Counselor Faces Misconduct Charge

A Long Beach family counselor who is active in community organizations has been accused by a state licensing board of unprofessional conduct for having a sexual relationship with a former client.

The client, Patricia Ann Lamis, was the opening witness Thursday at an administrative hearing in Los Angeles into allegations that could result in the revocation of Judith Manley Doyle’s license to practice family therapy by the state Board of Behavioral Science Examiners.

“The relationship was making me sicker,” Lamis told Administrative Law Judge Rosalyn M. Chapman. “I felt horrible. I just thought it was wrong.”

Doyle, who has been a therapist since 1977, is executive director of One in Long Beach, Inc., which runs a gay and lesbian service center. She was a chairwoman of the recent AIDS Walk/Long Beach and is one of the founders of the city’s annual gay pride parade and festival.

While acknowledging that she at one time had a personal relationship with Lamis, Doyle maintains that it did not begin until after their therapeutic relationship had ended and therefore does not constitute unethical behavior.

“We dated on and off when she was no longer a client,” Doyle said. “I did no wrong.”