I was asked to help spread the word about a cause that I think is very important to all of us. Please read the information below, follow the links and sign the petition. You should know that I don’t do things like this very often, so that should tell you have important I feel this is.

An Important Cause

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-therapist-abuse-now

http://www.lynetteslaw4maryland.com/about/

 http://dhmh.maryland.gov/bopc/PublicOrder/richardomeara2012.pdf

Rob has graciously agreed to post this on my behalf, since I know I will reach many more people with his help

– J

Our family was significantly affected by the above story, although not nearly as significantly as some others were.   I get these requests all the time, and I am ashamed to say that I often ignore them.

THIS one is important….you probably don’t even realize how many of your friends and family members have entrusted themselves to a therapist- the number is way higher than you think.  When both of our boys were diagnosed with autism in a 12 month period, both my husband and I were reeling, and our family life and marriage suffered tremendously.

As a result, we sought counseling.  Our therapist’s name was Richard O’Meara.  He has now surrendered his licenses after admitting to sexually exploiting his 26 year old client (he is 60), he has also admitted that he was imprisoned for a felony, which he failed to disclose on his licensure application.  The client he abused also has a child with special needs.

He was seeing very vulnerable clients, myself included, and preying upon them.  It is essential that a thorough background check be done on all prospective therapists.  Seems like common sense to me.  I am a nurse, and have been fingerprinted many times for my licenses.  But not in the state of Maryland….this needs to change!

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-therapist-abuse-now