“She is a research psychologist. That means that she is a medical researcher, not a clinician.”
In the state of California, it doesn’t matter. She still has to be board certified (licensed) to use the professional title of psychologist.
In previous campaign contributions, she listed herself as a psychologist.
In a letter she signed condemning the family separations at the border she signed it identifying herself as a psychologist.
She is not now, nor was she ever a licensed psychologist in California or any other state.
In other words she LIED under oath, and she has violated California law.
A research psychologist has a PhD and may legitimately use the title “Doctor.” They have the same education, but chose to follow a different route than clinical psychology.
I have two research psychologists on my team. They call themselves “psychologists” also.
I do not know the exact wording of the CA law, but I would bet that it has some stipulation that a psychologist cannot claim to be a board-certified clinician if he/she is not, in fact, licensed, but that they can call themselves “psychologists” if that is, in fact, the subject of their PhD.
My mother is licensed and sees clients, but cannot call herself a psychologist because she does not have a PhD.
This is a red herring; Dr. Ford has raised all kinds of questions about her credibility without quibbling about the fact that she is a researcher, not a clinician.
Usually, the law is very specific in its wording.