LEGISLATIVE ADVISORY: AB 2968 (Levine) Chapter 778. Statutes of 2018 – Psychotherapist-Client Relationship: Victims of Sexual Behavior and Sexual Contact: Informational Brochure.
Operative Date of Legislation: January 1, 2019
Attention Board of Psychology (Board) stakeholders:
Assembly Bill 2968 (Levine) was signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown on September 26, 2018, and became operative January 1, 2019. This legislation amends sections 337 and 728 of the Business and Professions Code relating to the content required for inclusion in the informational brochure for victims of psychotherapist-patient sexual contact (which is now called “Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex”) regarding inappropriate sexual behavior, sexual contact, and touching of an intimate part between a psychotherapist and a client. This legislation also expands the existing requirement so that psychotherapists, or an employer of a psychotherapist, who become aware of alleged sexual behaviors, in addition to sexual contact, between a previous psychotherapist of a client, must provide and discuss the brochure with the client/patient.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES:
All Licensees:
- If a licensee or their employer becomes aware of any alleged incident(s) of sexual intercourse, touching of an intimate body part, or sexual behavior(s) between a previous psychotherapist of a client during the course of previous treatment(s), the licensee must provide the client a copy of the brochure called "Therapy Never Includes Sexual Behavior" and discuss the brochure with the client.
- This bill defines "sexual behavior" as inappropriate contact or communication of a sexual nature. Note: this does not include the provision of appropriate therapeutic interventions relating to sexual issues.
- This bill also requires that the brochure be available on the websites of the Board of Psychology, the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Medical Board of California, and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. Links to the current publications can be found on the Board of Psychology's Publications page or at the Department of Consumer Affairs link below.
IMPLEMENTATION:
https://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/proftherapy.shtml. To order paper copies of the current and revised brochure, please email bopmail@dca.ca.gov.
To help provide additional clarity about what is intended by the term "sexual behavior," a few examples of actions or communications that could be considered sexual behavior include:
- Touching or exposing oneself inappropriately in a client's presence,
- Sending flirtatious, sexually suggestive or sexually explicit texts, messages or emails to a client,
- Sending clients photos that include nudity, genitals, or sexually suggestive poses,
- Asking clients to send the licensee photos of themselves that include nudity, genitals, or sexually suggestive poses, or
- Kissing a client.
*NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list and is provided to give context to the types of behaviors that could be found to be sexual behaviors upon investigation.
Special Note to Supervisors:
- Pursuant to Title 16 California Code of Regulations section 1387.1(m), primary supervisors are required to review the “Therapy Never Includes Sexual Behavior” brochure with trainees.
