Washington state health department revokes licensed of counselor Vernon C. Armstrong

December 26, 2012

On July 26, 2012, the Washington Department of Health (DoH) permanently revoked the credential of counselor Vernon C. Armstrong.

The DoH’s documents states that from approximately April 18, 2008 through January 6, 2009, Armstrong, as a Children’s Case Manager with Behavioral Health Resources in Olympia, Washington, provided individual and group therapy services to “Client A,” a female teenager in foster care.

Client A was receiving treatment for self-harming behaviors, depression and trauma from childhood sexual abuse. Client A was discharged from foster care in June 2009 (when she turned 18) and moved into Armstrong’s home, where she stayed until September 2010.

In July or August 2010, Armstrong told Client A that he was addicted to pornography and told Client A sexual jokes.

On or around September 2010 through February 2011, while Client A was attending college and living in the dorm, Armstrong visited her in her dorm room approximately once a week. During the visits, he would make sexual jokes, slap Client A on the buttocks with his hand and repeatedly brush Client A’s breast with his open hand while hugging and touching her upper thigh.

The DoH sent Armstrong a letter in February 2011, requesting his response to specific questions regarding the complaint against him.

In late March 2011, the DoH received a letter from Armstrong’s lawyer stating that he would not provide any response.

On July 11, 2011, a Superior Court Judge in Grays Harbor County, Washington found that Armstrong had sexually assaulted another individual and issued a Sexual Abuse Protection Order against Armstrong, prohibiting him from having any contact with that person for two years.