State officials have charged Vashon therapist Jeffrey Zheutlin with unprofessional conduct and have suspended his license for six months.

Zheutlin violated the law by becoming romantically involved with a patient, who was his client as well as the mother of a juvenile whom Zheutlin also treated, according to documents from Washington’s Department of Health (DOH). A settlement, reached late last month, also requires that he take 12 hours of continuing education regarding boundaries and ethics and pay a fine of $2,000. Additionally, when he applies to have his license reinstated, he may have to abide by conditions the state imposes, such as a probationary period or a restriction on practicing alone.

Zheutlin worked at Vashon Youth & Family Services for more than 20 years and was the agency’s clinical director when he resigned last September, two weeks after the Department of Health opened its investigation. He also ran a private counseling practice from his home office; he saw both clients that were part of the investigation there, officials say. He continued to practice outside of the agency after he resigned.

Reached last week, Zheutlin provided a statement via email.

“As a therapist, I have been blessed to share the lives of so many people on Vashon for the last 25 years. I hope this community can now show me grace and understand I am human too. Professionally, I made a big mistake with serious consequences. But personally, I chose to follow my heart and have never been happier. I have learned and grown personally and professionally through this situation, and I look forward to working in this community again soon,” he wrote.

Documents indicate Zheutlin, who was married at the time, provided counseling for a woman identified as “Patient A” from the spring of 2012 to September of 2013, and in the summer of 2013, the two began a romantic relationship, which is ongoing. Zheutlin also provided treatment for the woman’s child in approximately the same time frame.

The state never condones sexual misconduct on the part of a health professional, said DOH case manager Tammy Kelley, but it does consider aggravating and mitigating factors. In this case, she said, sanctions were on the low end of the spectrum of possibilities because of mitigating factors, including that Zheutlin does not have a prior disciplinary history with the department and that he cooperated fully with investigators. In some cases involving sexual misconduct, the state suspends licenses for up to five years or completely revokes the practition- er’s license, she added.

Kelley noted that in addition to being Zheutlin’s client, the woman he developed a relationship with was an intern under his supervision at Vashon Youth & Family Services (VYFS). The Department of Health does not have disciplinary authority over agencies, she said, but if investigators would have turned up evidence of wrongdoing at the agency, including if people knew of the relationship, but turned a blind eye to it, officials would have investigated.

“If we had seen anything leading to that in our investigation, we would have pursued it,” she said, “but obviously nothing made us believe it.”

Kathleen Johnson, the executive director at VYFS, declined to comment, saying that agency policy is to keep personnel matters confidential.

Once the six months of his license suspension have passed and Zheutlin has completed all the requirements, his license will likely be reinstated with conditions.

“We are going to want some oversight once he is back in practice,” Kelley said.

Additionally, she noted that in some cases a requirement to practice with others would mean that the health professional could not practice at all — which would run counter to the intent of the agency. Other arrangements might be made in that case, she said, including that the health provider work with a practice consultant, who, in turn, would report to the Department of Health.

“We want someone to be able to safely practice in the least restricted means available,” she added.

The laws regarding sexual misconduct exist to protect patients because there is always a power imbalance between a provider and patient, Kelley said, adding that in small communities, the situation can be particularly challenging, but legally, the boundaries are set.

“To follow the law, you have to draw the line in the sand,” she said.