Marriage and Family Therapist MFT Barry Levy (Barry Tonnis Levy) set to be disciplined by the state therapist licensing board (Board of Behavioral Sciences) for gross negligence, incompetence, performing services beyond competence and training. Almost hard to believe a therapist could be this incompetent, biased and just plain stupid.
Marriage and Family Therapist MFT Barry Levy (Barry Tonnis Levy) set to be disciplined by the state therapist licensing board (Board of Behavioral Sciences) for gross negligence, incompetence, performing services beyond competence and training. Almost hard to believe a therapist could be this incompetent, biased and just plain stupid.
Marriage and Family Therapist MFT Barry Levy (Barry Tonnis Levy) set to be disciplined by the state therapist licensing board (Board of Behavioral Sciences) for gross negligence, incompetence, performing services beyond competence and training. Almost hard to believe a therapist could be this incompetent, biased and just plain stupid.
BS oan of
Cairn
anes Services
Housing Agency
Department of
Consneer Ais
Behavioral
Sciences
November 17, 2015
Adam Michael Sakcs
4335 Willow Glen Street
Calabasas, CA 91302
RE: Barry Tonnis Levy, LMFT 13388
Case No. 2002014001373
Dear Mr, Sacks:
This is to inform you that an Accusation has been filed against the above-
named individual by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (Board) based, in
part, on information you provided. The Office of the Attorney General for
the State of California is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Board.
You will be notified if an administrative hearing is scheduled and your
attendance is needed. Please be sure to notify us if you move or change
telephone numbers.
Your assistance as a potential witness is appreciated by the Board of
Behavioral Sciences, the Office of the Attorney General, and the citizens of
California,
If you have any questions or concems, please feel free to contact Sandra
Wright, Discipline Analyst, at (916) 574-7752
Sincerely,
hur Ruy .
Jotid Ruprecht
Enforcement Technician
Enclosure (Accusation)1 |) KamaLa D. Harris
Attorney General of California
2 || Marc D. Greenbaum
Supervising Deputy Attorney General
3 || Cristina THomas
Deputy Attorney General
4 || State Bar No. 171168
300 So. Spring Street, Suite 1702
5 || Los Angeles, CA 90013
‘Telephone: (213) 897-2557
6 |) Facsimile: (213) 897-2804
Attorneys for Complainant
1
BEFORE THE
8 BOARD OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
. S STATE OF CAL RNIA
10
uy | Inthe Matter ofthe Accusation Against Case No, 200-2014-1373
BARRY TONNIS LEVY
12 || 2750 Bellflower Bivd., Ste. 206 B & C
15 || Leng Beach, CA 908i ACCUSATION
Marriage and Family Therapist License No.
14 || LMFT 13388
15 Respondent.
7 Complainant alleges:
18 PARTIES
19 1, Kim Madsen ("Complainant") brings this Accusation solely in her official capacity as
20 || the Executive Officer of the Board of Behavioral Sciences, Department of Consumer Affairs.
21 2. Onor about January 10, 1979, the Board of Behavioral Sciences ("Board") issued
Marriage und Family Therapist License Number LMFT 13388 to Barry Tonnis Levy
23 |) ("Respondent"). The Marriage and Family Therapist License was in full force and effect at all
24 || times relevant to the charges brought herein and will expire on December 31, 2016, unless.
25 |) renewed.
26 Wty
28 | i
AC ISATION1 JURISDICTION
2 3. This Accusation is brought before the Board under the authority of the following
3 || laws. All section references are to the Business and Professions Code ("Code") unless otherwise
4 |} indicated.
5 4, Section 118, subdivision (b), of the Code provides that the suspension, expiration,
6 || surrender, or cancellation of a license shall not deprive the Board of jurisdiction to proceed with a
7 || disciplinary action during the period within which the license may be renewed, restored, reissued
8 || or reinstated.
9
10 5. Section 4982 states, in pertinent part:
u "The board may deny a license or registration or may suspend or revoke the lic
12 || registration of a licensee or registrant if he or she has been guilty of unprofessional conduct.
13 |} Unprofessional conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
4
15 "(@) Gross negligence or incompetence in the performance of marriage and family therapy.
16
7 (8) Performing or holding oneself out as being able to perform professional services
18 || beyond the scope of one's competence, as established by one’s education, training, or experience.
19 || This subdivision shall not be construed to expand the scope of the license authorized by this
20 |} chapter."
21 see
22
23 6. Section 125.3 of the Code provides, in pertinent part, that the Board may request the
24 || administrative law judge to direct a licentiate found to have committed a violation or violations of
25 |) the licensing act to pay a sum not to exceed the reasonable costs of the investigation and
26 || enforcement of the case.
a7 iil
28 | ///
i TARRY TON: IS LEVY NTION26
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
7. On or about July 4, 2012, Mr. G. and Mrs. G. separated. On September 18, 2013, Mr.
G. and Mrs. G. entered into a stipulation granting them joint legal custody of their four children,
with sole physical custody to Mrs. G. and visitation rights to Juan,
8. Onorabout March 27, 2014, Mr. G. and Mrs. G. entered into a supplemental
stipulation providing that Mr. G. would attend a "reunific
mn therapy session" with Respondent,
and that Mr. G. would attend further sessions if Respondent thought it was in the best interests of
the children to do so, At that time, the children were Respondent's clients.
9. Onorabout June 10, 2014, Respondent wrote a fetter to the Los Angeles Superior
Court ("Court") at the request of Mrs. G.'s attorney detailing his opinions about Mr. G., Mr. G.'s
parental fitness, and Mr. G.'s refationship with his children, This letter was attached to Mrs. G.'s
ex parte application, which was heard on June 11, 2014, for a change in the visitation order.
Included in the letter were various recommendations to the Court regarding custody, visitation,
and other orders,
RST CAUSE FOR DISCIPLINE
3ross Negligence)
10. Respondent is subject to disciplinary action under Code section 4982, subdivision (d)
on the grounds of gross negligence in that his
conduct constituted an extreme departure from the
standard of care ordinarily exercised by a competent licensed marriage and family therapist. The
circumstances, which include by reference Paragraphs 7 through 9, as though fully set forth
herein, are as follows:
11. Respondent was a therapist for Mr. G. and Mrs. G.’s four children and was retained to
be a reunification therapist for Mr. G. and the children,
12. On orabout June 10, 2014, Respondent wrote a leiter to the Court which made
recommendations regarding custody of the children and other matters without the Court having
asked him to do so and without obtaining the permission of both Mr. G. and Mrs. G.
i
SATIONee
26
27
28
13. Respondent placed himself in the dual roles of reunification therapist and custody
evaluator, in that he saw Mr. G. and the children for the purpose of reunifying them, but then
made custody recommendations to the Court, thereby creating a conflict of interest.
SECOND CAUSE FOR DISCIPLIN!
(incompetence)
14, _ Respondent is subject to disciplinary action under Code section 4982, subdivision (d)
on the grounds of incompetence in that Respondent failed to exercise that degree of learning,
skill, care,
\d experience ordinarily possessed and exercised by a competent licensed marriage
and family therapist. The circumstances, which include by reference Paragraphs 7 through 9, as
though fully set forth herein, are as follows:
15. Respondent was a therapist for Mr. G. and Mrs. G.'s four children and was retained to
be a reunification therapist for Mr. G. and the children
16. Onor about June 10, 2014, Respondent wrote a letter to the Court which made
recommendations regarding custody of the children and other matters without the Court having
asked him to do so and without obtaining the permission of both Mr. G. and Mrs. G.
17. Respondent placed himself in the dual roles of reunification therapist and custody
evaluator, in that he saw Mr. G. and the children for the purpose of reunifying them, but then
made custody recommendations to the Court, thereby creating a conflict of interest.
THIRD CAUSE FOR DISCIPLINE
(Performing Services Beyond the Scope of Competence and Training)
18. Respondent
subject to disciplinary action under Code section 4982, subdivision (s)
in that he performed servi
beyond the scope of his competence, as established by his training,
education, and experience. ‘The circumstances, which include by reference Paragraphs 7 through
9, as though fully set forth herein, are that Respondent made custody recommendations to the
Court when he did not possess
sufficient training, education, or experience to make such
recommendations,
wt
Wt
BARRY TONNIS I1 PRAYER
2 WHEREFORE, Complainant requests that a hearing be held on the matters herein alleged,
3 || and that following the hearing, the Board of Behavioral Sciences issue a decision
4 Revoking or suspending Marriage and Family Therapist License Number LMET
5 || 13388, issued to Barry Tonnis Levy:
6 Ordering Barry Tonnis Levy to pay the Board of Behavioral Sciences the reusonable
7 |] costs of the investigation and enforcement of this case, pursuant to Business and Professions
8 |} Code section 125.3; and
9 3. Taking such other and further action as deemed necessary and proper.
10
nl
12]] DATED: November 17, 2015 aad
KIM MADSEN
13 ecutive Officer
Board of Behavioral Sciences
14 Department of Consumer Affairs
State of Californi
1s Complainane
LA2015501451
16 |] 61742016.00cx
0
18
19
20 ;
24
2
2B
24
25 |
26 |
28
5
aR