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

Derek Gale, 59, of Loughton, Essex, also smoked cannabis in front of patients, and wrote to one signing himself “Daddy”.

He was removed from the Health Professions Council register yesterday after a committee ruled that his “cavalier” behaviour constituted misconduct.

During the hearing Gale described himself as a non-mainstream practitioner who adopted a confrontational and provocative position in relation to his clients.

The council’s conduct and competence committee was told that Gale often went on holiday with one client, broke another’s confidentiality by telling a group that she was self-harming, and failed to keep full notes.

Campaigners complained that despite the ban, Gale could continue to practise as a psychotherapist or counsellor under loopholes in legislation.

Paul Farmer, the chief executive of Mind, the mental health charity, said: “At the moment, anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist or counsellor and begin treating patients without any formal training, or sticking to any code of conduct whatsoever.

“Even when a therapist is struck off the register for one therapy, there is nothing to stop them from applying to practise under a different register, or practising under no register at all.

“Derek Gale has been legally banned from practising as an arts therapist after years of abuse towards vulnerable patients in his care, yet under current rules there is nothing to stop him from continuing practising as a counsellor or psychotherapist.”

In a statement also endorsed by Witness, which supports victims of abuse, Mr Farmer added: “The Government has announced that it plans to bring psychotherapists and counsellors under state regulation, making it mandatory for these practitioners to be on one main register.

“We urge the Government to forge ahead with these plans in order to give patients the protection that they deserve.”

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