That Therapy Didn’t|Work Out too Well

CHICAGO (CN) - A therapist seduced her patient and when their "intensely sexual" relationship ended, made false complaints to the police, filed for a temporary restraining order and threatened to accuse him of rape, the man claims in court.

Paul Geannopulos sued the Counseling Center for Emotional Growth Corp (CCEG), its owner Georgette Le Page, and his former counselor, Elaine Tompary, in Cook County Court.

Geannopulos claims that Tompary became his counselor in December 2011 though "a barter agreement by Le Page, CCEG and Tompary, [such that] in lieu of payment from Geannopulos, Geannopulos performed website work for CCEG's website." (8)

But he claims: "Tompary did violate her professional obligation and the standard of care of her profession by violating the trust and confidentiality of Geannopulos, including embarking on a sexual and romantic relationship with Geannopulos. ...

"Tompary, while in her role as therapist for Geannopulos, behaved in outlandish and inappropriate ways, including seducing Geannopulos."

He claims that "Tompary wrote a therapist's note to Geannopulos' primary care doctor in which she outlined his history, gave her diagnosis, identified her goals for him, and provided a recommendation of medication therapy, while continuing to engage in a sexual and romantic relationship with him.

"At all times relevant herein, and specifically on or about the middle of January 2012, Tompary provided mental health counseling to Geannopulos while engaging in an intensely sexual relationship with him."

He claims their sexual and therapeutic relationship ended two months after it began, in February 2012.

"After their romantic relationship ended, Tompary became angry, vindictive and abusive toward Geannopulos, and engaged in highly inappropriate behavior toward him, including providing false information to the police about Geannopulos," the complaint states.

"After their romantic relationship ended, Tompary filed for a temporary restraining order based on that false information.

"After their romantic relationship ended, in her attempts to discredit Geannopulos and conceal her own actions, Tompary contacted Geannopulos' primary care doctor and falsely reported that the February 1, 2012 therapist's note sent by Tompary to the primary care doctor had been forged by Geannopulos, which caused a rift between Geannopulos and his primary care doctor and resulted in a discontinuation of that professional relationship.

"After their romantic relationship ended, Tompary shared private and confidential details she learned from counseling sessions with Geannopulos with others without his permission, including the ex-wife of Geannopulos.

"After their romantic relationship ended, Tompary contacted Geannopulos' daughter on Facebook and made negative comments to her about her father.

"After their romantic relationship ended, Tompary warned Geannopulos that, were he to file a civil lawsuit against her, she would contact the police and accuse Geannopulos of rape," the complaint states.

Geannopulos claims Le Page should have known Tompary was unfit to be a therapist.

"Le Page had an obligation and duty to patients to conduct a proper background check on Tompary, which background check would have revealed that Tompary had been disciplined by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation for diverting Vicodin, a controlled substance, from a prior employer after falsifying certain prescriptions," he says in the complaint.

He adds: "Le Page knew or should have known Tompary was sexually and/or romantically involved with Geannopulos while providing Geannopulos mental health counseling."

Geannopulos seeks damages for medical malpractice and emotional distress.

He is represented by Shane Bradwell with Barney & Karamanis.

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