Board reinstates license of social worker accused of theft, sexual exploitation
The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing administers the state's Board of Social Work as well as other licensing boards. (Main photo by Getty Images; logo courtesy State of Iowa)
The state of Iowa has agreed to reinstate the license of a social worker who had a sexual relationship with a client she bailed out of jail using stolen money.
State records indicate that in October 2015, the Iowa Board of Social work issued a license to Amanda Burgod, who was at one time a co-owner of New Beginnings Counseling Service in Des Moines, where she worked as a therapist.
From March 2018 until May 2019, Burgod allegedly provided counseling to a male client — identified in board records by the initials B.M. — with whom she had entered into a sexual relationship.
On May 23, 2019, Burgod allegedly took $11,000 from the business account of New Beginning and used the money to pay for a bond to secure B.M.’s release from jail. The next day, she allegedly took an additional $900 to pay for another bond for B.M.
Court records indicate B.M. had a history of violence and that while he was in therapy he had threatened to “shoot up” the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services or commit “suicide by cop.”
According to police records, when Burgod’s fellow owners at New Beginnings asked her about the missing money, she falsely claimed to have gambled it away. Burgod’s husband subsequently deposited $12,000 back into New Beginnings’ business account, according to police records.
Board records indicate Burgod was later arrested and charged with first-degree theft and sexual exploitation by a therapist. She pleaded guilty to third-degree theft and the sexual exploitation charge was dismissed. She also agreed to voluntarily surrender her social worker’s license.
In 2022, Burgod applied for reinstatement of her license, which triggered a board investigation of her actions after surrendering her license. The board determined that in February 2020, Burgod initiated a new romantic relationship with an individual, A.Y., who was incarcerated in the Polk County Jail.
During a recorded phone conversation with A.Y., Burgod allegedly discussed the fact that she had a prior sexual relationship with B.M. and then disclosed details of what B.M. had said to her during therapy sessions.
In March 2020, Burgod allegedly sent a letter to the judge in A.Y.’s case, stating that she worked in the mental health system and was recommending that A.Y. receive mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment in lieu of a prison sentence. The letter did not disclose her romantic relationship with A.Y., according to the board.
The board denied Burgod’s 2022 application for reinstatement of her license.
Earlier this year, Burgod filed a second application for reinstatement and provided a psychosexual mental health evaluation as well as a “Safe Return to Practice Plan” and reports from her therapist.
According to the board, Burgod testified at a recent closed-door hearing on the matter that if her license was reinstated, she would not see any clients referred to her by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, since she believed such clients often have trauma that may be triggering for her. She also stated she would no longer give her clients her cell phone number and promised to establish clear boundaries as to when clients may contact her.
The board agreed to reinstate Burgod’s license subject to probationary conditions that, for the next two to five years, will require her to practice only in a group or agency setting and to refrain from seeing any male clients.
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