Iowa Approves Marital Therapist License Despite Past California Allegations
The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals has issued a marital therapy license to Gary Bell, a 62-year-old counselor who faced severe disciplinary action in California years earlier over accusations of having sexual relations with a female client. The board's approval order, dated February 3, acknowledged Bell's settlement and disciplinary order from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences but omitted specific details of the allegations against him.
California Disciplinary Case and Contested Allegations
In September 2020, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences imposed disciplinary measures following an investigation into Bell's interactions with a couple he counseled in 2017. The female client, identified as Susan Leedy, a nurse at the time, and her husband, B.L., attended multiple sessions with Bell. California investigators alleged that Bell and Leedy engaged in sexual activity on two separate occasions in December 2017 at his Riverside County office.
Bell has consistently denied these allegations, stating to the Daily Mail that Leedy made unwanted sexual advances which he rejected. According to disciplinary documents obtained by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, after the alleged incidents, Bell vacationed with his family while exchanging hundreds of text messages and emails with Leedy. Bell admitted to the communication but claimed he was attempting to placate her, alleging she threatened to report him for a sexual relationship to cause trouble with authorities.
Legal Proceedings and Restraining Orders
The situation escalated in early 2018 when Bell's wife reportedly discovered text messages between Bell and Leedy. Shortly after, Leedy arrived uninvited at Bell's home, leading to a confrontation. In February 2018, Leedy's husband filed for divorce, and Bell sought a temporary restraining order against her, which became permanent in April 2018.
Leedy filed a criminal complaint against Bell, resulting in charges of two counts of sexual exploitation of a client and a felony perjury charge related to his restraining order application. All charges were dismissed in November 2018. However, Leedy continued contacting Bell and his wife until April 2019, when she was arrested for felony stalking and violating the restraining order. She was later convicted and sentenced to 212 days in jail followed by three years of supervised release, with orders to stay away from Bell and his family.
Psychological Evaluations and License Revocations
A psychologist determined that Leedy suffered from a personality disorder that compromised her ability to practice nursing safely, leading to the revocation of her nursing license in May 2021. Meanwhile, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences charged Bell with unprofessional conduct through gross negligence or incompetence. In April 2020, the board initially revoked his counseling license but later modified the decision to a seven-year probation period.
During probation, Bell underwent psychological evaluation and therapy and agreed to pay $14,000 for investigation costs. Despite these challenges, Bell has maintained a podcast and radio show where he offers advice to couples, and he continues to practice in other states.
Iowa and Washington Licensing with Restrictions
Iowa's approval of Bell's marital therapy license comes with significant restrictions. For the next twelve months, Bell will be on probation, requiring supervision by another licensed family therapist in Iowa who must submit quarterly performance reports to regulators. Similarly, Bell holds a license in Washington, where regulators imposed comparable restrictions in 2021, including weekly supervision meetings and quarterly evaluations.
On February 6, Washington released Bell from these requirements after determining he had complied with the agreement. Bell relocated to the Seattle area in 2018, citing a desire to distance himself from Leedy, and currently practices at Seattle Christian Counseling. He remains married with two children and has petitioned California to end his probation early, arguing it has hindered his ability to accept insurance and support his family financially.
This case highlights the complexities of professional licensing across state lines and the ongoing scrutiny faced by therapists with disciplinary histories, as Bell navigates his career under supervised conditions in multiple jurisdictions.
