Florida psychologist Robert Pensa gives up license following investigation into sex with patient

December 2, 2008

The Florida Board of Psychology issued a Final Order on psychologist Robert Pensa, Ph.D., accepting his offer of voluntary relinquishment of his license. According to a State of Florida Department of Health Investigative Report, a former patient filed a complaint against Dr. Pensa in January 2008. The Report contains the following data: “This investigation is predicated on receipt of a…Complaint…from [patient] J.F.-P. [who] alleges that PENSA failed to meet the minimum standards of performance in professional activities by engaging patients in sexual relations. PENSA started seeing J.F.-P. as a patient in April 2002. J.F.-P. is a 37-year-old, female patient that began to have a sexual relationship with PENSA in November 2004. J.F.-P. was a patient until November 2007. J.F.-P. ended the sexual relationship after learning PENSA had sexual relations with 2 other patients since November 2004. PENSA has offered to sign a voluntary relinquishment.”

(Final Order, Department of Health v. Robert Pensa, Ph.D., Case No. 2008-00668, License No. PY 5146, 2 December 2008.)