Updates:

I'm pleased to share a positive update regarding my professional license. In the fall of 2023, I requested a review of my case with the Department of Health (DOH), seeking an alternative path to reinstatement due to challenges presented by the original order (detailed below).

The DOH reviewed my case and provided a revised set of requirements. I successfully met these requirements, and I am thrilled to announce that my license was reinstated.

At this time, I am not reopening my private therapy practice but am exploring other rewarding opportunities within the field.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the friends and family who supported me throughout this journey. Most especially, I thank my partner, who has been deeply involved and supportive. I am grateful we are still happily together.

Original Post: Background and Context

(Originally shared to provide details regarding my practice closure and license suspension)

I believe it's important to share some personal context regarding the closure of my practice, facts that may not surface in a simple online search. I know many reading this might be former clients who learned of my license suspension after searching my name. I can only imagine the shock this may have caused, and you may have questions or concerns. I hope sharing this information helps as you process your own feelings.

In 2018, I went through a contentious divorce involving supported allegations of domestic violence against my ex-husband. It was an incredibly difficult time for me and, most significantly, for my children, who spent several days in state custody due to their father’s actions.

My license was indefinitely suspended because I entered into a romantic relationship with a former client. Although we terminated the therapeutic relationship before beginning to date, it was within the timeframe prohibited by ethical guidelines. A complaint regarding this relationship was submitted to the Washington State Department of Health by an individual who supported my ex-husband during the divorce and CPS investigation, leading to the suspension.

Initially, the path to reinstatement required evaluation and treatment recommendations from a specific "physician health program" in Kansas. The recommendation involved attending their intensive outpatient program there, which presented insurmountable challenges for my family, including relocating my children indefinitely with no guarantee of reinstatement. Consequently, I initially chose not to pursue reinstatement via that path. (For those interested, you can learn more about the complexities surrounding physician health programs here: LILA Seattle PHP Articles)

Despite these professional challenges, my personal life found stability. My children are thriving, and my relationship with my former client continues happily. This entire experience has been a profound opportunity for self-reflection, growth, and compassion—for myself and others.

Thank you for reading. It was my honor to serve the community during my time in practice.

A Note on Harassment and Domestic Violence Awareness

Since sharing my story, I have unfortunately faced attempts to silence me:

  • July 2022: An associate of my ex-husband threatened to “report” me to a governmental agency if I did not remove this page and publicly disclose private employment details, stating I needed to “prepare [myself] and protect [my] children.” This constitutes coercion, a gross misdemeanor in Washington State. I have kept this page live and my private life private.

  • April 2022: The same individual left a harassing comment on a YouTube video of a talk I gave on childhood anxiety (Dr. Lynette Dufton - Anxiety in Elementary-Aged Children). The comment was flagged and removed.

  • January 2022: I received a template Cease and Desist letter from my ex-husband demanding this section's removal, threatening a defamation lawsuit. No lawsuit was filed, possibly because he could not secure representation given the existing Domestic Violence Protection Order against him. This post remains live.

There was a time I didn't recognize my own experience as domestic violence. It took years to understand that DV encompasses patterns of control and abuse, not just physical harm.

"Even when the sky appears at its darkest, know that the sun shines ever upon you, that love surrounds you, and that the pure light within you will guide your way home. So trust the process of your life unfolding, and know with certainty, through the peaks and valleys of your journey, that your soul remains safe and secure in the arms of spirit." ~ Dan Millman

With love, Lynette