A married female psychologist has been banned from practicing for a year after having sex with a 'vulnerable' former male patient.

Brooke Ledner, 31, first met the patient at an exclusive rehabilitation centre where she worked at Manly, on Sydney's northern beaches.

She counselled the patient after he began 'self-medicating' with alcohol, ice and GHB addictions over an eight-week program in 2014.

But the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard this week that months after he completed the program, things took a sordid turn – towards showers and sex.

A drunk Ms Ledner began texting and calling the patient late one evening in September, a decision said.

Brooke Ledner, 31, first met the patient at an exclusive rehabilitation centre when she worked at Manly, on Sydney's northern beaches

'I didn't actually realise how serious my actions were at the time' - Ms Ledner later admitted to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal that her judgment had been 'clouded'

The woman was a psychologist working with Kedesh Rehabilitation Services at Manly (, the decision said, when she first met the patient

Weeks later, the pair arranged to meet at a bar for a drink, went for an early-morning swim at Manly Beach, headed back to his apartment, showered together and had sex.

That was the beginning of a three-month sexual relationship where she admitted sending 'a large number of written and picture text messages of a personal and intimate nature'.

The tribunal also heard on one occasion, Ms Ledner texted the patient telling him she thought she had drunk vodka that others had sprinkled with cocaine, although she clarified that it was later revealed to her to have not been the case.

The relationship ended in 'acrimony', with Ms Ledner filing for an apprehended violence order against the patient in January 2015.

He then lodged an official complaint. 'The relationship is unhealthy and has been detrimental to my mental health,' he said.

'I have fallen back into depression and my pain is the worst it has ever been.'

Ms Ledner counselled the patient as he dealt with alcohol, ice and GHB addictions over an eight-week program in 2014

The pair had an early morning swim at the Manly Beach after meeting at a bar (Corso pictured here) before retreating to the patient's apartment to shower and have sex

In April 2015, he said he struggled to go outside during the day due to his social anxiety, the tribunal heard.

He felt the relationship 'changed in that I was playing the role of counsellor and she was the patient..'

'I now realise that she had complete control over me ,' the patient told the tribunal, the decision said.

'As a result of the relationship, I started retreating heavily, withdrew from my Psychology degree, isolated myself from friends and family, stopped seeing my psychologist and thoughts of self-harm.'

The patient said the relationship had deeply and painfully affected his social life.

Because of his anxiety, he said he struggled to leave the house during the daytime, would only walk his dog at abnormal times in the day and did his grocery shopping at 11.30pm to 'minimise social contact'.

The patient claimed he believed his relationship with Ms Ledner had changed in 'that I was playing the role of counsellor', rather than the patient

In response to the complaint, Ms Ledner claimed the patient began to threaten her when she tried to end the relationship. She said wedding and engagement rings had gone missing from her home.

She claimed the patient had told her he would tell her husband about how serious the relationship was, would call her boss, and report her to the Health Complaints Commission.

Ms Ledner admitted her judgment was 'clouded' at the time of the relationship.

'I didn't actually realise how serious my actions were at the time and I was going through a lot of things,' she said.

The Health Care Complaints Commission argued her evidence was at times 'untruthful and at other times she sought to put an inappropriate spin or context on the evidence to suit her position'.

She told the tribunal the relationship had 'occurred at a time of intense personal crisis' in her life and there was no evidence of predatory behaviour.

Ms Lender apologised for her actions.

The tribunal cancelled her registration because her relationship with a former patient was' unacceptable and inexcusable conduct.' It also 'considered' it would never happen again.

Ms Ledner said her judgment was 'clouded' at the time

'She presented as someone who deeply regretted her actions,' the decision said.

'She fell in love with, or was infatuated with Patient A, as her thousands of text messages make clear.

'She, as much as Patient A, pursued the relationship, in circumstances where she knew she was transgressing professional ethical obligations,' it said.

Ms Ledner declined to comment.

Her former and current workplace did not respond to requests for comment. Her profile was scrubbed from one firm's website on Friday.