Cops: Montco woman, Temple professor not a licensed psychologist

Posted: Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Susan Schecter-Cornbluth swore under oath that she was a practicing clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania, as well as licensed to practice family and marriage therapy in New Jersey.

But Solebury police say that the 41-year-old Montgomery County woman, who also teaches psychology at Temple University, lied.

They said Schecter-Cornbluth, of Ambler, committed perjury in December 2013 when she testified as an “expert witness” in a Bucks County family court hearing that she was a “licensed clinical psychologist” in New Jersey.

Schecter-Cornbluth also claimed that she practices clinical psychology in Pennsylvania, which allows a person to practice psychology without being licensed in the state, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Court documents do not say what prompted Solebury police to investigate Schecter-Cornbluth’s background claims, and the newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Detective Roy Ferrari, who filed the charges.

But a subsequent search of Pennsylvania and New Jersey records found that Schecter-Cornbluth was never licensed to practice as a psychologist in either state and never applied for a license to practice psychology in New Jersey. A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State on Tuesday confirmed that psychologists practicing in the state must be licensed.

In December, authorities allege, Schecter-Cornbluth entered into a “consent agreement and order” with the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, admitting to never being authorized to practice psychology as a profession or occupation, according to the affidavit.

“As a result the defendant was ordered to cease and desist from engaging in the practice of psychology in Pennsylvania,” court documents state.

Schecter-Cornbluth was arraigned Monday before District Judge Mark Douple on one count of felony perjury. She was released on $75,000 unsecured bail.

As of Tuesday, Schecter-Cornbluth was still teaching two psychology classes at Temple University, where she has worked as an adjunct faculty member since 2003, according to Brandon Lausch, a university spokesman.

“When an employee faces criminal charges, the university reviews those charges and any potential impact to employment and takes appropriate action, up to and including termination,” Lausch added.

Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@calkins.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia