Delaware Behavioral health Complaint Route

Authority and scope

Check the license and concern

Three boards use DPR’s intake: Psychology for psychologists and psychological assistants; Social Work for its bachelor’s, master’s and clinical license categories; and Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals for professional/associate mental-health counselors, marriage/family therapists and associates, and chemical-dependency professionals. The board pages connect these professions to the shared complaint process. Identify the actual license rather than relying on “therapist.”

Supporting guidance: Delaware: Board of Psychology ↗Delaware: Board of Social Work ↗Delaware: Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals ↗

Match the route to the credential

Use the license listed in the practitioner's records or official license lookup. A psychiatrist is a physician; psychiatric nurses have nursing credentials. Some psychologists have prescribing authority, so medication alone does not identify the licensing board.

Choose the right licensing authority

Psychology

Psychologists and psychological assistants; shared DPR intake.

Open this official route ↗

Social work

Social-work license categories, including clinical social workers; shared DPR intake.

Open this official route ↗

Counseling, MFT and chemical-dependency professionals

Mental Health and Chemical Dependency board credentials and listed associates; shared DPR intake.

Open this official route ↗

Submission

How the official source says to file

Open File a Complaint in DELPROS and choose the relevant profession. Give complainant and practitioner contact information, the practitioner’s location and license if known, and any involved business.
Describe the services, dates, times, locations and alleged conduct. The form asks for the patient’s name and birth date, supporting documents and potential witnesses. Keep a copy of what you provide.
The current written guidance expects your name and contact information. If records concern another patient or a child, ask the investigator about consent and representative authority before supplying them. A separate notarization or treatment-release requirement was not established by the checked form.
Call 302-744-4500 and ask for an investigator if you need help deciding jurisdiction or preparing the complaint. Follow the form’s instructions for any supporting material; merely contacting the office does not establish that a complaint has been filed.

Supporting guidance: DELPROS: public complaint form ↗Delaware: filing a complaint ↗Delaware: investigation FAQ ↗

Limits

What this route may not provide

DPR accepts alleged license-law violations and practice without a required license. It excludes ordinary billing, insurance-coverage, corporate and contractual disputes. Patient compensation authority was not established. Distinguish an individual’s credential from a facility or program complaint. Psychiatrist MD/DO and psychiatric-nurse complaints use the medical or nursing guides, even when care occurs in the same office.

Supporting guidance: Delaware: filing a complaint ↗

Anonymity

Do not guess about confidentiality

DPR may keep a complainant’s name confidential when appropriate, but this is case-specific, not guaranteed anonymous filing. Its FAQ says identity cannot remain undisclosed when investigating requires the complainant’s medical records. The respondent receives the complaint; you may be needed as a witness. Broader public-record and final-discipline disclosure rules were not established here.

Supporting guidance: Delaware: filing a complaint ↗Delaware: investigation FAQ ↗

Complaint timing

Ask promptly; receipt and progress periods are process targets

A filing deadline was not established by this check; ask promptly. DPR says it sends acknowledgment and the complaint to the respondent within 15 days, allows 20 calendar days for the response, and provides progress updates at least every 90 days. These are not patient filing deadlines.

Supporting guidance: Delaware: filing a complaint ↗

Process

What may happen after filing

DPR’s Investigative Unit reviews the allegations and obtains the respondent’s answer and further evidence as needed. Ask the assigned investigator about status and additional records. A complaint does not by itself establish misconduct or guarantee a particular board action.

Supporting guidance: Delaware: filing a complaint ↗Delaware: investigation FAQ ↗

Evidence

Prepare a reviewable submission

State the concern you want reviewed, give a short chronology and factual consequences, and explain your request. Keep supporting records and follow the receiving authority’s instructions before attaching or sending them.