California Psychologist Robert Howard Surrenders License following Accusation of Sexual Misconduct

November 10, 2025

On July 30, 2024, Lancaster, California psychologist Robert L. Howard entered into an agreement with the California Board of Psychology to surrender his license. 

Previously, on January 23, 2024, the Board brought accusations against Howard for sexual Misconduct, gross negligence, and unprofessional conduct relative to his treatment of a female patient.

During the period of January 2016 until April 2019, Howard provided psychotherapy to a 55-year-old female. After the first six months of therapy, Howard began complimenting her appearance and hugging her at the beginning and end of each session. Over the course of the following months, he continued complimenting her appearance, telling her that she was attractive and beautiful, and hugging her at each session.

During a session in May 2017, the patient revealed to Howard that she had been gang-raped in her twenties. After this session, Howard hugged the patient and told her that he would protect her. Thereafter, he began sitting next to her during the session, instead of at his desk. Howard told the patient that approximately twenty years prior, he had fallen in love with a patient.

Starting around October 2017, Howard’s hugs with the patient at the beginning and end of each session became longer in duration and he started to caress and/or rub her back and buttocks as they hugged. Howard also began to express his desire for the patient and made her feel special.

From October 2017 through April 2019, during the patient's sessions, Howard and the patient would talk about their desires toward each other, hug, kiss, and “make out”, and Howard would kiss and fondle the patient's breasts.

Howard also gave money to the patient on several occasions during the period he acted as her therapist. During an interview with a Board investigator, Howard admitted to giving cash to the patient to help her pay bills and admitted to loaning her $1000. Howard also admitted to giving $100 to the patient's daughter, who was also a patient of Howard's from around September 2016 to April 2019.

Source: Decision and Order in the Matter of the Accusation Against Robert L. Howard, Ph.D., Psychologist license no. PSY 11758, Case No. 600-2021-000395, California Dept. of Consumer Affairs Board of Psychology, effective September 12, 2024.