SHARON Director denies charges

Shayen George called the charges 'garbage' and predicted he will be cleared.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Psychologist Shayen A. George could lose his license and face civil fines if allegations of misconduct are upheld by the State Board of Psychology.
The psychology board issued a 10-count order to show cause against George earlier this month, setting a July 17 hearing date in Harrisburg for him to answer the charges made by the state Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.
George, executive director of Associates in Counseling & amp; Child Guidance in Sharon, said he welcomes the opportunity to clear his name.
"There is no truth to any of this. It's garbage," he said.
Checked into: George said his board of directors has already investigated some of these allegations made by a former employee who was dismissed by the board for inappropriate and unprofessional conduct.
The board of directors found no wrongdoing on his part, George said.
He said he has practiced psychology for 20 years and has never had a complaint filed against him and one of those listed in this complaint has already told him they want no part of this action.
George said he believes the complaints are a political ploy by a former business partner to discredit him and Associates in Counseling & amp; Child Guidance in an attempt to gain an advantage in the marketplace.
Associates in Counseling & amp; Child Guidance, which provides wraparound and counseling services, is not a party to the state investigation, George said, expressing concern that the clinic may be unfairly damaged by the publicity.
The charges: The order to show cause alleges that between 1994 and 1999, George violated the Professional Psychologists Practice Act by failing to maintain professional relationships with clients, committing immoral and/or unprofessional conduct, failing to report suspected child abuse to the proper authorities, departing from acceptable psychological practices, displaying gross negligence, creating unsuitable working conditions for his employees and staff and failing to safeguard the confidentiality of a patient's psychological information.
Among other things, he is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with the mother of a juvenile client, encouraging two juvenile clients to engage in a romance knowing they were engaging in sexual activity, failing to reveal alleged sexual molestation of a juvenile client, changing a psychological evaluation of a client to conform with the wishes of the client's parent and repeatedly displaying pornographic materials or speaking about sexually explicit activities in the workplace.