Oregon psychology board seeking to suspend David T. Bice

March 17, 2011

On September 14, 2010, the Oregon Board of Psychologist Examiners issued a Notice of Proposed License Suspension & Restriction on David T. Bice, Ph.D., seeking to suspend his license for one year, impose a fine of $5,000 and restrict him from seeing female clients 25 years and under. 

According to the document, Bice engaged in boundary violations with two teenage female patients.  In the case of a 17-year-old college freshman who was in therapy to address issues related the unexpected death of her father, Bice is alleged to have engaged in a “therapeutic method [which was] more personal and somewhat physical and that might not want to discuss it with other because they might not understand….”

During his sessions with the girl (between August and September 2003), he would sit in close proximity to the client, resulting in intermittent physical contact, would occasionally put his arm around the patient and keep it there.  On one occasion, he is alleged to have rubbed the patient’s neck and shoulders. 

He is further alleged to have hugged her during some sessions and at the end of each session as she got up to leave.  “Then [Bice] would put his hands on her hips from behind and guide her through the doorway,” the document states.  He informed the patient to call him after she began to attend classes out of state so that they could do sessions over the phone.  The patient did not take him up on this suggestion. 

Lastly, the document states that at the end of the last session, Bice hugged the patient and attempted to kiss her on the lips and subsequently attempted to make telephone contact with her while she was away at college, only stopping after the patient’s mother told him to stop.

Source: Notice of Proposed License Suspension & Restriction in the Matter of License to Practice as a Psychologist of David T. Bice, Ph.D., Agency No. OBPE #2009-035 $ 2010-007, Before the Board of Psychologist Examiners, State of Oregon.