Minnesota Psychologist Theodore Surdy Surrenders License over Sexual Comments

December 3, 2025

On March 21, 2025, psychologist Theodore Surdy voluntarily surrendered his license to the Minnesota Board of Psychology. 

Previously, on November 22, 2024, the Board placed Surdy on a Limited and Conditional status for a period of at least three years due to unprofessional conduct; conduct that may be reasonably interpreted to be sexually seductive, demeaning, or harassing to a client; and failure to protect a student by making demeaning and harassing comments.

This action was based on Surdy’s conduct between May and August 2023, when he supervised a female trainee engaged in a psychological practicum. During the course of the supervision, Surdy made inappropriate comments about the trainee to other individuals in the office, using terms like “pretty,” “good-looking,” “attractive,” and “pretty young thing” to describe the trainee. The Board stated that Surdy violated the Minnesota Statutes by failing to protect the welfare of a student and communicated in a demeaning and harassing manner. It was deemed unprofessional conduct.

Earlier, on May 21, 2021, the Board placed Surdy’s license in a conditional status based upon inappropriate contact with a client and inappropriate sexual comments toward a female practicum student when he engaged in unprofessional conduct and conduct that may be reasonably interpreted to be sexually seductive, demeaning, or harassing to a client.

The Board’s records also show that between September 2015 and April 2016, Surdy supervised a female practicum student to whom he made inappropriate sexual comments and gestures.

Even earlier, between 2002 and 2005, Surdy provided psychological services to a teenaged female patient whom on one occasion he touched on her mid to upper thigh in a way that made her feel uncomfortable. The records of his services to this patient are incomplete and appear to be missing information and signatures. On May 19, 2023, the Board lifted the conditions and issued an unconditional license.

Source: Stipulation and Consent Order in the Matter of the Theodore Surdy, Ph.D., L.P., License no. LP3385, Minnesota Board of Psychology, March 21, 2025.