Questions About Dr.Paul Meier (psychologist)
Haley
back concerning Dr. Paul Meier, the Christian psychologist. It said
some rather negative things about him. Specifically some issues
concerning his non-profit clinic finances and his connection to some
folks of questionable character some of whom are under investigation
by the SEC for a large investment fraud ("ponzi") scheme.
I've noticed this article is no longer on the D Magazine web site and
was just curious about this.
Haley
Jim
psychiatrist.)
Jim
You Suffer, He Prophets
Dr. Paul Meier earns $550K at a money-losing nonprofit. Then there's
the company he keeps.
At first glance, Richardson's Dr. Paul D. Meier, 60, appears the sort
of God-fearing Christian who will reap a happy harvest in the
hereafter. He's written a slew of helpful books, including Miracle
Drugs, You Can Measure Your Spiritual Health, and The Money Diet
(Biblical Prescriptions for Financial Success). He founded a
nationwide chain of counseling centers called the Meier Clinics that
offer Christian-based therapy. And he sells elixirs that help people
lose weight. The guy has appeared on Oprah, for heaven's sake.
But a recent Securities and Exchange Commission investigation has us
fearing for Meier's soul. Here are three questions he might want to
prep for prior to meeting St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.
1. What's the deal with your shady friends? Meier developed a line of
liquid vitamins and "weight management" supplements called To Your
Health with two friends, Dwight Johnson of Garland and Robbie Gowdey
of Frisco. Meier promotes the supplements (some of which cost $80) on
radio appearances and on the Internet, claiming they help the body and
mind function as God designed them to. But To Your Health is Johnson
and Gowdey's baby (state records indicate the latter owns it; a
company rep says the former does). And Johnson and Gowdey run an
unrelated business, Atlas and Jericho Productions, that the SEC says
was part of a $36 million Ponzi scheme. The SEC filed a complaint in
December. At press time, the assets of Atlas had been frozen, but
neither Johnson nor Gowdey had filed a formal response.
2. How come you're so rich? We have no idea what Meier makes from his
book or vitamin sales. But the Meier Clinics operate under a nonprofit
foundation with 501(c)(3) status. That means they don't pay taxes, and
some of their records are public. In 2003 (the most recent year
available), those records show that the foundation had revenues of
$11.4 million but ran expenses of $11.9 million. As the foundation's
secretary, Meier made $550,411. His sister Nancy Brown, who lives in
Illinois, is president of the foundation and made $173,550. Meier
tells D the clinics provide help on a sliding scale, basing the cost
of care on a patient's financial hardships. He says, "We lose money
every year." Indeed.
3. Do you provide therapy via e-mail? Seriously? The Meier Clinics'
web site encourages a "patient" to write a journal entry and then
submit it to a licensed therapist who then provides counseling. The
service costs $80 per e-mail, and wordy patients be warned: there's a
5,000-word limit. Brown says the service is available only for a
maximum of six sessions. If, after spending close to $500, the patient
still needs help, he is encouraged to seek it from more traditional
sources, Brown says. The Texas State Board of Examiners of
Professional Counselors says e-mail is not an acceptable medium for
therapy, and Meier himself says he couldn't imagine not physically
seeing a patient. In fact, until D asked him about it, he said he was
unaware that his clinics even offered e-mail-based therapy.
Whether St. Peter will buy that answer remains to be seen. -LAURA
KOSTELNY (D Magazine)