In a deeply troubling real-life case from Chico, California, a licensed psychologist and his close professional associate are at the center of a story raising serious concerns about ethical boundaries, clinical power, and the failure of regulatory oversight.
At the heart of this story is Dr. Stephen Diggs, a licensed psychologist and owner of NYSA Therapy, where he provides counseling and also employs licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. Among those he employed in 2020 and 2021—and possibly earlier—was Suzanne Papini, a close personal friend.
Together, in 2020 and 2021 Dr. Diggs and Suzanne Papini provided joint marriage counseling to a couple in crisis: Brittany and Shawn Hibdon. Dr. Diggs worked with Shawn, while Papini treated Brittany. According to people close to Brittany, she confided that therapy was “a miserable experience.” She felt disrespected, belittled, and reported that Dr. Diggs yelled at her during sessions—behavior that grossly violates the ethical norms of therapeutic care.
Then, tragedy struck. In September 2021, four days after Brittany informed her husband that she was filing for divorce, she died under suspicious circumstances.
That night, both Dr. Diggs and Suzanne Papini met Shawn at the hospital. Rather than stepping back or maintaining professional boundaries, they remained closely involved in his life.
🧩 Then Things Got Even Stranger
At the time of Brittany’s death, Suzanne Papini was not only Dr. Diggs’s employee and friend—she was also related by marriage to Sherri Papini, a nationally infamous felon. Sherri had lived with Suzanne at various points and, notably, was and remains a patient of Dr. Diggs.
Roughly five months after Brittany’s death, Dr. Diggs and Suzanne Papini reportedly discussed whether Sherri and Shawn might make a good romantic match. Rather than expressing ethical concerns or exercising caution, they embraced the idea of matchmaking.
Papini then invited Shawn to a BBQ at her home—Sherri was there.
The match was made.
Shawn and Sherri began a romantic relationship, which they described as fate and “doctor-approved.” Dr. Diggs was reportedly gleeful with excitement when he learned the match had succeeded. He told them they were “healing each other”—a statement made to two people who had both been under his clinical care.
These are not the actions of responsible professionals. They are the actions of people who inserted themselves into the most vulnerable aspects of others’ lives, crossed professional lines, and claimed therapeutic authority while doing so.
📺 When the Therapist Becomes the Publicist
As if that weren’t enough, in 2025, Sherri Papini released a documentary detailing her version of the events surrounding her criminal conviction—which included lying to federal investigators.
Appearing in the documentary to publicly support her version of the story?
Dr. Stephen Diggs and Suzanne Papini.
Both chose to speak on camera in support of Sherri, validating her narrative and telling viewers they believe her.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a neutral interview.
This was a licensed psychologist and his close colleague, both of whom were personally and professionally entangled with Sherri and Shawn, appearing in a nationally released film to shape public opinion.
This is more than a lapse in professional judgment.
It’s a dangerous misuse of therapeutic authority to endorse personal relationships and narratives with lasting emotional, psychological, and social consequences.
❗ When Watchdogs Stay Silent
Following Brittany’s death and the revelations about Dr. Diggs and Papini’s conduct, people who cared about Brittany and Shawn tried to file complaints with the California Board of Psychology and the Board of Behavioral Sciences (which governs MFTs).
They were met with form-letter responses stating that because they were not patients themselves, the complaints would not be considered.
Let that sink in:
A therapist and his employee provided joint therapy to a married couple, one of whom died under suspicious circumstances.
Then they played matchmaker—matching the surviving spouse with a felon who had lived with one of them and been treated by the other.
Then they appeared in a documentary to promote her story.
And yet, there’s no formal investigation.
🔔 Call to Action
📣 If you are a former client of Dr. Stephen Diggs or Suzanne Papini, your voice matters.
Your direct experience gives you the power to file a formal complaint with the proper licensing boards:
- California Board of Psychology:
https://www.psychology.ca.gov/consumers/complaints.shtml - California Board of Behavioral Sciences (for MFTs):
https://www.bbs.ca.gov/consumers/filecomplaint.shtml
📝 Include any records, recollections, or documentation—even if you’re unsure whether it “counts.” Your voice may be the one that makes the difference.
🕯️ If you’re a licensed mental health professional, share this case. Use it in your ethics training, supervision groups, or agency conversations. This is exactly the type of case where silence is complicity.
💡 If you work in media, advocacy, or law enforcement and see patterns that deserve scrutiny—follow up. This is not just a personal story. It’s a systemic issue.
📬 To the public: Speak out. Share this. Ask how regulatory boards can claim to protect the public while ignoring red flags raised by friends, family and community members.
When “doctor-approved” becomes the slogan for blurred boundaries, and clinicians validate their own violations on camera, we must ask—who’s watching the watchers?
Let’s not wait until another vulnerable person is harmed.
Let’s speak up now.