Social worker and psychologist are charged with patient-relationship violations

Two behavioral health professionals from Iowa are currently facing disciplinary charges related to their relationships with patients.

The first of the two cases involves Chad M. Elbandagji of Cedar Falls, who does business as Chad Mohammad. The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals has charged Elbandagji, an independent social worker, with violating the regulations of his profession.

Those alleged violations include engaging in sexual activities or sexual contact with a client’s or former client’s relative when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm, two counts of violating the National Association of Social Workers’ ethics rules related to dual relationships with clients or former clients and two counts of unethical conduct that may include the betrayal of professional confidence.

The board has not disclosed any information related to the alleged conduct that gave rise to those charges, except to say that it occurred while Elbandagji was practicing in Cedar Falls.

State and federal records indicate Elbandagji works at Chad Mohammad Therapy in Cedar Falls.

Although the board approved the charges in January and March of 2026, they were only recently made public by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing.

A board hearing on the matter is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2026.

Des Moines-area psychologist charged

In a separate and unrelated case, the Board of Behavioral Health Professionals has also charged Des Moines-area psychologist Susan M. Guenther with violating regulations that require psychologists to take “reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients” and to “minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.”

In addition, Guenther is charged by the board with failing to comply with regulations concerning multiple relationships that involve a psychologist acting in a professional role with a person while being engaged in “another role with the same person.”

The board has not disclosed any information related to the alleged conduct that gave rise to those charges, except to say that it occurred while Guenther was practicing in Des Moines.

Guenther has been an Iowa-licensed psychologist since November 1985. A board hearing on the charges is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach either Elbandagji or Guenther for comment.