Suspension nearing end for Lethbridge psychologist sanctioned for unprofessional conduct

Lethbridge psychologist Zac Rhodenizer will be eligible to resume his practice next month after a four-month suspension.

A Lethbridge psychologist will be eligible to resume his practice next month after a four-month suspension.

Registered psychologist Zac Rhodenizer was suspended from practice by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) after he was found guilty of unprofessional conduct for inappropriate behaviour involving two 15-year-old students.

One student lodged a complaint to CAP on October 21, 2020 and the College opened an investigation.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Rhodenizer was a family school liaison counsellor in 2015 when he saw the students for multiple group and individual counselling sessions.

In the hearing tribunal’s written decision, Rhodenizer — who was 31-years-old at the time — expressed inappropriate affection and exchanged text messages of an intimate, inappropriate or sexual nature with one student, and spoke to the other in an inappropriate and sexually suggestive manner.

Steven Osmond, his lawyer, argued Rhodenizer was “a silly stupid boy” of a similar demographic to his patients at the time and had not yet learned to control his urges.

The tribunal categorically rejected those submissions.

“We have emphasized the fact that as psychologists and as a College, that we have always had a code of ethics that prohibits psychologists from engaging in person, intimate and especially sexual relationships with their patients or clients,” CAP complaints director Dr. Troy Janzen said.