TV sex coach who uses ‘touch’ in therapy sued in civil court for rape

A TV sex coach who uses “touch” in his therapy sessions is being sued for rape by a former client.

Michael Lousada, 57, who charges hundreds of pounds for sessions and once appeared on ITV’s This Morning, is accused of assaulting child sexual abuse survivor Ella Janneh, 37, in a civil claim.

The High Court is due to hear that during a £750 session, he “sexually assaulted and raped” her, allegedly telling her his penis was “like a laser beam” that could “burn up trauma”.

The former investment banker turned “sex coach and sex educator” denies the allegations, claiming that it was a consensual encounter and a reasonable treatment for her issues.

Sought therapy

His defence case, seen by the Sunday Times, states that he “has worked with approximately 1,000 separate clients (and several thousand appointments) over the years, with approximately 30 to 40 of whom he has engaged in penile penetration”.

Ms Janneh, who has waived her right to anonymity, sought therapy to treat panic attacks she experienced during consensual sex and was seen by Mr Lousada at his clinic in north London in August 2016.

During the session, it is alleged that he touched, massaged and penetrated her with his penis. In her claim, she alleges that she “began to cry as she relived her child sexual abuse” and felt the onset of a panic attack.

She says that she would not have attended the session if she knew that there would be sexual touching involved.

‘Sexual healer’

Mr Lousada, who has been featured in magazines including Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health and a book by American feminist Naomi Woolf, says in his defence that he “worked as a sexual healer rather than a traditional psychotherapist” and Ms Janneh would have been aware of what the session entailed.

He claims in his defence that he asked her at each point that he made or changed contact whether it was OK to touch her and if she wanted him to continue and got a clear “yes” in response to each question.

Mr Lousada says that he explained he was trying to evoke an emotional response and help her release childhood trauma “stored in her body at a cellular level”.

He admits not wearing a condom during the “penile penetration element of the session” but says that he undergoes regular sexual health checks to protect his clients.

Civil trial

Ms Janneh reported her allegations to the Metropolitan Police, but the Crown Prosecution Service informed her in May 2018 it would not be pursuing a criminal trial.

A six-day civil trial is due to start at the High Court on Friday which will hear her claims for assault, including rape, and negligence against Michael Lousada and Anteros Books Ltd, a company where Mr Lousada was a director.

Ms Janner also argues that the assault was a negligent breach of the duty of care owed to her by a therapist and she is calling for more regulation of the profession.

When contacted by the Daily Telegraph, Mr Lousada said: “I am advised by my lawyers that it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage. My case is set out in the court papers and I will give evidence to the court.”