(C) Iowa Capital Dispatch
This story was originally published by Iowa Capital Dispatch and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Accused of sexual impropriety, counselor is declared an 'immediate danger' • Iowa Capital Dispatch [1]
['Clark Kauffman', 'More From Author', '- July', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width']
Date: 2025-07-02
The state of Iowa has issued an emergency order suspending the license of a mental health counselor accused of improper sexual activity with two patients.
According to the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals, Giovanni Demezier of Davenport was issued an Iowa mental health counselor’s license in May 2021.
The board alleges Demezier began providing counseling services to a female patient, identified in board records as T.S., in January 2024. The counseling sessions took place in the patient’s home and at some point during the counseling relationship, Demezier allegedly initiated a sexual relationship with the patient.
According to the board, the patient alleges that after the two engaged in sexual relations, Demezier told her he needed to switch her from counseling to coaching services and had her sign a new contract for such services — implying that this made their sexual relationship permissible.
Demezier further stated to that it was “normal” to engage in sexual relationships with clients and that he “does it all the time,” the board alleges.
T.S. later became pregnant and believes Demezier is the father. Demezier allegedly provided money to T.S. to terminate the pregnancy, but it was too late for such a procedure once she discovered she was pregnant, according to the board.
The board states that Demezier was interviewed and admitted to having sexual contact with T.S.
Court records indicate Demezier worked for Davenport’s QC Counselor at the time of the alleged relationship. Police records indicate T.S. provided police with screenshots of text conversations with Demezier that included references to sexual activity, a pregnancy, and the change in their relationship from counselor to coach.
The police records also indicate QC Counselor said, in response to a subpoena, that Demezier had left the company on Aug. 21, 2024, and that he had retained all client records upon his departure.
On May 14, 2025, police executed a search warrant at Demezier’s residence and seized a laptop computer from his home office. The laptop was then sent to Johnson County Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team in Coralville for forensic examination.
No criminal charges have been filed in the case.
Board: Advances made toward second patient
The Board of Behavioral Health Professionals also alleges that in 2021, Demezier began counseling services with a previous client, M.R., via telehealth sessions.
Approximately two years into the counseling relationship, Demezier introduced the idea of switching M.R. from counseling to coaching, claiming it would be more affordable, according to the board.
On Aug. 2, 2023, the patient became a client of Demezier’s private practice, after which Demezier allegedly encouraged her to communicate with him more frequently via his personal cellphone. According to the board, Demezier assured M.R. the rules were different given their new coaching relationship.
According to the board, M.R. claims that on Oct. 28, 2024, Demezier initiated a sexual conversation with her via text message. “The patient felt scared, trapped, and intimidated by the situation and the sexual comments” made by Demezier, the board alleges. She terminated the relationship with Demezier via email message on Oct. 31, 2024.
In connection with the allegations involving T.S. and M.R, the board has charged Demezier with improper sexual contact with a patient or making suggestive or lewd remarks or advances to a patient; failure to comply with a national code of ethics, and engaging in sexual activities or sexual contact with a client.
The board recently concluded Demezier had engaged in sexual contact with a client and engaged in improper sexual behavior toward a second client, making him “an immediate danger to the public health, safety and welfare.”
As a result, the board has issued an emergency order immediately suspending his license. Additional action may be taken after a hearing on the charges has been held.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/07/02/accused-of-sexual-impropriety-counselor-is-declared-an-immediate-danger/
Published and (C) by Iowa Capital Dispatch
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-ND-NC 4.0.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/iowacapitaldispatch/
