Updates:
In the fall of 2023, I contacted the Department of Health (DOH) to request a review of my case, seeking an alternative path to reinstatement due to the challenges presented by the original order (details below). The DOH reviewed my case and provided me with a revised set of requirements for reinstatement. I met those requirements, and I am thrilled to announce that my license was reinstated on July 17, 2024.
At this time, I am not reopening my private therapy practice and am exploring other opportunities within the field.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the friends and family members who have supported me throughout this process. Most especially, I want to thank my partner, who has been deeply involved in this journey, and for whom I am grateful to still be happily together.
Original Post:
I am including some personal information to provide more details regarding the closure of my practice. I think it is important to share some facts publicly that may not be known in a google search and to have a platform to share my experience. I am aware that many people reading this may be former clients who may have searched my name and learned that my license has been suspended. I can only imagine the shock this might have caused you. You may have questions, fears and concerns. My hope is that the information that I share is helpful as you process your own emotions regarding my license suspension.
In 2018 I went through a contentious divorce that included what were to become supported allegations of domestic violence against my ex-husband. It was a very difficult time for me, and particularly for my children, who spent several days in state custody as a result of their father’s abuse.
My license was indefinitely suspended because I engaged in a romantic relationship with a former client. We terminated treatment prior to beginning our relationship but began dating within the timeframe that the ethical guidelines do not allow. An individual who supported my husband during the divorce and CPS investigation submitted a complaint to the Washington State Department of Health regarding this relationship, which resulted in my license suspension.
I ultimately chose to not pursue reinstatement of my license. In order to have my license reinstated, the Department of Health ordered that I undergo an evaluation with a “physician health program” located in Kansas and fulfill any and all recommendations resulting from the assessment. After completing the assessment the group recommended that I attend their intensive outpatient program located on their campus in Kansas. I could not imagine moving my children out of state for an indefinite period of time while I completed their treatment program with no ability to work and no guarantee that my license would be reinstated. As such, I have decided to not pursue reinstatement at this time. If you are curious about “physician health programs” and how they have impacted thousands of providers across the US, you can find articles detailing them here:
http://www.lilawseattle.com/phps/
I continue to be in a relationship with my former client and I should note we are incredibly happy. My children are thriving. I am at a place of acceptance that I can no longer practice as a licensed psychologist and am pursuing new opportunities. I am using this experience as a chance for self-reflection, growth, understanding and compassion toward myself and those around me.
Thank you for reading. It was my honor to serve my community in the capacity of my career. I wish much love, hope and healing to all.
Even when the sky appears at it darkest, know that the sun shines ever upon you, that love surrounds you, and that the pure light within you will guide your way home. So trust the process of your life unfolding, and know with certainty, through the peaks and valleys of your journey, that your soul remains safe and secure in the arms of spirit.
~Dan Millman
With love,
Lynette
July 2022: An associate of my ex-husband threatened to “report” me to a governmental agency if I did not remove this page and disclose publicly my past and current work positions, and stated that I needed to “prepare [myself] and protect [my] children” when this happens. This is coercion, a gross misdemeanor in Washington State. I will continue to keep this page up and my private life private.
April 2022: An associate of my ex-husband left a troll-like comment on a talk posted to YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsDT8FiR8ME&t=7s). The comment was tagged as harassment and immediately removed.
January 2022: I received a template Cease and Desist letter from my ex-husband demanding that I remove this section from my website or “a defamation of character lawsuit will be commenced” against me. No such lawsuit was entered, perhaps because my ex could not find a lawyer to represent him given that he has an entered DVPO against him. I continue to keep this post live.
There was a period in my life when I did not believe that I was a victim of domestic violence. It took me years to understand that DV is not just physical abuse but a pattern of controlling and abusive behavior. Learn more about DV here: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse
If you or someone you love is experiencing DV, there is help. Call or chat confidentially at The National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/