Updated Oct 30, 2025 • ~11 min read
The Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists hearing was scheduled for 9 AM on a Tuesday in late December.
Samantha sat in the gallery of the administrative hearing room, Wesley beside her, watching Dr. Leigh Westmore take her seat at the respondent’s table. Dr. Leigh looked diminished—no expensive dress, no perfect hair, just tired eyes and the defeated posture of someone who knew they’d already lost.
Her attorney—an older man with the practiced weariness of someone who’d defended too many lost causes—opened his briefcase with slow, deliberate movements.
The hearing officer, a stern woman in her sixties named Daphne, reviewed the complaint file. “We’re here regarding case number 2025-1847, complaint filed by Samantha Hayes against Dr. Leigh Westmore, LPCC. Dr. Westmore, I understand you’ve submitted a voluntary surrender of your license?”
Dr. Leigh’s attorney stood. “Yes, Your Honor. My client wishes to resolve this matter by voluntarily and permanently surrendering her Oregon counseling license, effective immediately. She will not seek licensure in any other state and acknowledges the ethical violations outlined in the complaint.”
“Ms. Hayes is here today as the complainant,” Daphne said, looking at Samantha. “Did you wish to make a statement?”
Wesley nodded at her. Samantha stood, her voice steady.
“I came to Dr. Westmore seeking help for my marriage. I trusted her with my most vulnerable thoughts and feelings. Instead of helping us, she pursued a sexual relationship with my husband while gaslighting me into believing I was paranoid and controlling.”
She looked directly at Dr. Leigh, who couldn’t meet her eyes.
“She didn’t just destroy my marriage. She destroyed my ability to trust therapy itself. She made me doubt my own reality. She used her professional training to manipulate me while conducting an affair with the person I came to her to reconnect with.”
Samantha pulled out the folder Wesley had prepared. “The evidence shows this wasn’t an isolated incident. There are at least two other complaints from former clients alleging similar conduct. Dr. Westmore has a pattern of targeting vulnerable marriages and pursuing relationships with clients’ spouses.”
Dr. Leigh’s attorney started to object, but Daphne held up her hand.
“I’ve reviewed all the evidence, including the prior complaints. Please continue, Ms. Hayes.”
“I’m here because I want the Board to understand the scope of harm caused by this kind of misconduct. It’s not just about one affair or one divorce. It’s about a professional who systematically abused her position of trust. Who knew exactly how to manipulate therapeutic relationships for personal gain.”
Samantha’s voice grew stronger. “By accepting her license surrender, the Board is protecting future clients from this predator. But I also want it on record that Dr. Westmore never acknowledged wrongdoing. Never apologized. Never took responsibility. She’s surrendering her license to avoid accountability, not because she understands the damage she caused.”
She sat down, hands steady, heart pounding.
Daphne made notes, then addressed Dr. Leigh. “Dr. Westmore, do you wish to make a statement?”
Dr. Leigh stood slowly. “I regret any harm that occurred during my professional relationship with Ms. Hayes and her former husband. However, I maintain that the relationship was consensual and occurred after the termination of the therapeutic relationship—”
“That’s a lie,” Samantha said sharply. Wesley touched her arm, but she continued. “I have hotel receipts and surveillance footage showing the affair began during active treatment. You’re still lying.”
Daphne consulted her files. “The evidence does show overlapping dates between therapy sessions and documented encounters. Dr. Westmore, if you’re surrendering your license voluntarily, I suggest you do so without making false statements to this Board.”
Dr. Leigh’s face flushed. Her attorney whispered something to her. She sat down without another word.
“Very well.” Daphne signed several documents. “The Board accepts Dr. Leigh Westmore’s voluntary surrender of her Oregon LPCC license, effective immediately. This surrender is permanent and will be reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank. Dr. Westmore is prohibited from practicing as a licensed counselor in Oregon or applying for licensure in any other jurisdiction.”
The gavel came down. Final. Irreversible.
Dr. Leigh’s career was over.
The divorce had been finalized weeks ago, but the final settlement hearing was today at 2 PM—tying up loose ends, making the asset division official, closing the book on six years of marriage.
Samantha arrived at the courthouse with Wesley, passing through security, taking the elevator to family court. Jared was already there, sitting on a bench outside the courtroom with his attorney. He looked worse than Dr. Leigh had—thinner, older, defeated.
He saw Samantha and stood. “Can we talk? Just for a minute?”
“No.” Samantha walked past him into the courtroom.
The judge—a no-nonsense woman named Daphne who’d presided over the mediation—reviewed the settlement agreement.
“I’ve reviewed the final terms. Ms. Hayes retains full ownership of the marital residence at 2847 Hawthorne Avenue, valued at four hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Hayes receives his retirement accounts and personal property. Ms. Hayes receives half of all joint savings, plus reimbursement for private investigator fees and attorney costs totaling thirty-three thousand dollars.”
Daphne looked over her reading glasses. “Mr. Hayes, you understand you’re signing away any future claim to the residence?”
Jared’s voice was barely audible. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“And you understand you’re responsible for all attorney fees incurred during these proceedings?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. The divorce is final. Assets are divided as outlined. This court has no further jurisdiction over your marriage.” Daphne signed the decree. “You’re both free to go.”
That was it. Six years of marriage dissolved in five minutes of legal proceedings. No drama. No tears. Just paperwork and signatures.
Outside the courtroom, Jared caught up to Samantha. “Please. I just want to say—I’m sorry. For everything. I know it doesn’t fix anything, but I need you to know I’m sorry.”
Samantha looked at him. Really looked. Saw the man she’d married and loved and built a life with. Saw the stranger he’d become. Saw the pathetic figure he was now—career damaged by scandal, reputation destroyed, living with a friend because Dr. Leigh wouldn’t take him in and he couldn’t afford his own place.
“I don’t forgive you,” she said clearly. “I don’t accept your apology. Because you’re not sorry you hurt me. You’re sorry you got caught. You’re sorry you faced consequences. That’s not the same thing.”
“That’s not fair. I loved you—”
“You never loved me. You loved the idea of me. The stability I provided. The cover of a good marriage while you had multiple affairs.” Samantha stepped closer. “I know about the others, Jared. Not just Dr. Leigh. All of them. The colleague. The conference woman. The one from two years ago. I have evidence of all of it.”
Jared’s face went white. “That’s not— How did you—”
“The private investigator I hired was very thorough. And when you tried to renegotiate the settlement? I was ready to present all of it to the judge. Your attorney advised you to drop it. Smart choice.”
“Are you going to put that in your book?”
“Yes. Every detail. Because people need to know that Dr. Leigh didn’t corrupt you. She just exposed what you already were—a serial cheater who spent six years betraying everyone who trusted him.”
She walked away, leaving him standing in the courthouse hallway, alone with the consequences of his choices.
Wesley caught up to her outside. “How do you feel?”
“Powerful,” Samantha said, and meant it. “Not bitter. Not sad. Just… powerful. Like I took back everything he tried to take from me.”
“You did. The house is yours. The assets are yours. Your reputation is intact while his is destroyed. You won every battle.”
“Not just battles. The whole war.”
They celebrated with lunch at a nice restaurant downtown. Wesley raised his glass. “To Samantha Hayes—homeowner, bestselling author, professional badass.”
“The book isn’t out yet.”
“It will be. And it’ll be huge. I’ve read the draft. It’s devastating and hopeful all at once. You’re going to help thousands of people.”
That evening, alone in her house—her house, fully paid off, legally and completely hers—Samantha walked through each room.
The living room where she’d confronted Jared about his lies. The kitchen where she’d documented evidence. The bedroom where she’d spent sleepless nights wondering if she was crazy.
All of it was hers now. Not just legally. Emotionally. She’d reclaimed every inch of this space from the memories that had haunted it.
She poured a glass of wine and sat on her back patio, looking at the garden she’d been neglecting. Spring was coming. She could plant new things. Roses and lavender and herbs. Make this space beautiful again.
Her phone buzzed. A notification from the Oregon State Bar. The malpractice settlement with Dr. Leigh’s insurance company had been finalized. $250,000 would be deposited within thirty days.
Quarter million dollars. Plus the million-dollar book advance. Plus the house. Plus her freedom.
She’d started this fight with nothing but suspicions and stubborn determination. She was ending it wealthy, published, and powerful.
Another notification. An email from the National Practitioner Data Bank, confirming Dr. Leigh’s license revocation was now in the public record. Any future employer, any licensing board in any state, would see it. Would know what she’d done.
Dr. Leigh would never practice therapy again. Would likely have to leave the field entirely. Start over in some other profession where her name didn’t immediately trigger articles about ethical violations.
Samantha felt no guilt about that. Dr. Leigh had made her choices. Had pursued an affair with a married client’s spouse. Had gaslit a vulnerable woman seeking help. Had done it before and would have done it again if Samantha hadn’t stopped her.
Justice wasn’t vengeance. Justice was consequences.
Elliott arrived at 7 PM with Thai food and a small gift bag. “Heard you had a big day. Thought you might need this.”
Inside the bag was a leather journal with “Author” embossed on the cover.
“For when you finish the book and start the next one,” Elliott said. “Because one book won’t be enough. You’re a writer now.”
Samantha kissed him, grateful for his steady presence through all of this. “Thank you. For being here. For not running when things got complicated.”
“Things were already complicated. I signed up knowing that.” He pulled her close. “Besides, I like complicated women. Simple is boring.”
They ate dinner on her patio, talking about the book, about the future, about the life Samantha was building from the ashes of her old one.
“Do you ever regret it?” Elliott asked. “The public confrontation. The viral video. Everything that came after?”
Samantha thought about that. About the media attention, the constant interviews, the loss of privacy. About becoming the face of professional misconduct survivors.
“No,” she said finally. “I don’t regret it. Because staying silent would have meant Dr. Leigh could hurt someone else. Would have meant Jared could rewrite history and pretend he was the victim. Would have meant I’d spend the rest of my life carrying shame that wasn’t mine.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m free. Financially secure. Living in a house I own. Writing a book that will help people. Dating someone who treats me like I matter.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m building a life that’s entirely mine. Not defined by Jared’s betrayal. Not limited by Dr. Leigh’s manipulation. Just mine.”
“That’s power,” Elliott said. “Real power. Not control over others. Control over your own narrative.”
They stayed on the patio until dark, watching stars appear over Portland. Samantha felt something she hadn’t felt in over a year: peace.
Not the peace of resignation or defeat. The peace of victory. Of standing in the ruins of her old life and knowing she’d built something better from the wreckage.
The book would be published in six months. Would be a bestseller. Would help thousands of people recognize and fight back against professional misconduct.
Dr. Leigh’s license was revoked. Her career over. Her name forever connected to ethical violations.
Jared was divorced, disgraced, living with the consequences of serial infidelity.
And Samantha? Samantha was thriving.
She’d won the battles in the courtroom. But more importantly, she’d won the battle for herself.
She’d taken back her power. Her voice. Her future.
And no one could take that from her again.
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