Sondermind Candace Romero Wes Knepper Douglas Newton Breach of Patient confidentiality Denver Colorado

  letter submitted to Sondermind 7/28/23
Subject: Complaint Regarding Breach of Confidentiality and Unprofessional Conduct   To whom it may concern,   I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring a serious matter to your attention concerning the conduct of one of your therapists, Candace Romero. I am a patient at Sondermind Therapy and recently received my first therapy session from Candace Romero.    In the course of our first session, I briefly explained to Candace I had been a childhood victim of abuse by the hand of a family member some 40+ years ago. For the sake of explanation, this person has not been a part of my life for over 35 years, and neither have I seen or spoken with them in all these years. I know nothing about this person’s life, or even if they’re dead or alive. In fact, I only learned of this abuse 10 years ago when I began to have memories and flashbacks and then confided in my sister who shared she had the same experience.    I have confided in many therapists over the years, and all of them have assured me there was absolutely no reason to report these past events unless I knew a child was in imminent danger or if I was still in imminent danger, which I am not.    I am deeply disturbed by the recent actions of Candace Romero and her complete ignorance of reporting and confidentiality laws for her profession, and am now taking necessary action to seek your intervention.   On Wednesday, July 27, 2023, during one my therapy session with Ms. Romero, she breached confidentiality by reporting sexual abuse that occurred 40 years ago to the police without seeking my consent or permission. As a result of her actions, the police showed up at my home, causing immense stress and re-traumatization for me and my children, who were present at the time, and who were startled and distressed by the sudden and unexpected visit from the authorities.   The breach of confidentiality by Ms. Romero has left me feeling violated, betrayed, and unable to trust the therapeutic process. Her actions have not only negatively impacted my mental well-being but also disrupted the sense of security and privacy within my family.    Therefore, I request that Sondermind Therapy take immediate disciplinary action against Candace Romero for her unprofessional conduct.   Furthermore, I kindly request the following resolutions to rectify the situation:   1. Refund for the therapy session I have paid for with Ms. Romero. 2. An immediate transfer to a new therapist who upholds the principles of confidentiality and trust. 3. A written apology from Candace Romero acknowledging the breach of confidentiality and the distress it has caused.   I believe that addressing this matter promptly and professionally is essential to preserve the integrity and reputation of Sondermind Therapy. I hope that you will take my concerns seriously and act swiftly to resolve this situation. I look forward to your response and a resolution to this matter.
**i received a call the next day from Wes Knepper saying Sondermind does not support any such practices with an apology that I was 'upset' by the event. As far as I know, no disciplinary action was taken against Candace Romero and to this day, 8/30/23, I have not been refunded for this therapy session. I called today to inquire about my refund and they denied it stating my appointment was 'medically necessary'.