College Degree W/ Felony Record…

Hello everyone I’m a 38 year old female, educated, and also have a felony record. I am about to complete a BS in Science and my major is Psychology. I’m starting to worry that my felony record is going to prohibit me from obtaining any kind of professional license.

Backstory into how I got the felony… I’ll try to shorten it up as much as I can. So 7 years ago, I had became sick of my then husbands mental and physical abuse so I finally got the courage to leave him. So I’m packing my things, was having car trouble at the time so I called my aunt to come get me and my three children. When she got there, I went outside to tell her to pop the trunk so I could load my belongings and while doing so my husband at the time locked me out the house.

I ended up having to go to the police station for help. They advised me there wasn’t much that they could do since we were legally married and kids were involved then child services would have to intervene but that they could go try to reason with him. They tried, they failed. So I had to leave without my kids.

Fast forward to two weeks later, he messages me and says our 3 month old was lethargic and not acting right. (Now let me pause and let it be known we both were in active addiction at the time) So I tell him there’s nothing I can do as I’m in another state, AL, where my aunt lives… so call EMS to come check her out. The next call I get is she’s being rushed to the ER.

I get to the ER and the nurse informes me that my infant tested positive for opiates. Child services gets involved but says they’re not seeking criminal charges. So of course the state picks it up and they do seek charges. I find out my ex husband is being arrested and a few days after I’m also being arrested.

Now, as I stated before, yes we both were in active addiction. No, never did drugs around my kids. Was guilty of a lot of things but hurting my children was never one of em. Ultimately, we were charged with Felony Child Cruelty. I had never been in trouble with the law up until that point. Had no family support system. No legal understanding or proper representation.

After 4 months in jail, I got blessed with the opportunity to go to rehab. While there, it came time for court. All I remember is my public defender saying that the Assistang DA was new and young and trying to make a name for herself. He said she wants somebody to pay for what happened (who wouldn’t).

Now I had never been in legal trouble before but had lost my mom to prison twice while a child and that alone was very traumatic for me. So to avoid trial and the possibility of prison time, I took a plea deal. 20 years probation in exchange for an I’m guilty.

Sorry for the detailed story but just wanted to give some insight to my situation. So my question is, is it still possible for me to get any kind of state licensing with a felony? I’d like to get into Substance/Alcohol Abuse Counseling or into that field. If not a possibility, does anyone have any other ideas??

Location: Georgia