A Lisbon-area psychologist has been arrested by PJ police on suspicion of repeatedly abusing a teenage patient he was supposed to help.
The man is accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl over more than two years and of sharing pornographic content involving minors.
According to the PJ’s Lisbon and Tagus Valley Directorate, the crimes allegedly took place between April 2022 and June 2024 at a clinic in the Alenquer region.
The victim, now 18, had sought therapy to cope with depression and anxiety stemming from sexual abuse she suffered in childhood. Instead of offering support, investigators say, the therapist took advantage of her fragile emotional state to begin sexual contact during consultations and to exchange illicit images.
The abuse reportedly continued until this past summer, when the suspect allegedly tried to lure the young woman into further encounters. In August, she turned to the PJ for help, the same force that had investigated her earlier case.
Police searched the suspect’s home and clinic before arresting him. He is expected to appear before a judge for questioning and possible pre-trial detention.
The investigation is still ongoing, PJ police add.
