Dr. Vanessa Lee Perossier appeared before the California Board of Behavioral Sciences on Nov. 20 to request early termination of a disciplinary probation that followed a 2020 driving‑under‑the‑influence conviction. Deputy Attorney General Anahita Crawford told the board the accusation alleges a DUI on Aug. 20, 2020 that included a blood alcohol content of 0.189; a stipulated settlement effective 07/22/2021 placed Perossier’s license on four years’ probation with terms including psychological evaluation, psychotherapy, supervised practice, dependency support and testing.

Perossier described the crash, saying she "fell asleep at the wheel" and was subsequently treated and released. She said the incident was an isolated event and described the steps she took afterward: participation in moderation management, resumed therapy, psychiatric evaluation, professional development courses, supervised clinical work and community activities (including a “free little library” started in 2020). Perossier said her testing regimen had been reduced to once per month and that she remains in therapy; she told the board she intends to continue counseling and other safeguards if probation is terminated.

The deputy attorney general noted multiple probation tolling periods that extended the disciplinary term; counsel and several board members pressed Perossier about drinking during inactive (tolling) periods and whether that pattern undermines an early‑termination request. Perossier said tolling was used for financial and practical reasons (therapist fees, testing kit costs) and stated she is a casual drinker but has abstained while active on probation. She told the panel she has shifted to private practice work providing immigration evaluations and said probation has made it difficult to find employment in some settings.

Board members asked detailed questions about the frequency and documentation of testing and therapy, the contents and dates of character letters in the packet, supervised practice arrangements, and how Perossier would recognize and prevent future lapses in judgment. After questioning the matter was submitted to the board; no public decision was issued at the hearing and a written determination will be mailed to the petitioner.