Mental health professionals sanctioned for improper client relationships

Several Iowa mental health professionals have been charged recently with violating regulations concerning their relationships with clients.

Among the most recent cases is that of Cheryl Schromen, who has been an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor since June 2024. The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals recently charged Schromen with failing to comply with the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics, engaging in physical contact with a client when there is a possibility of psychological harm to the client and engaging in a sexually oriented, personal relationship with a client.

The board has disclosed none of the factual circumstances that led to the filing of the charges other than to say Schromen “engaged in a sexually oriented, personal relationship with a client” at some unspecified time in the past. The available board documents give no indication as to where Schromen was practicing when the alleged conduct occurred.

In response to the charges being filed, Schromen has agreed to surrender her license with the understanding that she can seek reinstatement in one year.

Other licensed professionals recently sanctioned by the board include:

— Ben Mineck, who has been an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor since October 2021. The board recently charged Mineck with engaging in a personal, virtual relationship, through social and other media, with individuals with whom they have a current counseling relationship.

According to the board, Mineck, while working for the Abbe Center for Community Mental Health in Cedar Rapids, provided two sessions to a female client and then added her to his SnapChat account and “engaged in flirtatious conversation” with her until the individual removed Mineck as a “friend” on the account.

The board has issued Mineck a warning and ordered him to complete 12 hours of educational training on boundaries and professionalism.

— Charity Dangelser, who has been an Iowa-licensed independent social worker since August 2025. The board recently charged Dangelser with engaging in a “dual relationship” of some kind with a client.

According to the board, Dangelser provided therapy services to a client on eight occasions, and over the course of time their relationship “became increasingly social and personal in nature.” The board has not disclosed any information as to when or where the alleged conduct occurred.

As a result of the charges, Dangelser recently agreed to surrender her license.

— Tyler Gray, who has been an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor since September 2025. The board recently charged Gray with entering into a nonprofessional relationship with a former client when the interaction was potentially harmful to the client.

According to the board, from April to July 2025, when Gray was practicing in Iowa under a “temporary license,” he provided counseling services to an individual and, throughout the course of their professional relationship, “ethics and dual relationships were addressed” due to the two of them residing in the same community – although the board has not disclosed where Gray was working at the time.

The professional relationship was terminated by the client in July 2025, according to the board, but there is no documentation as to the client’s continuity of care. After the professional relationship ended, “a personal relationship began,” the board alleges.

The board recently issued Gray a warning in the matter and ordered him to complete a course on ethics and professionalism. In addition, Gray’s license is being placed on probationary status for two years.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach any of the above four licensed professionals for comment.