DES MOINES – A state board has ordered an Iowa mental health counselor to surrender his license after he allegedly duped a patient into sex and cash.
Documents released by the Iowa Board of Behavioral Sciences show that 42-year-old Scott Bair of Burlington gave up his license to practice mental health therapy in Iowa after he was accused of engaging in sexual activities with a client, a woman who suffered from depression.
Blair told the woman that hugging and kissing were part of therapy, and proceeded to hug and kiss her on multiple occasions. Blair arranged a therapy session for his new client at his private practice for the same day as the initial session. During August and September, 2013, Bair spent time with this client almost every day, often multiple times a day, sent numerous text messages and engaged in sexual activity. Blair then created agreements and plans for this depressed female client related to therapeutic and personal goals, which included marriage between the two of them and a provision for financial support for maintaining secrecy.
The relationship between Bair and his client continued until late September, 2013. On December 26, 2013, Bair was charged criminally with sexual exploitation by a
counselor or therapist, a class D felony, in Des Moines County, Iowa. His license was suspended soon thereafter, pending outcome of the case. Blair was convicted in May of this year of that felony charge and sentenced to two years of probation, and ordered to pay $1,433.75 which includes a $625 fine and $120 restitution. Blair was also placed on the state’s sex offender registry.
SEX OFFENDER
