Iowa Board Sanctioned Four Mental Health Counselors
State regulators have penalized four counselors for professional boundary violations with their clients.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Mental Health
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The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals has taken disciplinary action against four mental health counselors following reports of improper personal relationships with clients. These actions range from mandatory training and probation to the voluntary surrender of professional licenses.
Why it matters
Professional boundaries are a fundamental component of safe, effective mental health care, as dual relationships can compromise the therapeutic environment and patient wellbeing. These disciplinary actions reflect the regulatory commitment to enforcing strict ethical standards across Iowa’s healthcare workforce.
Official board records show four specific disciplinary cases involving boundary violations, including probationary periods of two years and mandatory education requirements of 12 hours. The exact number of total statewide complaints reviewed remains under investigation by the board.
The players
Cheryl Schromen
A former Iowa-licensed mental health counselor who agreed to surrender her license after engaging in a personal relationship with a client.
Ben Mineck
A Cedar Rapids-based counselor who received a warning and mandatory training requirements for maintaining an inappropriate virtual relationship with a client.
Charity Dangelser
An Iowa-licensed independent social worker who agreed to surrender her license following findings of a dual relationship with a client.
Tyler Gray
A counselor whose license was placed on two-year probation for entering into a nonprofessional relationship with a former client.
The details
The disciplinary actions address various forms of nonprofessional engagement, including sexual relationships and inappropriate virtual interactions. In one instance, a counselor utilized SnapChat to initiate flirtatious communication, while another case involved an intimate connection initiated shortly after a formal therapy term concluded. These sanctions serve to uphold the integrity of the counselor-client dynamic by reinforcing mandatory conduct standards.
Timeline
October 2021: Ben Mineck became an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor.
June 2024: Cheryl Schromen became an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor.
April to July 2025: Tyler Gray provided counseling to the client involved in the case.
August 2025: Charity Dangelser became an Iowa-licensed independent social worker.
September 2025: Tyler Gray became an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor.
Health Landscape
These sanctions follow the regulatory framework established by the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals code of conduct. The board’s enforcement action reflects an ongoing trend of tightening oversight regarding virtual and personal boundaries in the mental health field.
Patients should feel comfortable discussing the boundaries of their therapy sessions with their clinicians at any time. If you ever feel that your counseling relationship has crossed professional lines, you can report concerns to the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals.
The takeaway
Maintaining clear professional boundaries is essential for the safety and efficacy of mental health treatment. Patients who are concerned about their own care experience should feel empowered to speak with their clinician or contact the state board to verify a professional's standing.
Further reading
For more information on the ethical standards governing clinical care, visit our Mental Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowacapitaldispatch.
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