Shrewsbury Psychologist Placed on Leave from Grafton Schools

Grafton school psychologist Michael Sefton, whose license to practice psychology was revoked in 2008 for having a sexual relationship with a patient, has been placed on administrative leave, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Connors confirmed today.

The school department is awaiting the results of an investigation by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education into the situation, Connors said.

The agency will determine if the situation would create "a moment of pause'' for anyone, he said. The agency is also looking at its practice of licensing school psychologists, he said. 

Sefton's license was revoked by the state Board of Registration of Psychologists in February 2008.

School psychologists do not have to be certified by the Board of Registration of Psychologists, said Jason Lefferts, spokesman for the division.

Sefton, who lives in Shrewsbury, received an initial Massachusetts school psychologist license for all grades on Aug. 17, 2009, according to Jonathan Considine, spokesman for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The department did not know that Sefton’s professional license was revoked until last fall, Considine said.

"We have been working to review and monitor the situation since that time,'' he said in a prepared statement.

He could not provide any additional comment or detail on the department’s review of the matter.

The Board of Registration and Psychologists determined that Sefton had "committed one of the most serious violations of the regulations governing the conduct of psychologists,'' according to the decision on his case. "It is the type of conduct which is almost always harmful to the victim.''

Sefton is not charged with any improper behavior in the school system. 

He underwent a successful criminal background check, which is mandated for all employees, Connors said.

"He's a terrific employee,'' Connors said. "He is well-respected by the faculty and administration. We have not had one complaint'' about him.

Sefton does not counsel students, Connors said. He uses diagnostic tools to determine the appropriate treatment for students with special needs, he said. 

"He made a bad judgement and he's faced the consequences, and he's tried to move on, and it's reemerged,'' Connor said. "It's sad, really.''

The incident that led to his license being revoked happened  around June 1998. Sefton was working as director of neuropsychology at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Westborough. The patient was originally a co-worker who then sought professional services from Sefton, according to the official decision.

Sefton acknowledged the relationship became a sexual one.

"When they became coworkers, she hung on every word he said,'' the report reads. "When she sought therapy [from Sefton], she was not expecting that her life would go backward.''

Sefton expressed "genuine remorse,'' according to the report. "He is very sorry, he knows he failed her and her family and shamed himself.''

Sefton's colleague at Whittier, Dr. John Turchetta, testified that Sefton had shown remorse. Dr. Turchetta said he was well-liked by his patients, most of whom were in their 60s and 70s and have neurological problems.

Dr. Turchetta said at the time that he would still want Sefton to work at the hospital and was willing to sponsor him during any probationary period mandated by the board.