Detectives: More victims of therapist come forward

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - More trouble for one Lakeland mental health counselor. Late last month, psychotherapist Anthony H. Conti, Jr. was arrested on charges of sexual misconduct on his patients. Now, detectives say more victims are coming forward.

This investigation started in September with three victims coming forward to detectives, telling them Conti was making sexual advances during counseling sessions. Now, with four more women coming forward, that brings the total to 7 potential victims.

Police say most of the women were being treated by Conti for depression. They say during their counseling sessions, Conti would caress their bodies, including their private parts. 

Victims say he told them his "touch therapy" would help release toxins from their body and was a technique of Eastern European medicine to treat depression.

Conti was booked back into the Polk County Jail on the additional felony charges. He had his first appearance in court Wednesday afternoon.