression and physical pain.

The report states that the victim sought his help after seeing advertisements presenting him as a “private body and energy therapist.” However, during their first appointment, Peck told her that skin-to-skin contact was necessary to restore her health. He claimed that sexual penetration and intimate contact with different parts of his body would be the only way to relieve the trauma she had carried since childhood.

The 77-year-old therapist was charged and convicted on five counts of sexual assault and received an 11-year prison sentence. It also emerged that he had lost the right to practice his profession as far back as 1980.

Need for boundaries in therapist–patient relationships

Police praised the strength and courage of the victim, which helped secure Peck’s conviction, and stressed the importance of maintaining clear ethical boundaries in therapeutic relationships.

A spokesperson for the authorities said:
“The bravery and determination of the victim were crucial in securing the conviction for serious sexual assaults committed by a therapist against his client. Her strength ensured accountability and highlighted the importance of maintaining clear ethical boundaries in therapeutic relationships.”

Authorities also noted that the victim’s resilience throughout the legal process was essential in bringing the truth to light. Her willingness to speak out has helped raise awareness across healthcare services, ensuring that similar reports are recognized and handled more effectively in the future.