Xander Phoenix, who is his subject public safety notice from the BC College of Psychologistshe has also been accused by a former supervisor of fraudulently using his signature on evaluation reports. Two parents and the former superintendent say they have filed police reports, and Kelowna RCMP confirmed an investigation is underway. The CBC reviewed two autism assessments for Kelowna-area children signed by Phoenix in March 2021 and April 2022, as well as the associated $3,000 invoices for his services. The Ministry of Children and Family Development said Phoenix is not on the registry of autism service providers and in BC, only pediatricians, psychiatrists and registered psychologists can write autism assessments. The two parents who shared their children’s assessments said they went to the police after learning they were invalid. These assessments are necessary to access the appropriate funding and support for children with autism, but as of December, the overall wait time for a child to be assessed in B.C. it was 84.7 weeks. “It’s taking away so many opportunities from kids who deserve it. Now we have to start over,” said the mother whose child was evaluated by Phoenix in April. “The waiting lists are much longer than they were six months ago.” CBC has agreed not to name the parents to protect their children’s private health information. Both say Phoenix returned their money after confronting him about his lack of qualifications.
Therapist says he ‘never lied about my qualifications’
Phoenix told the CBC in an email that he is not aware of any police investigations related to his assessments and insisted he is fully qualified to carry them out due to his training and experience. “I have never lied about my qualifications [the parents] They all knew I was qualified to complete autism assessments and they also knew I was not registered but supervised,” he said. He acknowledged, however, that some of his autism assessments were not accepted by the ministry and said he agreed to refund clients as a result. “I have done many assessments, all of which have been accepted, even by the BC court. If these were invalid or illegal, they would never have been accepted and recognized,” he said. Regarding the issue of using his previous supervisor’s signature on the evaluations, Phoenix said it was a “mistake” and the issue has been “addressed and resolved.” Phoenix added that he no longer practices in BC and has abandoned his clinic here. “I’m now just a private person who just wants to be left alone,” he said.
The former supervisor reported Phoenix to the police
Phoenix is currently licensed as a psychologist in Florida. As CBC has previously reportedhe had applied for a BC license at one point, but withdrew his application during the college’s investigation into allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a patient. Phoenix also let his Virginia license expire last summer before a disciplinary conference over the same allegations. In previous conversations with the CBC, he did not deny having sex with the woman in question, but claimed she was never actually his patient. Phoenix insisted he is fully capable of carrying out autism assessments. (DedMityay/Shutterstock) The college of BC public notice for Phoenixfirst published in September, does not list any of the charges against him, but says he does not and has never been licensed in that province. Since then, the notice has been updated twice without any explanation as to why the additions were necessary. The first update concerns Phoenix’s relationship with his former supervisor, psychologist Harry Stefanakis, stating that Stefanakis has not been associated with Phoenix since May 21, 2021. The second update states that psychologist Catherine Currell has never had anything to do with Phoenix. A review of the autism assessments provided to the CBC may provide some insight into why the notice was changed. One of the estimates includes Stefanakis’ signature and the other Currell’s. The two professionals are described in the report as Phoenix’s “consulting supervisors.” Stefanakis’ signature is on the previous assessment, dated March 30, 2021, when he was still Phoenix’s supervisor. When asked for comment about Phoenix, Stefanakis wrote in an email, “He has fraudulently used my name on more than one occasion. I have filed a police report and reported it to the P.K.E. College of Psychology.” The assessment purportedly signed by Currell was written more than a year later, on April 7, 2022. When asked why he used Currell’s signature, Phoenix said, “it was a mistake on my part.” Currell has not responded to requests for comment. However, its website specifically states that it does not provide any services for children or teenagers.
The College says it is aware of the allegations
College secretary Andrea Kowaz said she was limited in her ability to share further information. “I can say that the college has the power to protect the title ‘psychologist’ and has taken steps to warn Mr. Phoenix of the legislative restrictions that prohibit him from using that title to describe his work in British Columbia.” , He wrote. Kowaz went on to say that she is aware that allegations have been shared on social media about Phoenix’s writing about autism assessments. “We understand that allegations have been made publicly about Mr. Phoenix … We cannot comment specifically on those allegations,” Kowaz wrote. He said the college does not have the authority to investigate criminal allegations involving someone who has never been a registered psychologist in BC, and those allegations are best handled by the police. RCMP reports have been filed in Burnaby, the site of the former Phoenix clinic, and in Kelowna. Kelowna RCMP confirmed they are investigating, but declined to comment further. “We’re not in a position to discuss details about an ongoing investigation, other than to say it’s ongoing and we don’t have a timeline on when it will be completed,” said Sgt. Kevin Duggan said in an email. One parent said she is concerned that the lack of regulation of counselors and therapists in BC makes it too easy for people to take advantage of vulnerable people like children with autism. (Zahraa Photography/Shutterstock) Although Phoenix said he is no longer practicing as a therapist in BC, there is nothing that would prevent him from seeing patients again. Psychotherapy and clinical counseling are not regulated in this province. This is a concern for the mother whose child was evaluated by Phoenix in March 2021. “There are people who can put on a mask and pretend to be someone they’re not and take advantage of a lot of people in vulnerable situations,” he said. “That experience I had with this person is, I think, maybe because there wasn’t a regulatory body to do something about it.”
