LMFT Lisa Marie Sanchez asks board to reduce testing to monthly and remove dependency program requirement

Lisa Marie Sanchez, a licensed marriage-and-family therapist, asked the California Board of Behavioral Sciences on Feb. 27 to modify her probation terms, requesting that biological-fluid testing be reduced to once per month and that a requirement to participate in a dependency‑support program be eliminated.

Deputy Attorney General Anahita Crawford summarized Sanchez’s licensing history and the disciplinary basis for probation: the hearing record shows Sanchez was convicted of driving under the influence in February 2023 with a blood-alcohol concentration the prosecutor described in the hearing materials as 0.159 percent; a stipulated settlement effective Dec. 14, 2023 placed Sanchez on a three‑year period of probation with conditions including psychotherapy, substance‑use education, abstinence, testing and participation in a dependency support program. Crawford told the board Sanchez is compliant with the terms of probation and is seeking modification of two specific requirements: testing frequency and the dependency program requirement.

Sanchez testified the dependency-support program she currently attends provides individual counseling twice weekly and that she chose individual sessions because she wanted focused work rather than group meetings. She asked the board to rely on her licensed therapist to provide integrated substance‑use counseling alongside ongoing psychotherapy so she could consolidate treatment into one provider; Sanchez said the separate program’s location and schedule cause financial and scheduling hardship that reduces her ability to work consistent clinical hours. She told the board she has participated in required testing and reported doing daily oral tests when required, using a mobile Proof app and a saliva swab sampling method, with samples mailed to a lab; she told the board that clean tests followed the positive events that led to the disciplinary action.

Sanchez also described other rehabilitation steps and supports told the board she completed continuing education and treatment courses, including a DUI education series and psychotherapy, and said she is maintaining sobriety. She described a recent traumatic life event — saying her son’s father was killed and she had to unplug him — and testified she submitted to additional testing while undergoing that trauma and that her tests were clean. She said the combination of therapy and ongoing testing gives her tools to avoid relapse.

On costs, Sanchez told the board that the mobile testing program she uses charges about $400 for a six‑test kit and that delivery fees make monthly purchases relatively expensive; she said the per‑test cost and delivery fees contribute to the financial burden of current testing requirements. Counsel admitted documentary exhibits including the probation memorandum, petition for modification, psychotherapy report and certifications; Sanchez raised no objection to the exhibits.

Board members questioned Sanchez about testing frequency, the scope of the dependency-support program and whether her licensed therapist can adequately address the dependency program’s substance‑use education goals. Sanchez told the board she chose individual dependency counseling intentionally to address the issues directly and that she and her therapist believe the therapist can integrate the substance‑use work into ongoing psychotherapy.

The board took no action at the hearing. Judge Wong closed the record and told Sanchez the board will deliberate in closed session and mail a written decision to her when available.