WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Police are warning the public after arresting and charging a man who offers counseling as an alternative therapist and psychedelic integration specialist with sexual assault – and they said there may be additional victims.
Westminster Police arrested Trinidad Ruiz, 48, after an investigation into an alleged sexual assault from a woman who sought him out as a private, unlicensed, alternative therapist as a patient.
Ruiz is charged with sexual assault on a client by psychotherapist – penetration and intrusion.
The woman said she sought counseling from Ruiz to "deal with previous trauma," in a news release from Westminster Police. She reported to police that during her session on May 12, 2023, she was sexually assaulted.
The police asked if anyone believed, while under Ruiz's care, that they had an inappropriate sexual interaction with the suspect to contact Westminster Police at 303-658-4360 (option 2) and reference case 2023-08678.
Ruiz is identified on a LinkedIn page as the owner of Holistic and Integrative Consulting in Broomfield as a mental health therapist and psychedelic integration specialist and coach.
According to records found on the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs, Ruiz holds an active temporary permit for a “licensed professional counselor candidate,” issued by the state in September 2020. The record shows that the temporary permit expires on Sept. 25, 2024. There are no current discipline or board actions against Ruiz on file.
Police said they are "unaware if/where Mr. Ruiz has a practice or if he is currently seeing patients," which they said is part of the reason for putting out the news release.
"The detective filed the case in November of 2023 and Mr. Ruiz was arrested in January 2024. At the request of the DA's office, this additional press release was issued in case there were other victims," said Cheri Spotke, Westminster Police.
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