An Oregon board has yanked the license of a Portland psychologist whose 11-year-old client attempted suicide following her unorthodox treatment recommendation that included drinking milk from a baby bottle while sitting in his father's lap.
The Board of Psychologist Examiners said Wednesday that it unanimously voted to revoke the license of Debra "Kali" Miller. The board's decision is final. Miller has been unable to practice since last March, when the board suspended her license.
According to the board, Miller inaccurately diagnosed the boy with a rare condition known as Reactive Attachment Disorder. She also failed to diagnose depression and recommended unscientific therapy methods to the boy that might have contributed to his suicide attempt, the board said.
Besides the bottle feeding, Miller directed the child to remain confined in his bedroom for extended periods with his door set up with an alarm. She also advised the parents to place small treats in his mouth to reward good behavior ("baby birding"), have the child crawl on his tummy like a baby, and have him sit for a certain time period in a cross legged, straight posture.
Miller also told the parents to separate the child from his siblings, and referred the child to an unlicensed practitioner, the board said.
The board also found Miller did not alter her recommendations in the face of evidence that the parents were often using her prescribed interventions as punishment. During her hearing, Miller continued to express strong conviction in the efficacy of the methodology she had used.
The board concluded these interventions more likely than not did cause psychological harm to the child. Last September, the boy was taken to a hospital following a suicide attempt by strangulation. He had been in therapy with Miller for more than a year, but he was no longer her client when he attempted to strangle himself.
Miller did not immediately return a call for comment.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and other professional organizations have published warnings regarding the dangers of physically coercive treatment techniques for Reactive Attachment Disorder, or RAD. Such techniques, according to the groups, are scientifically unproven and may damage the child physically and emotionally.
Miller told the board most of the children she treated were children with RAD and that she had a yearlong waiting list.
This isn't the first time Miller has come to the board's attention.
In 2004, the board issued an order reprimanding Miller and fining her $1,000 for continuing to provide psychotherapy to two children after their recently divorced father demanded she stop. The Oregon Court of Appeals then reversed the board's decision.
In 2012, Miller entered into a corrective action agreement with the board after it found that she relied on unreliable sources in assessing whether a child suffered sexual abuse.
After the board suspended Miller's license, she sought a hearing before an administrative law judge. Two different judges agreed with the board's actions, therefore Miller's license to practice psychology in Oregon was revoked.
-- The Associated Press