A letter from the Board is not a finding. How you respond is.
Do not alter records. Do not contact the complainant. Do not write a narrative response before someone has read the allegation with you. I handle BBS and Board of Psychology matters from first notice through resolution, on a flat-fee basis wherever the matter allows.
The first 72 hours matter more than the letter itself.
A citation, inquiry letter, or notice of investigation from the Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology is not a finding against you — it’s the start of a process, and how you handle the opening days shapes everything that follows.
Three things not to do before you call:
- Do not alter, add to, or “clean up” the client’s record. Any change made after notice of a complaint is discoverable and treated as consciousness of guilt, even if your intent was innocent.
- Do not contact the complainant. Even a well-meaning outreach can be read as intimidation or witness tampering and can independently extend your exposure.
- Do not submit a written response to the Board before someone has reviewed the actual allegation with you. A defensive narrative written under stress, without counsel, is the single most common way a minor citation becomes a larger investigation.
How I handle a Board matter:
- Read the citation or letter with you line by line and identify exactly what’s being alleged and what standard applies
- Advise on record preservation and what (if anything) needs to happen with the file right now
- Draft or review your written response before it’s submitted
- Represent you in communications with the Board investigator
- Carry the matter through to resolution — closure, stipulation, or a formal hearing
Most Board matters are handled on a flat-fee basis once the scope of the investigation is clear.