London psychologist loses licence for sexual and professional misconduct

CBC

3 days ago

A disciplinary committee has revoked a London psychologist's licence after she admitted to having a sexual relationship with a client, offering services not likely to benefit clients, and misrepresenting her credentials.
Tatiana Zdyb admitted to all of the professional misconduct allegations brought in front of Ontario's College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts panel on Wednesday.
"The fact that you've engaged in professional misconduct and incompetence is a matter of profound concern to your fellow professional members and the public members of this panel," hearing chair Ian Nicholson said on behalf of the committee.
"These findings are not minor breaches, but go to the core of your responsibilities as a regulated professional. The public places trust in psychologists to uphold the highest standards of care and integrity," Nicholson said. "Your actions represented a fundamental and egregious betrayal of that trust."
Three separate disciplinary hearing notices were addressed during Wednesday's hearing, including an allegation of sexually abusing a patient.
"The most serious of allegations is sexual relations with a client," said Grant Ferguson, who represented Zdyb.
In September 2022, Zdyb began an intimate relationship with a client she had been providing services to since 2017.
While the client stopped treatment the same month the relationship started, regulations set out by the college say that a psychologist is not permitted to engage in any sexual relations with a client up to a year after treatment ends.
The mandatory penalty for this behaviour, which is defined as sexual abuse by the college, is to reprimand Zdyb and revoke her certificate of registration.
"This penalty is appropriate and meets the needs of public interest," said Danielle Miller, who represented the college.
"It will clearly serve as a specific deterrent [for Zdyb], as she will no longer be practicing as a clinical psychologist, and will act as a general deterrent, as other members of the profession will be able to see the conduct resulted in the most severe of penalties, and may prevent them from acting in the same manner," Miller said at the hearing.
The revocation order has no end date, according to the college, but Zdyb could apply for reinstatement in five years.
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Miller emphasized that even if the sexual abuse penalty was not mandatory, the college would have recommended the same consequences on the basis of the other offences.
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Zdyb had provided a client, whose identity is covered by a publication ban and known as "Client A," with ketamine while she was seeking treatment for depression. Zdyb's clinic was one of the first in southwestern Ontario to use the psychedelic drug as treatment.
When Client A's condition did not improve, Zdyb prescribed higher doses of ketamine and suggested she use psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.
The college found that Zdyb did not provide Client A with enough information about the psychedelic drugs to adequately consent to trying the treatment. Zdyb was also practicing outside of her area of expertise, and lacked the competence to determine whether this was an effective treatment for Client A, the college added.
"It was a complicated case, it was one she was not well-equipped to handle, but she now understands the quality of care this patient deserved," Ferguson said.
In addition, Client A and Zdyb entered into an "intimate" personal friendship, which involved gifts, free sessions and dinner together, making it difficult for the client to end treatment.
"[Zdyb] expressed affection for Client A, telling her she 'loved everything about her' and making it clear that she considered them to have a close friendship," Miller said. "When Client A wished to terminate treatment, she held off doing so as she didn't want to hurt Ms. Zydb."
In the last disciplinary hearing, Zdyb admitted to failing an undertaking by the college to stop providing psychedelic enhanced psychotherapy in Ontario and stop misrepresenting her credentials as a doctor.
The panel reprimanded Zdyb immediately after the hearing ended and the revocation of her certificate will happen within 30 days.
"[Zdyb] appreciates the necessity of this hearing and the importance of her attending it, as unpleasant as it may be," Ferguson said on her behalf.