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A "porn addiction" therapist has been reprimanded by the state for discussing a patient — without his permission — with his LDS Church leaders and Brigham Young University.
All of the claims made by Jodi Nan Hildebrandt were false, the man asserts, but they led to his loss of privileges in the church and his ejection from BYU.
"She just lied wherever she went to [further] an agenda to destroy my life," said the man, who objected to bills that were as high as $2,000 a month. "We came there for marriage counseling, and she pulled us into her porn marathon."
Hildebrandt, a professional counselor, is on probation for 18 months and must meet 22 conditions or she could lose her license.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Wednesday that Hildebrandt is no longer on LDS Family Services' referral list due to the case.
She is the director of LifeStar Utah County, a franchisee of a national company based in Utah that specializes in pornography and sexual addiction.
Excessive use of pornography is not recognized as a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association.
The conditions on Hildebrandt's license include working under a supervisor approved by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. The supervisor will sit in on, videotape or audiotape at least one clinical session a month and review 20 percent of her patient files, according to a January order from DOPL.
The supervisor will also instruct her on issues related to confidentiality, boundaries and relationships. She may also need to undergo a psychological evaluation and complete treatment if necessary.
Hildebrandt did not return a phone call or email message. In the DOPL order, she agreed that her actions violated state law and the American Counseling Association's code of ethics.
Hildebrandt's lawyer, Robert Harrison, said in an email that her license is "active and her practice has and will continue without interruption."
In 2008, Hildebrandt provided therapy to a married couple, identified by DOPL only as John and Jane Doe, who later divorced.
John Doe agreed to an interview but asked not to be identified because he fears repercussions from the therapist. He has subsequently been told he can return to study at BYU if he chooses, and he is currently a member of the church.
Between 2008 and 2010, Hildebrandt repeatedly discussed the couple with their LDS clergy and other mental health therapists, without having signed authorization, the DOPL order said.
In 2009, she talked about John Doe to the Honor Code Office at BYU.
In those conversations, Doe said she accused him of having serious problems but never actually diagnosed him or spent enough time with him to do so.
"She spent hardly any time knowing about my life," he said. "She didn't want to talk about my personal goals or my progress. She would only threaten me that if I didn't take more sessions and have my wife take more sessions, the alleged addiction would destroy my life."
In addition, while Hildebrandt was providing therapy to Jane Doe, she allowed the woman to work in her clinic without documenting whether she had given the patient information about the benefits or risks of blurring their therapeutic relationship.
In an interview, John Doe said the couple had been referred to LifeStar for marriage counseling by their LDS bishop, whose brother co-founded the Murray-based national LifeStar Network. It licenses others to use its counseling materials.
John Doe said he did not have addiction issues, and once he began to question Hildebrandt's therapy — which cost $1,200 to $2,000 a month — his personal life started to unravel.
He believes Hildebrandt was using his marriage as leverage "for me to pay for everything."
Todd Olson, with LifeStar Network in Murray, said he is aware of the discipline order against Hildebrandt. He said she is licensed to use the company's materials but she is not an employee, and he has no authority over her Utah County office.
Olson said LifeStar is on the LDS Church's authorized referral list for sex addiction therapy. The church has recently emphasized the dangers of pornography. Hildebrandt was listed as a speaker, addressing pornography, at the 2010 BYU Women's Conference.
Licensing requirements
To be licensed in Utah as a "professional counselor," a therapist must have a master's degree or a doctorate in mental health counseling, or an equivalent degree. It must be from a school accredited by one of several professional councils selected by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. DOPL also sets standards for the types of coursework required.