Florida/Georgia Personal Injury & Workers Compensation

You're probably overthinking it. Call a lawyer.

Call Now: 904-383-7448
Florida Statute 491.0112 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 491.0112 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Link to State of Florida Official Statute
F.S. 491.0112 Case Law from Google Scholar Google Search for Amendments to 491.0112

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
Chapter 491
CLINICAL, COUNSELING, AND PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES
View Entire Chapter
491.0112 Sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist; penalties.
(1) Any psychotherapist who commits sexual misconduct with a client, or former client when the professional relationship was terminated primarily for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; however, a second or subsequent offense is a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(2) Any psychotherapist who violates subsection (1) by means of therapeutic deception commits a felony of the second degree punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(3) The giving of consent by the client to any such act shall not be a defense to these offenses.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the term:
(a) “Client” means a person to whom the services of a psychotherapist are provided.
(b) “Female genitals” includes the labia minora, labia majora, clitoris, vulva, hymen, and vagina.
(c) “Psychotherapist” means any person licensed pursuant to chapter 458, chapter 459, part I of chapter 464, chapter 490, or chapter 491, or any other person who provides or purports to provide treatment, diagnosis, assessment, evaluation, or counseling of mental or emotional illness, symptom, or condition.
(d) “Sexual misconduct” means the oral, anal, or female genital penetration of another by, or contact with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or female genital penetration of another by any object.
(e) “Therapeutic deception” means a representation to the client that sexual contact by the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the treatment of the client.
History.s. 1, ch. 90-70; s. 13, ch. 91-201; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 137, ch. 2000-318; s. 2, ch. 2022-165.

F.S. 491.0112 on Google Scholar

F.S. 491.0112 on CourtListener

Amendments to 491.0112


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 491.0112
Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S491.0112 1 - SEX ASSLT - PSYCHOTHERAP ENGAGE SEX W CLIENT 2ND SUBSQ OFF - F: S
S491.0112 1 - SEX ASSLT - PSYCHOTHERAPIST ENGAGE IN SEX WITH CLIENT - F: T
S491.0112 2 - SEX ASSLT - PSYCHOTHERAPIST ENGAGE SEX W CLIENT DECEPTION - F: S

Cases Citing Statute 491.0112

Total Results: 10  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

Copy

Seagrave v. State, 802 So. 2d 281 (Fla. 2001).

Cited 71 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 2001 WL 776269

...Chapter 800 covered "unnatural and lascivious act" (section 800.02), exposure of sexual organ (section 800.03), and "lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault or act upon or in the presence of a child" (section 800.04). Section 826.04 covered incest. Ultimately, sexual misconduct by a therapist (section 491.0112), see Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure Re: Sentencing Guidelines (Rules 3.701 & 3.988), 576 So.2d 1307, 1309 (Fla.1991), and sexual predators (section 775.22), see Amendments to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure Re Sentencing Gu...
Copy

Shapiro v. State, 696 So. 2d 1321 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).

Cited 16 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1997 WL 408318

...Butterworth, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Sharon A. Wood and Don M. Rogers, Assistant Attorney Generals, West Palm Beach, for appellee. STONE, Chief Judge. The judgment and sentence are affirmed. Appellant, a licensed psychologist, was convicted of sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist under section 491.0112, Florida Statutes....
...Appellant was charged under subsection two of the statute, which prohibits sexual misconduct "by means of a therapeutic deception" which is defined to mean "a representation to the client that sexual contact by the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the treatment of the client." § 491.0112(4)(b)....
...the constitutionality of statutes. Carter v. Sparkman, 335 So.2d 802, 805 (Fla.1976); Sarasota County v. Barg, 302 So.2d 737 (Fla. 1974); Scarborough v. Newsome, 150 Fla. 220, 7 So.2d 321 (1942). We reject Appellant's assertion that Florida Statute § 491.0112 (1993) is facially unconstitutional....
...Florida's statute prohibits a sexual relationship between a psychotherapist and patient even after the professional relationship is terminated, where "the professional relationship is terminated primarily for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact." § 491.0112(1)....
Copy

In Re Amend. to Fla. Rules of Cr. Proc., 606 So. 2d 227 (Fla. 1992).

Cited 9 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1992 WL 246494

...Offenses have been grouped into 9 offense categories encompassing the following statutes: Category 1: Murder, manslaughter: Chapter 782 (except subsection 782.04(1)(a)), subsection 316.193(3)(c)3, and subsection 327.351(2). Category 2: Sexual offenses: Chapters 794 and 800, section 826.04, and section 491.0112....
Copy

In re Amendments to Florida Rules of Crim. Procedure-sentencing Guidelines (rules 3.701 & 3.988), 589 So. 2d 271 (Fla. 1991).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 16 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 725, 1991 Fla. LEXIS 1914, 1991 WL 236191

...Offenses have been grouped into offense categories encompassing the following statutes: Category 1: Murder, manslaughter: Chapter 782 (except subsection 782.-04(l)(a)), and subsection 316.193(3)(c)3, and section 327.351(2) Category 2: Sexual offenses: Chapters 794 and 800, section 826.04, and section 491.0112 Category 3: Robbery: Section 812.13 Category 4: Violent personal crimes: Chapters 784 and 836 and section 843.01 and subsection 381.411(4) Category 5: Burglary: Chapter 810, section 817.025, and subsection 806.13(3) Category 6: Theft...
Copy

Amendments to Florida Rules of Crim. Procedure re Sentencing Guidelines, 628 So. 2d 1084 (Fla. 1993).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 18 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 617, 1993 Fla. LEXIS 1928, 1993 WL 490876

...Offenses have been grouped into 9 offense categories encompassing the following statutes: Category 1: Murder, manslaughter: Chapter 782 (except subsection 782.-04(l)(a)), subsection 316.193(3)(c)(3), and subsection 327.351(2). Category 2: Sexual offenses: Section 775.22, Cchapters 794 and 800, section 826.04, and section 491.0112....
Copy

In Re: Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases-Report 2018-04., 257 So. 3d 370 (Fla. 2018).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida

...should be given as a lesser-included offense. See State v. Knighton, 235 So. 3d 312 (Fla. 2018). This instruction was adopted in 1981 and amended in 2018. 11.18 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY A PSYCHOTHERAPIST § 491.0112, Fla....
...At the time, (victim) was a client of (defendant). b. (Victim) was a former client of (defendant) and the professional relationship was terminated primarily for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact. § 491.0112(3), Fla. Stat. It is not a defense that (victim) consented to any act that constitutes sexual misconduct. Enhancement. Give if applicable. § 491.0112(2), Fla....
...Stat. - 40 - If you find the defendant guilty of Sexual Misconduct by a Psychotherapist, you must then determine whether the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the crime was committed by means of therapeutic deception. § 491.0112(4)(b), Fla. Stat. “Therapeutic deception” means a representation to the client that sexual contact by the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the treatment of the client. Definitions. § 491.0112(4), Fla. Stat. § 491.0112(4)(a), Fla....
...ology), or Chapter 491 (clinical counseling or psychotherapy services); or any other person who provides or purports to provide treatment, diagnosis, assessment, evaluation, or counseling of mental or emotional illness, symptom, or condition. § 491.0112(4)(d), Fla. Stat. “Client” means a person to whom the services of a psychotherapist are provided. § 491.0112(4)(c), Fla....
...Stat. “Sexual misconduct” means the oral, anal, or vaginal penetration of another by, or contact with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any object. Lesser Included Offenses SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY A PSYCHOTHERAPIST — 491.0112 CATEGORY ONE CATEGORY TWO FLA....
Copy

Florida Rules of Crim. Procedure re: Sentencing Guidelines, 576 So. 2d 1307 (Fla. 1991).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 16 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 198, 1991 Fla. LEXIS 411, 1991 WL 28402

...Const.; see also § 921.001, Fla.Stat. (1989). In its petition, the Commission notes that four new crimes were created by the 1990 Legislature. Only one of these requires a change in the existing guidelines. Chapter 90-70, section 1, Laws of Florida (codified at section 491.0112, Florida Statutes (Supp....
...Offenses have been grouped into nine (9) offense categories encompassing the following statutes: Category 1: Murder, manslaughter: Chapter 782 [[except subsection 782.04(l)(a) ]), and subsection 316.193(3)(c)3, and section 327.351(2) Category 2: Sexual offenses: Chapters 794 and 800¿ and section 826.04, and section 491.0112 Category 3: Robbery: Section 812.13 Category 4: Violent personal crimes: Chapters 784 and 836 and section 843.01 and subsection 381.411(4) Category 5: Burglary: Chapter 810 and subsection 806.13(3) Category 6: Thefts, forgery, fraud:...
...5, 817, 831, and 832 Category 7: Drugs: Chapter 893 Category 8: Weapons: Chapter 790 and section 944.40 Category 9: All other felony offenses [[Image here]] FORMS Rule 3.988(b) Category 2: Sexual Offenses Chapters 794 and 800¿ section 826.041 . and section 491.0112 [[Image here]] APPENDIX B [Additions underlined] RULE 3.701 SENTENCING GUIDELINES [[Image here]] d....
Copy

Shapiro v. State, 696 So. 2d 1321 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1997).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 8402

STONE, Chief Judge. The judgment and sentence are affirmed. Appellant, a licensed psychologist, was convicted of sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist under section 491.0112, Florida Statutes....
...Appellant was charged under subsection two of the statute, which prohibits sexual misconduct “by means of a therapeutic deception” which is defined to mean “a representation to the client that sexual contact by the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the treatment of the client.” § 491.0112(4)(b)....
...he constitutionality of statutes. Carter v. Sparkman, 335 So.2d 802, 805 (Fla.1976); Sarasota County v. Barg, 302 So.2d 737 (Fla.1974); Scarborough v. Newsome, 150 Fla. 220 , 7 So.2d 321 (1942). We reject Appellant’s assertion that Florida Statute § 491.0112 (1993) is facially unconstitutional....
...Florida’s statute prohibits a sexual relationship between a psychotherapist and patient even after the professional relationship is terminated, where “the professional relationship is terminated primarily for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact.” § 491.0112(1)....
Copy

In Re Stand. Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases— Report No. 2013-03, 146 So. 3d 1110 (Fla. 2014).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 39 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 531, 2014 Fla. LEXIS 2582, 2014 WL 4251210

...2d 602], 1995 [665 So. 2d 212], 1996 [678 So. 2d 1224], 1997 [690 So. 2d 1263], 1998 [723 So. 2d 123], and 2009 [22 So. 3d 17], and 2014. - 32 - 11.18 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY A PSYCHOTHERAPIST § 491.0112, Fla....
...(Victim) was a former client of (defendant) and the professional relationship was terminated primarily for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact. It is not a defense that (victim) consented to any act that constitutes sexual misconduct. Enhancement. Give if applicable. § 491.0112(2), Fla....
...beyond a reasonable doubt that the crime was committed by means of therapeutic deception. “Therapeutic deception” means a representation to the client that sexual contact by the psychotherapist is consistent with or part of the treatment of the client. Definitions. § 491.0112(4), Fla....
...anal, or vaginal penetration of another by, or contact with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any object. Lesser Included Offenses SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY A PSYCHOTHERAPIST — 491.0112 CATEGORY ONE CATEGORY TWO FLA....
Copy

State v. Ludwig, 700 So. 2d 18 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).

Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 9193, 1997 WL 461158

PER CURIAM. We reverse the trial court’s order of dismissal based on the unconstitutionality of section 491.0112, Florida Statutes (1995), on the authority of Shapiro v....

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.