California psychology board issues sex misconduct charge against Peter J. Murphy

August 11, 2012

On February 7, 2012, the California Board of Psychology issued and Accusation against Peter J. Murphy, Ph.D., alleging sexual misconduct and unprofessional conduct.

According to the Board’s document, from September 2007 through December 2010, Murphy supervised an intern who was working for him in order to accrue professional experience hours toward becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist.

From March 2009 through at least December 2010, Murphy engaged in a sexual relationship with the intern, whom he first met when he provided group therapy to her young son, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Additionally, Murphy billed the intern for services described as “individual psychotherapy but both the intern and Murphy claim that the bills were in fact for Murphy’s weekly internship supervision sessions with her, not for therapy.

Lastly, it was found that Murphy’s clinical records of his therapy for the intern’s son (which spanned two and a half years) were missing a number of significant and required elements, including patient identification information; signed informed consent for treatment from the parents; progress notes for each session and more.

Source: Accusation in the Matter of the Accusation Against Peter J. Murphy, Ph.D., License No. PSY 20411, Case No. 1F-2010-208426, California Board of Psychology.