Psychology Licensing Board Disciplinary Actions

1
Psychology Licensing Board Disciplinary
Actions
The Realities
Barbara A. Van Horne, MBA, Ph.D. APA Convention
August 2005
Published in Professional Psychology Research
and Practice, 2004, Vol. 35, No. 2, 170-178
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Survey of ASPPB member boards of disciplinary
complaints against psychologists and psychology
licensing board actions from 1996-2001

• 37 jurisdictions responded tho data incomplete
  (61 of ASPPB Member Boards)
• 58 to 69 of all licenses in US Canada

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Number of Complaints Filed

• Complaints filed against approximately 2 of
  licenses
• Given the wide variation in procedures for
  processing complaints, consistency is notable

4
Complaint Data
5
Screening of Complaints
6
Actions Not Reported to DDS
7
Disciplinary Actions Not Reported to ASPPB
Disciplinary Data System
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Actions Reported to the ASPPB Disciplinary Data
System
Total of number of licensees reported by ASPPB
member jurisdictions in the Handbook of Licensing
and Certification Requirements for Psychologists
in North America (ASPPB, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
2000a, 2001).
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Disciplinary Actions Reported to the ASPPB
Disciplinary Data System by Member Boards

• August 1983 - January 2005 Total 3303
• Total in Summary of top 10 2,762
• Difference between Total and Summary result of
  some jurisdictions not reporting reasons or the
  reason reported does not fall into one of Top 10
  categories
• 2000 to 2005 768 reported actions

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REPORTED DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS August 1983 -
January 2005

• Sexual/Dual Relationship with patient 842
  30.49
• Unprofessional/unethical/negligent prac 823
  29.80
• Conviction of crimes 252 9.12
• Fraudulent acts 173 6.26
• Improper/inadequate record keeping 148 5.36
• Breach of confidentiality 124 4.49
• Inadequate or improper supervision 121 4.38
• Failure to comply with CE requirements 121 4.38
• Impairment 108 3.91
• Fraud in application for license 50 1.81
• TOTAL 2,762 100

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Recommendations

• Adequate and accurate data collection is
  essential within jurisdictions and by ASPPB
• More complete data on violations can inform on
  needed continuing education and/or training in
  preparation for licensure

12
Recommendations

• Increase awareness and understanding of the
  vulnerability to impairment, such as those by the
  APA Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance,
  further the goals of prevention and appropriate
  intervention
• Opportunities for supervision, collaboration,
  mentoring, and consultation reduce isolation and
  increase awareness
• Encourage mentoring/collaboration/consultation
• Supervision, training, and CE influence attention
  to ethical behavior

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Licensing Board BluesFact or Fiction?

• FACT Very few psychologists are found in
  violation
• Conclusion Self-assessment and awareness of the
  risk of misconduct is critical
• It is good for psychology to be
• attentive to consumer protection