State revokes license of mental health counselor Russell Bentley for boundary violations with teen

November 24, 2010

On June 4, 2010, the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners reported that it revoked counselor Russell Bentley's license.  

The Board’s report states that Bentley’s employers (for whom he worked from August 2002 to August 2009) allowed him to resign in lieu of termination after investigating a complaint from the mother of a 16-year-old client whom Bentley treated for about a year and a half.  

The client was described as vulnerable, with a father in prison and an alcoholic mother.  Bentley made non-therapeutic visits to the client; had dinner with the client and his mother in mother’s home on several occasions and stayed very late at their home on several occasions.  None of these activities were documented in the client’s file.  

Bentley engaged in non-therapeutic activities with the client, including watching television and going out for food and coffee.  On one occasion, the mother alleged that she woke up late at night and found Bentley and her son watching TV, the son with his head in Bentley’s lap, Bentley stroking his head.

Bentley admitted massaging the boy’s shoulders and buying him pants and a shirt.

Source: Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners Adverse Action Tracking Form 2010, dated 21 September 2010.