Judge rejects restraining order against Ky. psychology board in John Rosemond case

[alp227]

Source: Lexington Herlad-Leader

A federal judge declined Thursday to restrain Kentucky officials from taking action against parenting advice columnist John Rosemond, who filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing the state of violating his First Amendment right to free speech.

The Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology has threatened legal action against Rosemond, alleging that his nationally syndicated column constitutes the illegal practice of psychology in Kentucky.

However, the psychology board took no action against Rosemond during a meeting Thursday afternoon. Instead, members voted to allow their attorney to negotiate with Rosemond, a nationally syndicated columnist known for advocating an anti-coddling approach to parenting.

Rosemond had sought a 10-day temporary restraining order so that he could continue writing his column without fear of penalties until a federal judge decided whether to grant a preliminary injunction against the psychology board.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/07/18/2720612/judge-rejects-restraining-order.html

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Wow, I've never heard of a case where writing an advice column amounted to practicing psychology/human services. Rosemond writes from a fundamentalist Christian perspective.

[BainsBane]

1. Is he one of those beat the kids for Jesus guys?

[DeadLetterOffice]

3. Pretty much, yeah.

That, and he's pissed off a LOT of psychologists.

Per his Wikipedia page:

Rosemond is known for his old-fashioned, Bible-based parenting philosophy and approach. That, in combination with his outspoken political conservatism, has earned him a number of critics, especially within the mental health professions. Rosemond, a psychologist, generally begins his presentations by telling his audiences that "psychology is a secular religion that one believes in by faith" and that psychology has done more harm than good to the American family.

The Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology seems to primarily "want Rosemond to stop identifying himself as a psychologist because he is not a licensed psychologist in Kentucky."
[link:http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/07/16/4167801/columnist-john-rosemond-sues-over.html#storylink=cpy|

[BainsBane]

4. I think they have a point about his identifying himself as a psychologist

when he is not trained as one, but the advice issue is bogus. The idea that Dear Abby violated the law is stupid. Tons of women's magazines have advice columns too.

[DeadLetterOffice]

5. He states he has a Master's in psychology

and I believe he's licensed in North Carolina. But KY has stricter licensing requirements.
And most (not all, but most) people who bill themselves as 'psychologists' have a PhD rather than just a masters degree.

The advice issue is ridiculous, yes.
I think their real problem with the guy is that he (1) makes other psychologists look bad by association, and (2) pretty much trashes the field of psychology whenever he opens his mouth.

[cosmicone]

2. When is some board going to revoke Dr. Phil's license?

He practices pop-psychology for Oprah's zombies exposing families on national TV, probably causing a lot of long-term damage. All for ratings.