Spaulding University psychologist James Cooksey suspended for violation with supervisee

April 29, 2011

On March 7, 2011, the Commonwealth of Kentucky Board of Examiners in Psychology suspended James J. Cooksey for one year with nine months of the suspension probated for three years.

According to the Board’s Final Order, Cooksey was found to have exercised undue influence in such a manner as to exploit a student or supervisee and to have committed incompetence or negligence in the practice of psychology.

Specifically, the Board found that Cooksey engaged in inappropriate personal discussions with a supervisee, as well as inappropriate physical contact (a massage) with the supervisee, to gratify his own personal emotional needs.

Following his three-month suspension, he is not permitted to supervise any student or anyone providing psychological services and must be supervised in his own practice for at least two years by a Board-appointed psychologist supervisor.

He is also required to pay penalties to the Board totaling $1,250 for his violations and must also pay the Board its costs for the disciplinary proceedings against him.

Source: Final Order of the Board, Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology vs. James J. Cooksey, Ph.D., License Psychologist No. 309, Agency Case No. 09-08, Administrative Action No. 10-KBEP-0143.