• The Iowa legislature passed the following law addressing sexual exploitation of counselees by counselors and therapists. The law, which specifically applies to clergy, took effect July 1, 1991. Minnesota has enacted a similar law. It is likely that many other states will do so in the next few years.

709.15. Sexual Exploitation by a Counselor or Therapist

1. As used in this section:

a. “Counselor or therapist” means a physician, psychologist, nurse, professional counselor, social worker, marriage or family therapist, alcohol or drug counselor, member of the clergy, or any other person, whether or not licensed or registered by the state, who provides or purports to provide mental health services.

b. “Mental health service” means the treatment, assessment, or counseling of another person for a cognitive, behavioral, emotional, mental, or social dysfunction, including an intrapersonal or interpersonal dysfunction.

c. “Emotionally dependent” means that the nature of the patient’s or client’s or former patient’s or client’s emotional condition or the nature of the treatment provided by the counselor or therapist is such that the counselor or therapist knows or has reason to know that the patient or client or former patient or client is significantly impaired in the ability to withhold consent to sexual conduct, as described in paragraph “f”, by the counselor or therapist. For the purposes of paragraph “f”, a former patient or former client is presumed to be dependent for one year following the termination of the provision of mental health services.

d. “Former patient or client” means a person who received mental health services from the counselor or therapist.

e. “Patient or client” means a person who receives mental health services from the counselor or therapist.

f. “Sexual abuse by a counselor or therapist” occurs when either or both of the following are found:

(1) A pattern or practice or scheme of conduct to engage in any of the conduct described in subparagraph (2) or (3).

(2) Any sexual conduct, with a patient or client or emotionally dependent former patient or client for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the counselor or therapist or the patient or client or emotionally dependent former patient or client, which includes but is not limited to the following: kissing; touching of the clothed or unclothed inner thigh, breast, groin, buttock, anus, pubes, or genitals; or a sex act as defined in section 702.17.

(3) Any sexual conduct with a patient or client or former patient or client within one year of the termination of the provision of mental health services by the counselor or therapist for the purpose of arousing or satisfying the sexual desires of the counselor or therapist or the patient or client or former patient or client which includes but is not limited to the following: kissing; touching of the clothed or unclothed inner thigh, breast, groin, buttock, anus, pubes, or genitals; or a sex act as defined in section 702.17. “Sexual abuse by a counselor or therapist” does not include touching which is part of a necessary examination or treatment provided a patient or client by a counselor or therapist acting within the scope of the practice or employment in which the counselor or therapist is engaged.

2. A counselor or therapist who commits sexual abuse in violation of subsection 1, paragraph “f”, subparagraph (1), commits a class “D” felony.

3. A counselor or therapist who commits sexual abuse in violation of subsection 1, paragraph “f”, subparagraph (2), commits an aggravated misdemeanor.

4. A counselor or therapist who commits sexual abuse in violation of subsection 1, paragraph “f”, subparagraph (3), commits a serious misdemeanor. In lieu of the sentence provided for under section 903.1, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, the offender may be required to attend a sexual abuser treatment program.

[The law also amends section 614.1 of the Iowa Statutes to specify that the “an action for damages for injury suffered as a result of sexual abuse by a counselor or therapist shall be brought within five years of the date the victim was last treated by the counselor or therapist.”]

See Also: Seduction of Counselees and Church Members

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