State Charges Monmouth County Social Worker With Criminal Sexual Contact During Therapy Session

TRENTON - The state Attorney General's Office has temporarily suspended the license of a Monmouth County social worker after he was accused of inappropriately touching a female client during therapy sessions, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said.

Cheong “Alec” Park, 49, of Neptune, was arrested by Jersey City police on Aug. 31 and charged with criminal sexual contact stemming from an incident during a July counseling session.

Park had hugged and massaged the woman's face, neck, shoulders and upper chest area and told her it was "relaxation therapy," Porrino said.

When the victim told Park she had trouble setting boundaries during the July session, Park began to massage her chest and breasts inside her bra, according to the consider order

Park confessed to telling the victim he was attracted to her, but claimed he was "in a panic" at the time, the consent order states.

He told his clinical supervisor that he was performing "exposure therapy," which he was not licensed or trained to provide. He was told by the supervisor he should have no physical contact with a client, other than a "brief handshake," the complaint states.

“There is no greater harm a mental healthcare provider can inflict on his patients than to exploit their trust in him to satisfy his own base needs,” Porrino said. “Cheong Park allegedly used his role as a therapist to sexually prey on this vulnerable woman, an appalling breach of ethics and professional standards. In addition to resolving his criminal case, he will have to undergo a professional evaluation and be deemed fit to resume practice before the Board would consider reinstating his license.”

Park agreed to the temporary suspension of his license pending the disposition of the criminal charge.

Park is forbidden from practicing social work, alcohol and drug counseling, mental health therapy and/or counseling, or social work services in any setting, including those exempt from licensing requirements such as uncompensated or volunteer practice, life coaching, internet counseling and/or non-profit or other exempt settings, according to the consent order.

“The allegations against this licensed social worker represent serious and harmful acts that victimized a client,” said Sharon Joyce, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By obtaining the temporary suspension of Cheong Park’s license, the Board has acted swiftly to protect the public until these very serious allegations are resolved.”

Patients who believe that they have been treated by a licensed health care professional in an inappropriate manner can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or (973) 504-6200.

Photo: Patch file photo