A Democratic candidate for a U.S. House seat in Alabama has been flaunting an unlicensed career in psychology, according to report by HuffPost.
Adia McClellan Winfrey repeatedly refers to herself as a “pioneering psychologist” on her campaign page as well as her Twitter page.
Winfrey received a doctorate of clinical psychology degree in 2008 from Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology, according to her official campaign website. She founded the Healing Young People through Empowerment (H.Y.P.E.) Movement, a therapy curriculum aiming to heal the African-American youth community through music and other forms of therapy, in 2011.
Winfrey admitted in a phone conversation with HuffPost that she’s never been a licensed psychologist in any of the states she’s lived in.
“I did complete the hours required for licensure ― but right when I was going to be studying for licensure exam, that’s when my curriculum took off,” she said.
Winfrey claimed she was unaware that what she was doing could violate state licensing laws.
“No person shall hold himself or herself out to the public as a licensed psychological technician or practice as a psychological technician unless licensed by the board. Failure to comply with this section shall constitute a Class B misdemeanor,” according to the Alabama state legislature website. (RELATED: 500 Days Of Trump Accomplishments Inspires Next Five Months Of GOP Strategy)
Class B misdemeanors can result in jail sentences of up to six months and fines up to $3,000. Other Class B misdemeanors include resisting arrest, tampering with a witness, or animal cruelty.
Winfrey faces former Miss America Mallory Hagan in Tuesday’s primary.
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