Iowa Counselor Suspended for Unethical Relationships with Clients
A mental health counselor in Cedar Falls, Iowa, has agreed to a license suspension and probation period after being accused of violating ethical guidelines by engaging in inappropriate relationships with multiple clients and their families.
The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals charged Kayla Reisinger with failing to comply with the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics. The charges include entering into relationships with current clients, their romantic partners, or family members, and engaging in conduct that created a risk of exploitation or harm. Specifically, the board alleges Reisinger attempted to gain legal custody of a minor client after counseling services were terminated, contacting the child outside of business hours and making plans to house them.
Further allegations detail Reisinger fostering a client’s cat and communicating via Snapchat, providing therapy to a client’s child – specifically Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – despite acknowledging it was “against best practice,” and facilitating a dating relationship between two clients. During a therapy session of her own, Reisinger reportedly disclosed a relationship with the caregiver of another minor client and assisting that client with purchasing a prom dress. Maintaining appropriate boundaries between therapists and clients is crucial for effective and ethical treatment; violations can severely damage a patient’s well-being and trust in the profession. You can learn more about ethical boundaries in therapy from the American Psychological Association.
As a result of the charges, Reisinger will serve a six-month license suspension, followed by a 36-month probationary period. The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals was unable to reach Reisinger for comment regarding the allegations.
