A former addiction counselor in the Syracuse, New York area has been accused of sexually abusing four patients while overseeing their treatment. The allegations, which span 2018 to 2020, include that he used his clinical authority to pressure patients into sexual encounters, breach professional boundaries, and exploit the power imbalance inherent in therapy relationships.
Plaintiffs say that when patients complained, they were dismissed or threatened with adverse treatment consequences. One lawsuit states that the counselor told a patient her cooperation would influence her access to continued care, effectively coercing compliance under the guise of treatment support. The state revoked his alcohol and substance abuse counseling certification in 2020 following a preliminary investigation.
For survivors, this case highlights how abuse in recovery settings is especially insidious: patients are vulnerable by nature of their struggle, seeking help in positions of trust. Civil litigation in such contexts is crucial, not only for obtaining accountability but for prompting institutions to strengthen oversight, reporting, and ethical enforcement in behavioral health settings.
