Licensed RI Health Professional With 4 DUIs in 3 Years Placed on Probation

Licensed RI Health Professional With 4 DUIs in 3 Years Placed on Probation

A licensed Rhode Island health professional who had multiple arrests dating back to 2017 has been placed on probation by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). 

On Thursday, RIDOH issued the sanction for licensed social worker Melissa Phelps, after a client had complained that Phelps was either “drunk or high” in a therapy session in August 2023. 

According to RIDOH, Phelps has a number of arrests on her record, including four driving-under-the-influence charges in less than three years.

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In October 2023, following her latest charge, Phelps was remanded to the ACI for violating the terms of her probation. 

Arrest Record

According to her profile on Psychology Today, Phelps says she "[helps] people who are struggling with unhealthy relationships, family issues, and past trauma."

"I will not make your problems disappear but I will give you the tools to overcome them. I will stand by you every step of the way. I have been a practicing therapist for 20 years. Do not continue to suffer reach out today," she continues. 

She has also worked at Tides Family Services, according to her LinkedIn profile. 

RIDOH records show that on November 8, 2019, Phelps pleaded nolo contendere to Driving Under the Influence of Drugs/Narcotics and was sentenced, in part, to attend court-ordered substance abuse counseling. 

Phelps then pleaded nolo to a December 4, 2020 DUI charge and was sentenced to probation and substance abuse counseling. 

On March 2, 2023, Phelps pleaded nolo to another DUI charge and was sentenced, in part, to one-year home confinement and court-ordered substance abuse counseling.

On October 18, 2023, Phelps was involved in a motor vehicle accident and arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Drugs/Narcotics, Third-Plus Offense. 

As a result of the arrest, Phelps was remanded to the Adult Correctional Institute for violating parole/probation.

Records show she was also arrested in 2017 for “reckless” driving when she was sentenced to substance abuse counseling; in 2020 she was arrested on domestic violence charges, and again, had been sentenced to substance abuse counseling. 

 

Patient Complaints

RIDOH reports that multiple patients said Phelps missed scheduled therapy sessions. 

“ [On] August 3, 2023, [Phelps] was engaged in the practice of social work, and provided family therapy to Client A, During the August 3, 2023 therapy session, Client A observed that [Phelps] was under the influence of a drug’ and that [Phelps] was either ‘drunk or high,’” according to RIDOH. 

“On September 19, 2023, [Phelps] failed to attend a previously scheduled appointment with Client A. On September 26, 2023, [Phelps] failed to attend a second previously scheduled appointment with Client A,” according to RIDOH. 

“On November 1, 2023, [Phelps] failed to attend a previously scheduled appointment with Client B. [Phelps] failed to make reasonable efforts to ensure continuity of services in the event that services were interrupted,” RIDOH continued. “[Phelps] failed to remain free from use of any controlled substance to the extent that the use impairs the ability of Respondent to conduct with safety to the public the practice of social work.”

In placing Phelps on one-year probation, RIDOH wrote that Phelps “acts and/or omissions constitute unprofessional conduct and are a departure  from or failure to conform to the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing social work practice, ,in violation of R.I. Gen. Laws…and standards of the NASW Code of Ethics.”

Phelps is required to obtain a clinical peer supervisor and meet monthly with this individual during the Probation Period. 

Monthly reports in a form approved by RIDOH shall be submitted by the Peer Supervisor to RIDOH.

RIDOH back-dated the one year sanction to October 15, 2024.