The Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (“MFT board”) was created to ensure that an effective marriage and family therapists regulatory program is carried out. The Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program’s primary purpose is “to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Texas.” As of September 1, 2017, the regulatory authority over Marriage and Family Therapists falls under the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
The MFT Board is tasked with adopting guidelines for investigating complaints and procedures for imposing disciplinary action, and then carrying out complaint investigations and handing down disciplinary action accordingly.
Complaint Process of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
The MFT Board reviews all complaints it receives to verify that the statement indicates a potential violation of law or rules. If the allegations in the complaint indicate a violation of Texas laws or MFT rules may have been violated, the MFT Board will further investigate.
In some instances, a complaint may be investigated informally by staff. In other cases, investigations are conducted by a Texas Health and Human Services Commission investigator. The complaint may be investigated by mail, telephone, or personal interviews.
During the investigation, information and/or documentation will be collected that is relevant to the complaint. As a licensee, this is your opportunity to defend yourself against the allegations and defend your MFT license.
Once a complaint is filed against you and an investigation is launched by the MFT Board, your career, reputation, and livelihood are at stake. Our Firm believes that immediately consulting an experienced professional license defense attorney to review allegations of misconduct helps ensure the most favorable outcome in your case. It is imperative that you seek representation from an experienced professional license defense attorney.
The complainant is required to submit a General Release form along with their complaint form. The General Release form authorizes the release of “any and all records and information pertaining to me” for use by the MFT Board in the pending investigation and/or legal action. Before releasing any patient medical records to the MFT Board, or any other entity, ensure that a properly executed release form is in place. Otherwise you could run the risk of violating doctor-patient confidentiality, HIPPA laws, and other laws.
After the investigation is completed, the report of investigation will be forwarded to the MFT program for appropriate action. The MFT Board will decide what disciplinary action should be imposed, if any.
Defending Your MFT License
Some of the common reasons Marriage and Family Therapists face complaints include allegations of: breach of confidentiality, inappropriate relationships and boundaries with clients, failure to maintain accurate records or other paperwork, insurance and Medicaid fraud, criminal activity, or unprofessional conduct.
A formal complaint filed with the MFT Board in response to an alleged violation of the law or professional rules can have profound consequences for your career.
If you have been notified of a complaint filed against you with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, BERTOLINO LLP can help. We are experienced license defense attorneys and we know how to navigate the complaint process against licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. We are prepared to represent you at any legal hearing or proceeding regarding your license.
With offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, we serve clients all over the state. As experienced attorneys, well-versed in state and federal laws, we know how to win. Our results speak for themselves.
If you are facing disciplinary action from a professional licensing board, contact us today or call (512) 476-5757 and schedule a case evaluation.
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