A Brantford social worker is facing a disciplinary hearing launched by her governing body after being accused of having sex with a client and engaging in sexual behavior with another client.
Advertisement 2
Article content
The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers notified Laura Dowler last month that it’s planning a disciplinary hearing to consider her actions, which allege Dowler deleted, altered/and failed to produce evidence of text messages she sent and received.
None of the allegations have been proven but the list of accusations has been posted in a 10-page document on the college’s website.
Dowler, who owns and operates Grand River Counselling at a clinic on Grey Street, is accused of inappropriate comments and behaviours toward a male client, including sexual touching during a four-hour visit to his home where she wouldn’t leave until 2:30 a.m.
She is also accused of counseling the man’s wife and using information gained from one spouse to manipulate the other.
Advertisement 3
Article content
Dowler is accused of having a sexual relationship with another client in 2020 to 2021.
The college also alleges Dowler crossed boundaries about accepting gifts with another client in 2019, despite the client’s vulnerability.
When the college began an investigation of Dowler and requested all her text messages to the clients involved in the investigation, the counsellor is accused of failing to provide certain messages. But, the college said it got a full accounting of some of those messages from the victims involved.
Dowler is specifically accused of:
- Professional misconduct, particularly by engaging in sexual relations with clients;
- Failing to cooperate with the college’s procedures during a complaint;
- Using information from clients to get a benefit;
- Using her position of authority to coerce or exploit a client;
- Acting in a way that reflects negatively on the social service profession; and
- Failing to keep proper records of her interactions with clients.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Dowler, who taught courses at Laurier Brantford, has been known for her work with police officers and firefighters and was a guest speaker at a Brantford symposium last year called Mission Forward that addressed the trauma first-responders experience.
Her lawyer, Daniel Libman, said Wednesday neither he nor Dowler could provide any comment as the matter is before the college’s discipline committee.
Dowler will be called to appear at a hearing in Toronto and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers at a date yet to be determined.
As of June 6, Dowler voluntarily agreed to an “interim undertaking” with the college, saying she will be overseen by a supervisor and notify the college of each of her practice locations.
@EXPSGamble
Article content