Owen had “meticulously leveraged” his two roles as a therapist and LDS church leader to claim sexual abuse as treatment, one patient told the courtroom.
“He exploited my trust, he weaponized my faith and dismantled my confidence.”
By @jessicamiller.bsky.social
One victim said Scott Owen “meticulously leveraged” his two roles as a licensed mental health worker and an LDS church leader, blending religion and therapy to assure him that sexual touching in their sessions was necessary treatment.
NEW: Dozens of life coaches advertised their ability to treat mental health issues, despite not having the training or permits to do so, Utah researchers found.
A new law aims to crack down on the practice by clearly defining what only a therapist can do.
With @sltrib.com
Still looking to connect with Utahns who feel like they were harmed by their life coach. If that's you, send me an email : jschreifels(@)sltrib.com
Some therapists who lose their licenses transition to the unregulated life coaching industry, a @sltrib.com / @propublica.org investigation found. A new law Gov. Cox signed yesterday makes it clear that only licensed therapists can provide mental health treatment.
NEW: Utah Ex-Therapist Scott Owen Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing His Patients
The plea comes after an investigation by @sltrib.com and @propublica.org about the former therapist, who built a reputation as a specialist for struggling gay Latter-day Saints men.
Kendrick Lamar performing at Super Bowl
On my way to FOIA the info you wouldn't give me
While Scott Owen gave up his therapy license in 2018 after patients complained to state licensers that he had touched them inappropriately, his guilty pleas Monday marked the first time he has publicly acknowledged that he sexually abused his patients.
In Utah, 217 women have now sued an OB-GYN for alleged sex abuse. One says he assaulted her after he agreed to stop practicing.
Young Utahns are struggling with mental health.
A new Utah tech company promises its A.I. chatbot can help, but mental health professionals are raising concerns.
I'm looking to connect with Utah life coaches who have opinions (either for or against) about whether their industry should be regulated or require registration. Is that you or do you know someone? Please get in touch, I'm at jmiller(at)sltrib.com!
Nearly half of Utah’s wilderness programs for "troubled teens" closed in the last year.
The Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Council said one factor — negative attention driven by former clients — has been “hard for programs to combat." www.sltrib.com/news/2024/05...
Newly public records show that Utah Valley University quietly asked a nurse practitioner to resign over an after-hours pelvic exam. That was years after two students had reported him to campus police, alleging he touched them inappropriately during exams. www.sltrib.com/news/health/...
Attorney: “Derrick provided indicated medical care, with written consent, and with a female chaperone present, and is still asserted to have had an improper motive several years later. This is an unfair burden to place upon health care providers.” (9/9)
Pickering denies that he inappropriately touched these patients. His attorney said the allegations raise the question of whether any male health care provider can work in the area of women’s health. (8/9)
Chelsi Rasmussen reported Pickering to police in 2023, alleging he inappropriately touched her during a cosmetic procedure. She also sued. She was frustrated to learn that other women made similar reports: “Not many even take the courage to go and report it to the police.” (7/9)
Draper police closed H.S.’s case after a detective lost contact with her. Police officials say they didn’t know at that time that other women had reported Pickering to UVU police. (6/9)
A third woman, H.S., reported to Draper police in 2022 that Pickering grabbed her breast during a cosmetic procedure at Belle Medical. She said she felt dismissed by officers, who she said told her, “this will be really helpful if anybody else comes forward.” (5/9)
Less than a year later, C.C. went to the student health center for an exam ahead of serving a church mission. She later told campus police in 2018 that she felt Pickering gave her an unnecessary breast and pelvic exam. (4/9)
It doesn’t appear the police investigated thoroughly — and Pickering’s attorney says the medical worker was never informed of the report. (3/9)
The first person to report nurse practitioner Derrick Pickering to police was a Utah Valley University student who alleged he touched her inappropriately during a 2015 exam at the student health center. (2/9)
This Utah woman says she was touched inappropriately during a cosmetic procedure. She’s the fourth to report the medical worker to police.
CW: Allegations of sexual abuse (1/9)
Utah ex-therapist Scott Owen charged today with 10 felonies, accused of sexually abusing patients who were LDS and struggling with their sexuality.
Prosecutors say he told one patient, “God gives certain people special permission to do things that are normally wrong."
Utah therapist Scott Owen was arrested yesterday for allegedly sexually abusing patients during sessions.
This comes three months after our @sltrib.com / @propublica.bsky.social investigation detailing the accounts of several of Owen's former patients.
Carmela had never seen an OB-GYN and was hoping to find one in Utah who spoke Spanish. When she found David Broadbent, she remained a patient for 14 years, despite visits that she says left her in pain and bleeding.
Now, she’s 1 of 94 women suing him for sex assault.
These men say their Utah therapist touched them inappropriately during sessions paid for by the LDS Church.
A church rep said it doesn't vet the therapists its bishops recommend/pay for, saying “it is up to church members” to “make their own decisions.”
With @sltrib.com / @propublica.bsky.social
