Fla. Therapist Accused of Sexually Abusing 15-Year-Old Boy She Met During Counseling Sessions

A Florida therapist is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy she had been counseling.

Elizabeth Blanchard, 34, is charged with four counts of sexual battery of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency, among other charges, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Authorities claim in an arrest warrant that Blanchard, who worked at EPIC Behavioral Healthcare in St. Augustine, Fla., began having one-on-one sessions with the teen after first seeing him in group counseling.

The arrest warrant alleges that Blanchard began texting, calling and flirting with the teen. Eventually, authorities claim, it escalated into sex abuse.

Blanchard allegedly committed the abuse in her office, as well as in a hotel in St. John’s County, which she booked just to have sex with the teen, police allege in the warrant.

In the warrant, authorities further allege that Blanchard bought the teen vape pens and alcoholic beverages and sent him money — up to $9,000 — several times on Cash App. 

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It is not immediately clear if Blanchard has entered a plea.

News4Jax reported that EPIC said in a statement that it had terminated Blanchard.

“We are shocked and dismayed by the actions of our former employee,” EPIC CEO Nangela Pulsfus said in the reported statement. “The behavior in question goes against the values and standards of our company, and we do not tolerate such misconduct in any form.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.