http://www.idph.state.ia.us/licensure/common/pdf/press_releases/2001/groehn_pr.pdf
BEFORE THE IOWA BOARD OF
SOCIAL WORK EXAMINERS
_____________________________________________________________________
IN THE MATTER OF: ) CASE NUMBER: 00 - 019
)
CRAIG ALAN GROEHN, ) STATEMENT OF CHARGES
)
Respondent. )
_____________________________________________________________________
TO THE ABOVE NAMED RESPONDENT:
The Iowa Board of Social Work Examiners has jurisdiction of this
matter
pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 17A, 154C, and 272C (1998).
Licenses issued by the Board are subject to the laws of the state of
Iowa
and to the administrative rules of the Board.
Respondent Craig Alan Groehn was at all times during the following
events
a licensed independent social worker. Respondent was issued license
number
00800 to practice as a social worker in the state of Iowa on March 13,
1992, as
recorded in the permanent records in the office of the Board.
Respondent's license to practice social work in Iowa is current and
will next
expire on December 31, 2002.
Respondent's current address as reported to the Board is 315 6th
Street,
Suite 100, Ames, Iowa, 50010.
COUNT I
Pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.10(3) and 645 Iowa Administrative
Code 280.212(3) (1998), Respondent is charged with engaging in
unethical
conduct in the practice of social work by developing and maintaining
multiple dual
relationships with patient # 1 and patient # 2.
COUNT II
Pursuant to 645 Iowa Administrative Code 280.213(3)"b" (1998),
Respondent is charged with continuing in a professional relationship
with a
patient when the licensee has become emotionally involved with the
patient to the
extent that objectivity is no longer possible in providing the
required services.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF COUNT I and II
1. Respondent provided social work services to patient # 1 from
November 16, 1998, to October 28, 1999.
2. Respondent provided social work services to patient # 2 from
December 17, 1998, to May 5, 1999.
3. On numerous occasions from November of 1998 to October of 1999,
Respondent discussed his financial and personal issues and problems
with
patient # 1 and asked patient # 1 for advice regarding these matters.
Respondent
engaged in these discussions with patient # 1 during the course of
therapy
sessions and outside the context of therapy sessions.
4. On numerous occasions from December of 1998 to May of 1999,
Respondent discussed his financial and personal issues and problems
with
patient # 2. Respondent engaged in these discussions with patient # 2
during the
course of therapy sessions.
5. In June of 1999, Respondent solicited patient # 1 to join a social
group
which met weekly for the purpose of attempting communication with
aliens and
monitoring alien activity. The weekly meetings were often held at
Respondent's
office. Patient # 1's history and mental health issues were frequently
discussed by
Respondent and others during these group meetings.
6. From May of 1999 to October of 1999, Respondent engaged in a social
relationship with patient # 1 which included frequent social contact
outside the
context of therapy sessions and discussion of financial and personal
issues.
COUNT III
Respondent is charged pursuant to Iowa Code section 154C.5, 645 Iowa
Administrative Code 280.212(9) and 280.213(2)(a) (1998) with violating
client
confidentiality when he revealed confidential information regarding
patient # 1.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF COUNT III
1. On numerous occasions from November of 1998 through October of
1999, Respondent revealed confidential information regarding patient #
1 to
numerous individuals, including the spouse of patient # 1, friends of
patient # 1,
friends of the Respondent's, and Respondent's spouse.
COUNT IV
Pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.10(3) and 645 Iowa Administrative
Code 280.212(3) (1998), Respondent is charged with engaging in
unethical
conduct in the practice of social work when he received compensation
for
referring patient # 1 to a professional workshop.
COUNT V
Respondent is charged with exercising undue influence on a client or
patient for the financial gain of Respondent in violation of 645 Iowa
Administrative
Code 280.212(9) and 280.213(3)(f) (1998), when he received
compensation for
referring patient # 1 to a professional workshop.
COUNT VI
Pursuant to 645 Iowa Administrative Code 280.231(5)"a" (1998),
Respondent is charged with receiving a fee or other consideration from
a third
party for the referral of a patient.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF COUNTS IV, V, and VI
1. In January of 1999, Respondent referred patient # 1 to a
professional
workshop at which the Rieke method of massage was taught. Patient # 1
attended
the course. Respondent received compensation from the workshop
presenters
for making this referral.
2. Respondent referred other patients to patient # 1 for Rieki
treatment.
Respondent participated in treatment sessions with patient # 1 and
other clients of
Respondent.
COUNT VII
Pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.10(3) and 645 Iowa Administrative
Code 280.212(3) (1998), Respondent is charged with engaging in
unethical
conduct in the practice of social work by utilizing inappropriate and
unethical
therapeutic techniques.
COUNT VIII
Pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.10(2) and 645 Iowa Administrative
Code 280.212(2) (1998), Respondent is charged with professional
incompetency.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF COUNT VII and VIII
1. Respondent inappropriately used profanity, vulgarity, and sexually
suggestive language to patient # 1 during the course of therapy
sessions.
Respondent engaged in inappropriate physical contact with patient # 1
during the
course of therapy sessions, including holding her on his lap and
holding her
down on the floor.
2. Respondent made inappropriate statements to patient # 2 during the
course of therapy sessions.
3. Respondent informed patient # 1 and patient # 2 that he would
"channel" dead relatives during the course of therapy sessions.
Respondent
caused patient # 1 and patient # 2 to believe that he had "channeled"
numerous
dead relatives and others during therapy sessions with patient # 1 and
patient # 2.
FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE
On August 13, 2001, the Iowa Board of Social Work Examiners found
probable cause to file this Statement of Charges and to order that a
hearing be set
in this case.
This Statement of Charges is approved by the board on September 27,
2001.