Mental health counselor James W. Taylor surrenders license after expressing sexual feelings for client

April 12, 2012

On February 8, 2012, licensed professional counselor James W. Taylor voluntarily surrendered his license to the Virginia Board of Counseling. According to the Board’s Consent Order, during the course of providing intermittent group and individual counseling to a female client, Taylor gave the client financial gifts and a cell phone, visited her once at her home and permitted her to visit him at his office without billing her for a therapy session. Taylor admitted having sexual feelings for the client, which he confessed to her. The Board’s document states that “Given Client A’s emotional fragility, this information caused her to become upset, disorganized, and perhaps suicidal.” Taylor’s employer terminated him as a result of this behavior.

Source: Consent Order in re: James W. Taylor, L.P.C., license no. 0701-002988, case no. 141594, before the Virginia Board of Counseling.