LANCASTER : State Rejects Bid for Psychologist License

State medical officials have denied a psychologist’s license to a Lancaster man for having sex with a woman patient when he was a psychologist’s assistant in 1985.

The state Board of Psychology said Alan Schlaks, 48, displayed gross negligence in having a sexual relationship with the married woman, identified only as Linda T. He began treating her for emotional stress in 1983, when she was 27.

At the time, Schlaks was working under the supervision of a licensed psychologist at the Pain and Headache Management Center in Lancaster. He treated Linda T. for anxiety and depression related to her worries that she might not be able to bear children as a result of three miscarriages and an abortion.

According to legal documents, Schlaks had sex with Linda T. at his home and office and said he had fallen in love with her. He gave her a key to his apartment, but they had a fight and she returned the key, the documents said.

Linda T. later became pregnant and Schlaks refused to help pay for an abortion, the documents said. She subsequently filed the complaint that led to the state action against Schlaks.

Schlaks and the psychologist he worked under, Dharmapalan Vyravi Pillai, were sued by Linda T., and Pillai’s insurance company settled the case for $250,000, state officials said. Pillai was not the subject of disciplinary action by the Board of Psychology.

Schlaks and his attorney, John G. Kerr, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Schlaks now works as a counselor at Walden Environment Boys’ Home in Lancaster and teaches at the Palmdale branch of Chapman College.