The state Examining Board of Psychology charged Centralia psychologist Richard T. Kennedy with unprofessional conduct on Oct. 23, for allegedly not maintaining appropriate boundaries with a patient by accompanying her to two abortions and an exorcism between October 2007 and November 2008, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
State Health Department Spokesperson Kate Lynch said Kennedy, who works at Evergreen Psychological Associates in Centralia, has requested a hearing, tentatively set for May, and an opportunity for a settlement up to the hearing date.
Kennedy began treating the patient in 1997 and continued to treat them through March 2011, according to the health department. Kennedy noted several diagnoses for the patient, including Dissociative Identity Disorder, also known as Multiple Personality Disorder, complex PTSD, major depression and ADHD.
According to charging documents:
Kennedy accompanied the patient to Planned Parenthood to have abortions in October 2007 and again in November 2008.
Kennedy also accompanied the patient to an exorcism, which was for the patient, in January 2008.
Case Manager Tammy Kelley said in her 12 years working for the state health department, she has never seen a case involving an exorcism.
“It’s not something I’ve ever had a healthcare provider do in any other case,” Kelley said, “but every case is unique.”
The charging documents show Kennedy also allegedly violated appropriate boundaries by safekeeping the patient’s medications in 2006 and 2010, transporting the patient to and from medical appointments, conducting treatment sessions at the patient’s residence, allowing the patient to sleep in a vacant room in his office building, making special weekend and late night appointments for the patient, going to Motel 6 where the patient was staying with her family and
providing 90 minute Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing sessions but only billing the patient for half that time.
Kelley said in a therapeutic setting sometimes a healthcare provider can become close with a patient and the examining board uses their judgment when charging a healthcare provider.
“There are some forms of therapy that would involve taking a patient out into the public,” Kelley said, “and to get them into a situation where they get comfortable talking. Every patient's situation is different.”
The charges against Kennedy stem from a complaint provided to the state health department by either a patient, healthcare provider or employer, Lynch said.
The Chronicle made three efforts this week to contact Kennedy by phone at his office at 201 N. Rock Street in Centralia, but Kennedy was with patients and unavailable to comment, according to his receptionist.
