Social Worker Surrenders License After 'Sexual Activities,' Sex Messages: RIDOH

PROVIDENCE, RI — A clinical social worker employed by a Providence mental health clinic surrendered her license after an investigation confirmed she "engaged in sexual activity" with a former patient she sent "hundreds of unprofessional electronic communications," the Rhode Island Department of Health said.

Jacqueline Tillman gave up her social worker's license Oct. 30, according to a RIDOH consent order.

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Tillman worked at the Mellem Clinic from October 2023 until April 4 when she was "placed on indefinite leave ... to address her own health issue and Respondent's therapeutic services with her patients at Mellem Clinic were terminated," the order said.

Two weeks later, Tillman "violated professional boundaries by engaging in sexual activities with her former patient," according to the order.

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She also sent hundreds of text messages, email messages, and voice mail messages to the former patient and "expressed romantic and/or sexual feelings for" him, the order said, "including that she 'loved' him."

The Mellem Clinic's clinical director made complaints to RIDOH "concerning (her) sexual activity and electronic communications with" the former patient, according to the order, and an investigation was launched that "confirmed (she) engaged in sexual activity with ... her former client, and that she sent (him) hundreds of unprofessional electronic communications in April 2025," the order said.

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Tillman is a 2023 graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts, according to RIDOH.

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