The decision of the Hearing/Complaints Committee is provided promptly to the psychologist, the complainant, the psychologist’s employer(s), and the College must give public notice of all suspensions and revocations by the Hearing/Complaints Committee. In addition, the Hearing/Complaints Committee can order that the notice of all decisions be published.
Listed below are notices of the Hearing/Complaints Committee decisions. To verify the registration status of any member, please contact the Administrative Assistant.
NOTICE OF HEARING COMMITTEE DECISION
Following a meeting on January 17, 2025, the Hearing Committee (“Committee”) of the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick (“College”) accepted an alternative complaint resolution proposal from a Member and issued a decision of the same date wherein the Committee concluded that the Member engaged in professional misconduct when:
- the Member attended a client’s neighbour’s house to ask the neighbour about potential information related to the client, which was outside the Member’s scope of responsibilities as a psychologist and exceeded professional boundaries;
- the Member made comments to the client’s neighbour about the complainant which were perceived to be disparaging of the complainant, which exceeded the Member’s professional boundaries and which could have harmed the reputation of the profession as the Member’s professional status may have intimidated the neighbour;
- the Member, albeit mistakenly, violated the client’s confidentiality when the Member attended the client’s house and failed to ensure that no third parties, including the client’s neighbour, could hear the conversation regarding the client; and
- the Member attended the client’s house and retrieved the client’s personal items from the client’s house, which exceeded the Member’s professional boundaries.
The Committee ordered that:
- The Member be reprimanded and that this reprimand be recorded in records of the College for a period of two (2) years;
- The Member pay costs in the amount of $1,000;
- The Member complete courses at the Member’s expense related to ethics and boundaries;
- The Member review the College’s Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct; and
- The Member submit an apology letter to the Complainant.
The Committee further recommended that the Member engage in discussions with colleagues to confirm an understanding of the importance of professional and ethical boundaries in practice and that the Member ensure professional boundaries are established and maintained with new and existing clients by creating a document outlining the professional boundaries to be respected with clients.
NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE DECISION
By a decision dated October 20, 2023, the Complaints Committee of the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick found that a member maintained files, including client files, on a personal/work computer in the member’s home, without a password, such that everyone in the member’s family could have access to the client files. The Member admitted to the allegations and that such conduct constituted professional misconduct.
The Complaints Committee ordered that the Member:
- pay a fine in the amount of $2,500;
- pay costs in the amount of $500;
- provide evidence of successful completion of the course “Being an Ethical Psychologist” of the Canadian Psychological Association.
NOTICE OF HEARING COMMITTEE DECISION
NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF JANICE CHISHOLM-BRIAND
Effective November 9, 2022, Janice Chisholm-Briand’s registration with the College was suspended for failure to adhere to conditions imposed on her registration on or before the date required. Ms. Chisholm-Briand is prohibited from practising psychology or holding herself out as a psychologist during the time her registration is suspended.
By a decision dated June 29, 2022, the Hearing Committee of the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick concluded that a complaint against Janice Chisholm-Briand was substantiated and that, at the time the alleged events occurred, the Member was suffering from a physical or mental condition or disorder of such a nature and extent that it was desirable in the interests of the public, the College and the Member that the Member was no longer carrying on the practice of a psychologist. The Committee concluded that, as a result of the incapacity, the Member:
- failed to renew her professional liability insurance in violation of subsection 11(1) of the Psychologists Act;
- breached confidentiality in that the Member disclosed the name of a client to a third party in violation of the Code of Conduct; and
- failed to meet the ethical responsibility to ensure continuity of care of clients in violation of the Code of Conduct.
The Hearing Committee ordered that the Member:
- at the Member’s expense, shall provide to the Registrar evidence of a psychological evaluation, including evidence of objective testing, by a qualified psychologist appointed by the Registrar, which shall include a detailed assessment of the Member’s mental health at the time of the incidents, the Member’s current mental health, and the Member’s ability to safely practise psychology;
- shall develop a plan to ensure continuity of care of the Member’s clients in the event of a future incapacity; and
- pay to the College costs in the amount of $7,500.
The Hearing Committee further ordered that, if the Member fails to satisfy any of the above-noted conditions on or before the date required, the Member’s registration may be suspended until the conditions have been completed. As a result of the Member’s failure to satisfy the above-noted conditions on or before the date required, the Member’s registration was suspended effective November 9, 2022.
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MICHELINE PELLETIER – REGISTRATION SUSPENDED AND REPRIMAND
By a decision dated June 29, 2018, the Hearing Committee of the College of Psychologists of New Brunswick concluded that a Member, Micheline Pelletier, breached confidentiality and violated patient privacy. The Committee found that the Member’s unauthorized access of the files of two patients who were not in her care was contrary to the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists and constitutes professional misconduct.
The Hearing Committee ordered the immediate suspension of the Member’s registration, and ordered that the suspension remain in effect until the Member:
- successfully repeats the oral exam prescribed by the By-laws; and
- pays to the College a portion of the costs in the amount of $2,500.00.
Upon satisfaction of the above conditions, the Member will be eligible to receive active member status. The Member’s registration will be subject to the following conditions:
- the member must satisfy the Registrar that she is adhering to the practice standards set out in the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists, notably by providing copies of employer performance evaluations at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months from the date she resumes active practice, or, if she practices psychology in private practice, by completing a year of supervised practice; and
- the member must provide all employers with a copy of the Committee’s decision.
June 29, 2018