Arizona mental health counselor Brooks Gibson loses license

January 2, 2013

On October 22, 2012, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners agreed to accept the surrender of licensed professional counselor Brooks Gibson’s license, considered a revocation.

The Board’s document states that Gibson was retained by a mother to provide an assessment and expert opinion of her 9-year autistic son relative to visits with his paternal grandparents, which the mother felt would be harmful to him if initiated.

The mother expected that in additional to the court-related work, that Gibson would also provide treatment to her son so that he would do better in school, which Gibson contends was not the arrangement.

However, Gibson’s Client Agreement did not specify that his role was strictly consultative and forensic in nature and included the statement “If treatment services are necessary, I hereby give my permission to treat me or my dependent as necessary.” He did not provide the mother written notice advising her of the limited forensic nature of his role or that he would not counsel the son.