California board revokes therapist Galen Bruce Larsen's license for client sex

April 1, 2009

On March 2, 2009, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) revoked the marriage & family therapist license of Galen Bruce Larsen (a.k.a. Gaylen/Gaylon/Galon Larson) for unprofessional conduct consisting of gross negligence and engaging in sex with a client. 

According to the Board’s document, Larsen “engaged in a long-term affair involving frequent sexual intercourse and oral sex” with a female client (a married mother of three); engaged in an extreme departure from the standard of care in his treatment of two female patients, based on his alleged use of sexual reenactment techniques on both (each of whom had a history of childhood sexual abuse) and entered into a dual relationship with one client, starting a business with her, in which they were partners. 

In addition to revocation, Larsen incurred the Board’s investigative and legal costs of $60,429.93, for which a separate order would be issued requiring him to reimburse the Board.

Source: Decision in the Matter of the Accusation Against Galen Bruce Larsen, Marriage & Family Therapist License No. MFC 9360, Case No. MF-2005-268, OAH No. 2007050294, Before the Board of Behavioral Sciences, State of California, March 2, 2009.