John Rosemond has a master's degree in psychology and is a licensed psychologist. He is also a syndicated advice columnist who has been doing it since 1976, one of the longest-running syndicated columns in the U.S.
But the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology wants him gone. He does not pay them a fee yet calls himself a psychologist due to having a degree in psychology and being a licensed psychologist. But that does not count in Kentucky, they have suddenly determined, so they say his newspaper column is practicing psychology illegally. Rosemond is the author of 11 parenting books and is a licensed psychologist in his home state of North Carolina and his work appears regularly in 200 newspapers nationwide.
If Kentucky succeeds in their case, columnists like Dear Abby and television personalities like Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz are also breaking the law any time they offer advice, because the content is aired in Kentucky and meets the state's broad definition of illegal psychological advice.
So why go after just him? Rosemond regularly shows disdain for modern psychology's over-pathologizing and pandering. That seems to have set off psychology insiders with the force of government behind them.
Rosemond is represented by the Arlington, Va.-based Institute for Justice, which has filed multiple lawsuits challenging what they see as overreach by government licensing boards.
Parenting columnist targeted by Ky. board sues by Matthew Barakat, Associated Press
