Fake Psychologist Busted In Stafford: Police

STAFFORD, VA—A fake psychologist who had been posing as a licensed physician in Stafford for several years was arrested last week, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday. Sharonda L. Avery, 43, of Spotsylvania, was charged May 6 with obtaining money by false pretenses, passing a forged document, perjury and practicing psychology without a license. She's being held without bond.

Police began investigating her in October 2018 after receiving numerous complaints from people in the Stafford area questioning whether she was, in fact, a licensed psychologist. Several people said they or their children had been misdiagnosed by Avery. Police found that although she claimed to have two doctorate degrees and a master's degree, those claims were bogus.

In 2012, she was hired by a now-defunct medical practice in Stafford, where she treated hundreds of children and adults, before being fired for undisclosed reasons. The perjury charge stems from her 2017 testimony in Stafford Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court while claiming to be a doctor.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is urged to call police at 540-658-4400.