Utah Psychologist Robert Virgil Dindinger: Warning Signs of Sexual Conduct with Teen as Early as 2018

April 25, 2025

On April 24, 2025, Utah psychologist Robert Virgil Dindinger was charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and two counts of voyeurism, a class A misdemeanor. The charges accuse him of convincing teenage clients to strip naked during sessions, during which he secretly video-recorded them.

Dindinger is the owner of Utah Valley Psychology in Orem and is the author of a book on overcoming addiction to pornography.

Media has reported that the criminal investigation into Dindinger began in 2023 when a woman reported to law enforcement that Dindinger was her psychologist when she was a teenager years earlier: "(She) stated that she initially saw (Dindinger) for depression, anxiety and self-harm," according to charging documents. But when she also "disclosed a pornography addiction" to Dindinger, "the sessions … became exclusively about that."

But Dindinger’s sexual conduct with teenagers was actually documented five years prior: On January 5, 2018, the Utah Division of Occupation and Professional Licensing (DOPL) sought to revoke Dindinger’s psychology license for touching a 17-year-old female patient and encouraging her to masturbate in his office. The DOPL instead stayed the revocation and placed Dindinger’s license on probation for five years.

The DOPL document states:

“a. Dindinger was first licensed as a psychologist in the State of Utah on or about January 15,2014.

“b. On or about April 4, 2017, Dindinger provided mental health services to a 17-year-old female patient. During the mental health session, Dindinger inappropriately touched the patient's leg and torso, in an attempt to engage the patient in "masturbation satiation therapy." Dindinger told a DOPL investigator that he was attempting to "sexually stimulate" the patient as part of the therapy. Dindinger instructed the patient to masturbate in his office while he left the room.

“c. Dindinger’s use of masturbation satiation therapy for a female patient of any age is a misappropriation of a therapy technique intended for male sex offenders.

“d. Dindinger’s intentional touching of a minor patient to sexually stimulate the patient during a mental health therapy session was a violation of professional standards.

“e. Dindinger admits that his conduct described above is unprofessional conduct.”

However, Dindinger’s conduct might also have been deemed sexual abuse of a child, according to Utah law, which states that “an actor [someone who takes part in some action; the doer of an action] commits sexual abuse of a child if the actor…takes indecent liberties with a child whether over or under the clothing; and the actor's conduct is with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any individual. Any touching, however slight, is sufficient to constitute the relevant element of a violation” of the law.” (Utah Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Section 404.1)

The 2018 terms of probation were numerous, including a prohibition on treating any patients under the age of 18, practice supervision, and a mental health evaluation.

In 2023, Dindinger sought a reinstatement of his license (end of probationary terms). The DOPL noted in its 2023 document that for the first six months of his 2018 probation, Dindinger was out of compliance with multiple terms and conditions. In a July 2018 meeting between Dindinger and the Utah Psychologist Licensing Board, it was determined that Dindinger’s probationary license would not be renewed.

Yet, in January 2023, the Board offered him a probationary license. The terms of the probation were similar to those of the 2018 probation, including a prohibition on treating any patients under the age of 18.

In April 2024, the DOPL issued an order limiting Dindinger’s psychologist license. The limitation was a prohibition from practicing while under investigation by both the Orem Police and the DOPL (for violations of probationary terms).

It is not known if the patient who brought her concerns to law enforcement in 2023 is the 17-year-old patient described in the 2018 document. But the warning signs about Dindinger were showing in 2018. In light of the criminal charges against him today, DOPL response at that time—to put his license on probation—may have been too mild.

Source: Limitation Stipulation and Order in the matter of the license of Robert Virgil Dindinger, Utah lic. #8431635-2501, Case no. DOPL 2024-122, April 17, 2024; Memorandum of Understanding and Order in the matter of the issuance of a probation license to Robert Virgil Dindinger, Applicant no. 6969617, Case no. DOPL 2023-53, February 7, 2023; Stipulation and Order in the matter of the license of Robert Virgil Dindinger, Utah lic. no. 8431635-2501, Case No. DOPL 2018-11, January 5, 2018; and Pat Reavy, “Orem psychologist charged with secretly filming teen clients undressing,” KSL.com, April 24, 2025.