OHIO
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Monday, August 18, 2014
For more info: Judy Jones (636) 433-2511, SNAPjudy@gmail.com, David Clohessy of St. Louis (314) 566-9790 cell, davidgclohessy@gmail.com
Therapist hired by diocese loses license
He counseled several clergy sex abuse victims
And he was used to evaluate prospective clerics
Board found “{he} acted inappropriately with a client”
SNAP says his recommendations are now “questionable”
Group wants bishop to let victims choose their own therapist
A psychologist who worked for the Youngstown diocese in two roles has lost his license for having an inappropriate and non-professional relationship with an adult client.
Psychologist D. Terence Heltzel, in a four page “consent agreement” with the State Board of Psychology, admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with one of his female clients.
According to the consent decree “The Board received a complaint from an adult female alleging that Dr. Heltzel acted inappropriately towards her during her during her final therapy session.”
“The Board and Dr. Heltzel agree that (he) established a professional psychological psychotherapy relationship with (this client) when (she) sought help following the deaths of two family members (and) entered into a non-professional relationship with (her),” the decree says.
“This psychologist dealt with possible victims and possible predators but is guilty of misconduct himself,” said David Clohessy, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “Now, already wounded victims have been hurt again because of the very poor choice by Youngstown Catholic officials to hire Heltzel.”
“We suspect that Heltzel has tested and evaluated dozens of prospective Youngstown area priests, seminarians and deacons and maybe lay employees over years and years,” said Judy Jones of SNAP. “Now his judgments about those church staff – and their suitability for employment – are in serious doubt.”
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