>From the False Memory Syndrome Foundation News Letter

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Psychotherapist surrenders counseling license prior to hearing of

California regulators

San Diego Union-Tribune, March 21, 1996

John Wilkens and Jim Okerblom

A La Mesa psychotherapist facing state disciplinary hearings has

surrendered her counseling license amid allegations that she coerced an

8-year-old rape victim into falsely identifying her father as the attacker.

Kathleen King Goodfriend was accused by government regulators of being

“grossly negligent or incompetent” in her treatment of the child, Alicia

Wade. The California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners said that

“pressure” by Goodfriend over a period of 13 months finally led the girl to

falsely accuse her father. As a result, her father, James Wade was

arrested, charged and faced 16 years in prison. Alicia was nearly placed

for adoption. Alicia’s mother, Denise Wade attempted suicide. Authorities

overlooked DNA evidence which proved the father had not assaulted his

daughter and disregarded a suspect already convicted of attacking other

girls in the neighborhood.

Under the agreement that takes effect April 15, Goodfriend admits no

wrongdoing, but she will no longer be allowed to practice as a marriage,

family and child counselor in California. By law, Goodfriend could apply

for a new license in three years. But in doing so, she would have to

acknowledge that her treatment of the child was “unprofessional” and

“recklessly caused emotional or physical harm” to Alicia, according to the

agreement. “The burden would be on her to show that she is rehabilitated,”

said Susan Fitzgerald, a deputy state attorney general who prepared the

case against the therapist. Although regulators had looked forward to a

full airing of the case against Goodfriend, they felt the settlement was

merited, Fitzgerald said.

Two years ago, the Wade family settled a multimillion-dollar civil suit

filed against Goodfriend, social workers, detectives, prosecutors and

others involved in the case. The settlement was about $3.7 million. Of

that, $1 million came from Goodfriend.

Courtesy of Patrick Wharton and Fathers’ Manifesto.