BishopAccountability.org
	Accusations Vs. Counselor: Sex and Money By Paul E. Kostyu Canton Repository [Columbus OH] July 27, 2005 COLUMBUS — Sex and money. That's the crux of the accusations that could cost Dennis Bliss his counseling license in Ohio. The Plain Township man was fired by Nova Behavioral Health after he was accused of inappropriate behavior and relationships with clients. Nova is losing millions in tax funding because the Stark County Community Mental Health Board concluded Nova didn't do enough to protect its clients from Bliss. Now Bliss faces the loss of his license amidst accusations that he engaged in oral sex, made threats to keep clients quiet and filed falsified bills for counseling. Bliss said Tuesday the accusations are false and he wants a hearing to prove it. The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist Board notified Bliss of the charges in a letter sent Friday. He has 30 days to request a hearing. He faces revocation or suspension of his license or other disciplinary action. Bliss, a suspended Catholic priest, said he is out of work and has applied for unemployment benefits. He is accused of 11 violations of the administrative code, which are contained in six charges. They are: • Sexual contact, including but not limited to intercourse and oral sex, with a client of Nova Behavioral Health in Canton. He also is accused of taking that client to dinner several times and to a medical appointment. The state says he threatened the client to prevent her from reporting the relationship. • Sexual contact, including oral sex, with a second client of Nova, whom he met for drinks at a bar and took to dinner. The state says he discussed with her not disclosing the relationship because it could harm his career. • Falsification of billing records. The state says he added 30 minutes to a five-minute meeting with a client. • Use of an inappropriate therapeutic technique called "the Wall." The state accuses Bliss of pinning two clients against a wall and then speaking to each in sexually explicit language. • Inappropriate contact with clients. The state says he offered motorcycle rides to a client and took another client out for dinner, gave her money and cigarettes and showed up unexpectedly at her home. • Using his home for a church attended by Nova clients. The state also says Bliss e-mailed copies of a sermon to the clients and provided them with referrals to do odd jobs for other clients. The hearing likely will occur in October in Columbus, according to Bill Hegarty, a spokesman for the state board. He said a hearing officer will be assigned once Bliss responds. The hearings typically take two or three days, during which time Bliss and the state can call witnesses and introduce evidence, Hegarty said. Once the hearing officer files a report, the five members of the 15-member board responsible for overseeing counseling licenses can accept, modify or reject it. Should a ruling be against Bliss, he has 15 days to appeal the decision to a common pleas court in either Franklin or Stark counties.