Norwegian psychologist with revoked license found working at American facilities without disclosure

In 2020, a Norwegian psychologist lost his license after admitting to three sexual assaults involving dogs. Despite this, he secured a new position at the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV) in early 2021 without disclosing his revoked authorization. He began working there in January 2022, but after four months, his case was denied by the Health Personnel Appeals Board, leading NAV to discover his lack of authorization. He resigned immediately.

In 2024, the psychologist was listed as a child psychologist at the Washington Anxiety Center in Washington, D.C., where he worked with patients unaware of his history in Norway. After inquiries from local media, he resigned from the clinic on the same day he was confronted about his past.

This year, the psychologist also provided online consultations from another American facility, the Minder Memory Center, and continued to be listed as an employee until mid-October 2024. The center confirmed that he had recently requested more patients and a full-time position.

The Norwegian health authorities had previously warned 30 countries about the psychologist when his authorization was revoked in September 2020, but the U.S. was not part of this international health collaboration and did not receive these alerts. The leader of Minder Memory Center stated that their checks revealed no issues with his U.S. authorization, which was reportedly valid.

In response to inquiries, the psychologist has not clarified whether he informed American health authorities of his previous legal troubles in Norway. After one interview with the center’s management, he was removed from their website, and the management declined to comment further on his employment status.