Iowa Board Sanctioned Four Mental Health Counselors
The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals issued disciplinary actions following improper client relationships.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Mental Health
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The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals has sanctioned four mental health counselors for engaging in inappropriate personal relationships with clients. These disciplinary measures range from mandatory educational training to the surrender of professional licenses.
Why it matters
Maintaining strict professional boundaries is essential for the integrity of therapeutic care and the safety of clients in the behavioral health field. These board actions serve to enforce established ethical standards and protect the public in Iowa.
The disciplinary actions include a two-year probationary status for Tyler Gray and a mandatory 12 hours of educational training for Ben Mineck. Charity Dangelser was also cited for her involvement in a dual relationship during her therapy sessions.
The players
Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals
This is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating mental health counselors and social workers in Iowa.
Cheryl Schromen
She is a mental health counselor who agreed to surrender her license following an improper sexually oriented relationship with a client.
Ben Mineck
He is a mental health counselor based in Cedar Rapids who received a warning for engaging in an inappropriate virtual relationship.
Charity Dangelser
She is an independent social worker who surrendered her license after being found in a dual relationship with a client.
Tyler Gray
He is a mental health counselor who was placed on two years of probation after entering a nonprofessional relationship with a former client.
The details
Cheryl Schromen and Charity Dangelser both agreed to surrender their licenses due to their conduct, though Schromen remains eligible to seek reinstatement in one year. Ben Mineck was penalized for a virtual relationship that involved flirtatious communication over Snapchat, while Tyler Gray initiated a relationship with a former client.
Timeline
October 2021: Ben Mineck became an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor.
June 2024: Cheryl Schromen became an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor.
April to July 2025: Tyler Gray provided counseling services to a client.
August 2025: Charity Dangelser became an Iowa-licensed independent social worker.
September 2025: Tyler Gray became an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor.
Health Landscape
The board actions follow a pattern set by the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics regarding dual relationships, which strictly forbids sexual or personal contact between therapists and clients. These cases highlight the ongoing industry challenge of maintaining professional boundaries.
Clients receiving therapy in Iowa should be aware of these ethical boundaries to ensure their safety during the clinical process. If a provider's behavior becomes personal or flirtatious, patients are encouraged to report concerns to the board to maintain appropriate treatment environments.
The takeaway
Therapy requires a strictly professional environment to be effective and safe for the client. Residents should always verify their provider's status if they have concerns regarding a counselor's conduct or ethics.
Further reading
For additional information on counselor conduct standards, visit the Mental Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowacapitaldispatch.
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