Jodi Hildebrandt surrenders mental health counseling license amid child abuse allegations

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Jodi Hildebrandt, a mental health counselor accused of aggravated child abuse, has voluntarily provided a surrender and limitation for her therapy license.

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing released a press release on Tuesday stating that they have been working with Hildebrandt's lawyer to secure the voluntary surrender of her professional license since her arrest.

Hildebrandt, who owns Connexions Classroom, was taken into custody on Aug. 31 with her business partner, Ruby Franke. Franke was also known for the vlogs on her now-defunct YouTube channel "8 Passengers."

ConneXions Classroom, started online in 2012, is an internet-based program providing clients with an "extensive and intensive" set of DVDs, workbooks and workshops. As of Tuesday, the website remains live.

Following her arrest, former clients have spoken out against Hildebrandt and her program, telling KUTV that it ultimately caused harm to the couples who sought counseling services.

“Given the heinous abuse allegations, the agency felt that the surrender of the license was the best course of action to protect the safety of Hildebrandt’s patients and clients," said Margaret Busse, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce.

According to court documents, Hildebrandt was first licensed as a clinical mental health counselor in Utah in 2005.