Counselling organised for pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale by the Catholic Church amounted to treating him for anxiety, which disappeared when he realised he would not face criminal charges.

Ridsdale was sent to a psychiatrist in 1975 after an abuse complaint was made against him.

Counsel assisting the child abuse royal commission Gail Furness SC said psychiatrist Peter Evans had three or four sessions with Ridsdale, who denied the allegation.

Dr Evans will tell the commission he made no judgment on whether Ridsdale was guilty, Ms Furness said.

"He simply treated him by allaying his anxiety pending the outcome of police investigations," she said on Monday.

"He is expected to give evidence that the realisation that no charges would be laid against him caused a marked relief in Ridsdale's anxiety symptoms."

Ms Furness said Dr Evans would say he did not give anyone an opinion about Ridsdale's suitability for the priesthood after the sessions.

The commission has heard that Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns knew in 1975 Ridsdale had abused boys, but moved him between parishes and did not suspend his priestly faculties until 13 years later.

Ridsdale is in jail for abusing 53 children but the Ballarat diocese has 78 child sex abuse claims against him.