Oregon Psychology Board Revokes License of Arlen S. Craig for Sexual Exploitation of Patient

August 4, 2020

On September 13, 2019, the Oregon Board of Psychology revoked the license of Arlen S. Craig for engaging in immoral or unprofessional conduct or gross negligence in the practice of psychology and violations of ethical standards including sexual harassment, exploitative relationships, and sexual intimacies with a client.

Client A, an adult female, began to meet with Craig for therapy in 2015 at one of the office locations for Western Psychological and Counseling Services. During the course of several therapy sessions in 2015, Craig would hold Client A's hand and touched her lower back.

Client A returned to Craig for additional therapy sessions in June and July of 2016.

Craig reported that Client A terminated therapy on August 1, 2016.

During the course of the 2016 sessions, Craig engaged in flirtatious behavior with Client A, but denies kissing Client A during the last session. Craig subsequently began to communicate with Client A by email, using the personal email address of: fre***fred******007@...."

Craig and Client A began to meet at a Starbucks in the Portland Metropolitan area, and on occasion, meet in Craig’s car and drive to a secluded area and engaged in encounters that included physical acts of intimacy.

On or about October 14, 2017, Craig had a final sexualized encounter in his car with Client A.

The Board’s document notes that Craig’s actions sexually exploited Client A and caused her to suffer emotional distress and harm and that his conduct constitutes a danger to the health or safety of a client or the public.

In addition to revocation of his license, Craig was ordered to pay the Board a $5,000 penalty within 60 days of the issuance of the order.

Source: Stipulated Order in the Matter of Arlen S. Craig, Ph.D., License No. 2315, Agency No. OBPE #2018-062, Before the Board of Psychology, State of Oregon, September 13, 2019.