A social worker in Florida gave up her license after her wife pretended to be her and provided therapy to patients through an online mental health platform. The investigation was conducted by the Florida Department of Health, per USA Today. 

Records show that Peggy A. Randolph was a licensed clinical social worker in Ellenton. According to online records and documents filed with the Tennessee Board of Social Worker Licensure, Randolph was also licensed as a social worker in Tennessee. During her employment at Brightside Health, an online mental health platform, from January 2021 to February 2023, Randolph offered therapy services to numerous clients through video calls. 

After the passing of her wife, Tammy G. Heath-Randolph, Randolph took bereavement leave. It was during this period that a patient reported being treated by Randolph’s deceased wife instead of Randolph herself. The patient provided evidence, including a photo of herself interacting with Randolph’s wife during a session. When confronted by Brightside Health during their investigation, Randolph denied that her wife had treated the patient.

Eventually, Randolph confessed that the person in the photo treating the patient was indeed her wife. She explained that her wife had an

“uncontrolled bipolar condition”

which may have caused her to see patients without Randolph’s knowledge. 

However, during  Brightside Health’s investigation, they discovered that Randolph’s wife had been seeing patients for quite some time.

“This was a coordinated effort so Randolph could provide services to patients in person while (her wife) provided services over the phone,”

the report read. Randolph’s contract with the company has since been terminated and her access to the company’s systems has been revoked.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?