Board Suspends Psychologist for Misconduct by His Intern

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The license of a local psychologist was suspended Thursday for six months after a state board found him grossly negligent in supervising an intern who, it said, engaged in sexual misconduct with a patient and submitted fraudulent bills.

The Board of Psychology, a branch of the state Department of Consumer Affairs, additionally prohibited psychologist Richard Dickinson from supervising interns or other trainees and placed him on a five-year probation following his suspension. He also must pay $20,182 to reimburse the board for investigation and enforcement costs, it ruled.

The intern was not identified, nor was information available Thursday about the resolution of that case.