Psychologist Robert S. "Dr. Bob" Weathers surrenders license; engaged in sex with former patient

December 17, 2010

On February 24, 2010 the California Department of Consumer Affairs Board of Psychology accepted the surrender of Robert Stanley Weathers, Ph.D.’s license to practice psychology.

According to the Board’s Accusation and Stipulated Surrender of License and Order, Weathers engaged in a sexual relationship with a former patient he later married and subsequently abandoned.

The Accusation states that between November 1, 2002 and December 10, 2002, “S.W.,” a female, was an in-patient at the Passages drug rehabilitation facility in Malibu, California, receiving treatment for her cocaine use.  Weathers was her primary therapist and met with her twice a week for therapy.

S.W. developed a crush on Weathers early in her therapy.  He became aware of this when another female patient told him that S.W. liked him.

After Weathers learned of S.W.’s attraction, their next therapy session was on the beach, where he told her he was aware of her attraction.  The document states that he told her they could not begin a romantic relationship for two years (without risking disciplinary action against his license).

He told her he had been romantically involved with a graduate student while he was a professor at Pepperdine University.  He ended up leaving her and she reported their relationship to the Dean, who subsequently asked for Weathers' resignation.  Weathers lost his professorship and tenure as a result of the relationship.

S.W. completed her treatment at Passages and went home to New Hampshire.  Soon after, they began to correspond via e-mail.  Their friendly exchanges continued until February 2003, when the messages became more intimate.  Soon after, she flew back to California where they visited.  Sexual intercourse ensued.  This was only two months after the conclusion of the patient-therapist relationship.

In December 2003, Weathers resigned from Passages, relocated to New Hampshire and moved in with S.W. and her children.  They were engaged on February 14, 2005 and married February 14, 2006.  During the entire period, Weathers engaged in sexual intercourse with S.W.

In October 2006, Weathers flew to California to work at Passages for a week and had what S.W. described as a “meltdown,” after which he told S.W. he really wanted to move back to California.  Weathers left S.W. in January 2007.

Later that year, they talked about getting back together.  S.W. had arranged for them to attend some sort of marriage therapy in Seattle, Washington.  Weathers told her that he would attend the therapy but then backed out.

Source: Accusation and Stipulated Surrender of License and Order in the Matter of the Accusation Against Robert Weathers, Ph.D., Case No. 1F-2008-190012, Before the Board of Psychology, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California.