Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in Greece: 2025 Guide

In Greece, the regulation of mental health professionals varies by role. Psychiatrists are medically licensed, while psychologists and psychotherapists follow different standards.

This guide explains the requirements for each profession, how to verify a provider's credentials, and what to look for to ensure you receive qualified care.

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OFFICIAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK

REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE

VERIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR THE PUBLIC

COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

PROTECTED TITLES AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL STATISTICS

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC

SOURCES AND VERIFICATION

OFFICIAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Current Status: Greece has a partially regulated mental health professional system with limited formal regulation for psychologists and no statutory regulation for psychotherapists. However, as of 2024-2025, there is a significant National Action Plan for Mental Health Reform initiated by the Ministry of Health. This plan emphasises transitioning from traditional psychiatric care towards integrated community-based services, prevention, and early intervention, along with the creation of a National Network of Mental Health Services structured into 7 Regional Networks. The reform plans also include establishing the National Organisation for Prevention and Treatment of Addictions to handle addiction-related issues more effectively. This reform is currently in parliamentary discussion and includes efforts to integrate EU mental health strategy principles.

Primary Legislation:

• Law 991/1979: Establishes the prerequisite of a license to practice the profession of psychologist.

• Presidential Decree 38/2010: Incorporates EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications.

• Law 2071/1992: Governs the reorganisation of the National Health System, including provisions for mental health and involuntary admissions.

• Law 4622/2019: Established the modern framework for the state, including the body responsible for professional qualification recognition (A.T.E.E.N.).

Legal Authority: Ministry of Health and EU professional mobility framework

REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

1. MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Greek Name: Υπουργείο Υγείας

Legal Authority: Health professional oversight and temporary service provision

Role: Limited regulatory oversight for health professionals

Functions:

• Temporary and occasional service provision oversight for EU professionals

• Health professional qualification recognition

• Psychiatric profession licensing and regulation

• Healthcare system coordination

• Professional standards oversight
  

2. HELLENIC PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Greek Name: Ελληνική Ψυχολογική Εταιρεία

Role: Professional advocacy and standards development

Authority: Professional organisation without statutory regulatory powers

Functions:

• Professional advocacy for psychology regulation

• Professional standards development

• Continuing education coordination

• Professional ethics promotion

• Regulatory reform advocacy

3. HELLENIC PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION

Role: Medical psychiatric profession organisation

Authority: Professional organisation for psychiatrists

Functions:

• Psychiatric professional standards

• Medical psychiatric practice oversight

• Professional development coordination

• Regulatory framework development

4. UNIVERSITY PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENTS

Role: Academic qualification provision and research

Authority: Academic degree-granting and professional training

Functions:

• Psychology degree programs

• Professional training provision

• Research and development

• Academic standards maintenance

• Professional preparation
  

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE

1. PSYCHOLOGIST (LIMITED REGULATION)

Greek Title: Ψυχολόγος

Regulatory Authority: Limited Ministry of Health oversight

License Required: No formal licensing system currently in place

Education Requirements:

• University Degree: Psychology degree from recognised Greek university

• Four University Departments: University of Crete, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Panteion University

• Graduate Numbers: Approximately 45,000 psychologists graduated over four decades

• EU Recognition: Can obtain recognition through EU professional mobility directives

Current Professional Status:

• No Statutory Regulation: Psychology profession is not formally regulated by a public body

• Professional Practice: Active professional practice without formal supervision

• Public Protection Gap: No formal oversight for public protection

• Reform Advocacy: Active calls for professional regulation establishment

Scope of Practice:

• Psychological Assessment: Psychological evaluation and testing

• Psychological Intervention: Therapeutic and counselling services

• Prevention: Psychological prevention activities

• Consultation: Professional consultation services

• Research: Psychological research activities

• Teaching: Psychology education and training

2. PSYCHOTHERAPIST (UNREGULATED)

Greek Title: Ψυχοθεραπευτής

Regulatory Authority: No statutory regulation

License Required: No formal licensing system

Current Status:

• Title Not Protected: "Psychotherapist" title not legally protected in Greece
• No Statutory Registration: No official registration of individual psychotherapists

• No Training Accreditation: No official accreditation of training institutes or courses

• Professional Practice: Vibrant but poorly legislated professional field

Training Providers:

• Private Institutes: Majority of training through private institutes

• European Affiliations: Many institutes affiliated with European and international organisations

• University Programs: Some universities provide graduate-level psychotherapy training

• Professional Background: Majority are psychologists, psychiatrists, and child psychiatrists

Scope of Practice:

• Unregulated Practice: No state or professional charter regulation

• Professional Standards: Variable standards depending on the training institute

• Public Protection: Limited public protection mechanisms

• Quality Assurance: No formal quality assurance systems
  

3. PSYCHIATRIST (MEDICALLY REGULATED)

Greek Title: Ψυχίατρος

Regulatory Authority: Ministry of Health, medical licensing

License Required: Medical license plus psychiatric specialisation

Education Requirements:

• Medical Degree: Complete medical education

• Medical License: Registration with medical professional system

• Psychiatric Specialisation: Specialised psychiatric training

• Ministry Licensing: Required license from Ministry of Health

Scope of Practice:

• Full Medical Authority: Can prescribe medication and perform medical procedures

• Psychiatric Diagnosis: Complex psychiatric assessment and diagnosis

• Medical Interventions: Psychiatric medical treatments

• Hospitalisation: Can admit patients to psychiatric facilities

• Psychotherapy: Can provide psychotherapeutic treatment
  

4. OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Categories: Various allied mental health professions

Regulation: Variable regulation depending on profession

Professional Categories:

• Social Workers: Professional registration requirements

• Nurses: Healthcare professional registration

• Mental Health Workers: Variable regulation

• Counsellors: Generally unregulated practice
  

VERIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR THE PUBLIC

Verifying Psychologist Credentials:

• University Degree Check: Verify psychology degree from a recognised Greek university

• Professional Experience: Check documented professional experience

• Professional Association: Verify membership in professional organisations

• Continuing Education: Check ongoing professional development

• Professional References: Obtain professional references and recommendations

Limited Verification Options:

• No Central Register: No central professional register available

• University Records: Check with degree-granting university

• Professional Organisations: Contact relevant professional associations
  

Verifying Psychotherapist Credentials:

• Training Institute: Verify training from recognised institute

• Professional Background: Check underlying professional qualification (psychology, psychiatry)

• Training Documentation: Verify completion of psychotherapy training

• Professional Experience: Check documented clinical experience

• Supervision: Verify appropriate clinical supervision

COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

For Psychology Professionals:

Authority: Limited formal complaint mechanisms

Process:

• Professional Organisations: Contact relevant professional associations

• University Departments: Contact degree-granting university

• Training Institutes: Contact relevant training institute

• Legal Action: Pursue legal remedies for professional misconduct

• Consumer Protection: Contact consumer protection authorities
  

For Unlicensed Practice:

Legal Framework: Limited legal framework for unauthorised practice

Enforcement: Limited enforcement mechanisms

Consumer Protection: General consumer protection laws apply

Professional Standards Violations:

Authority: Professional organisations and training institutes

Process:

• Professional Association: Submit a complaint to relevant professional organisation

• Training Institute: Contact relevant training institute

• Academic Institution: Contact relevant university department

• Legal Remedies: Pursue legal action for professional misconduct
  

PROTECTED TITLES AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Current Title Protection:

• Limited Protection: No formal title protection for "Psychologist" or "Psychotherapist"

• Professional Usage: Titles used based on educational qualifications

• Reform Advocacy: Active advocacy for title protection establishment
  

Legal Requirements:

• Educational Qualification: Psychology degree from a recognised university

• Professional Training: Appropriate professional training for the practice area

• Ethical Standards: Adherence to professional ethical standards

• Consumer Protection: General consumer protection law compliance
  

Reform Initiatives:

• Public Legal Entity: Calls for establishment of public regulatory body

• Professional Regulation: Advocacy for comprehensive professional regulation

• EU Alignment: Efforts to align with EU professional regulation standards

• Public Protection: Focus on enhanced public protection mechanisms
  

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL STATISTICS

Psychology Graduates:

• Total Graduates: Approximately 45,000 psychologists over four decades

• Active Professionals: Large number of active psychology professionals

• University Departments: Four major university psychology departments

• Professional Practice: Diverse areas of psychological practice

Professional Practice:

• Unregulated Practice: Professional practice without formal regulatory oversight

• Professional Organisations: Various psychology professional associations

• Training Programs: University and private institute training programs

• Research Activities: Active research in academic and clinical settings

Reform Movement:

• Regulatory Advocacy: Active advocacy for professional regulation

• Public Protection: Focus on enhanced public protection

• EU Alignment: Efforts to align with European standards

• Professional Standards: Development of professional practice standards
  

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

For International Applicants:

• Greek Proficiency: Required for professional practice

• Professional Communication: Essential for patient care and professional duties

• Documentation: Professional documentation in Greek

• Cultural Competency: Understanding of Greek culture and healthcare system

Professional Practice:

• Patient Care: Greek language essential for effective patient communication

• Professional Collaboration: Required for healthcare and professional collaboration

• Academic Requirements: Greek language for university programs

• Professional Development: Greek language for continuing education
  

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC

When Seeking Psychological Services:

• Verify the License First: Always ask for the practitioner's state-issued license to practice psychology (Άδεια Άσκησης Επαγγέλματος Ψυχολόγου) and their license number.

• Verify Education: Check psychology degree from recognised Greek university

• Professional Experience: Verify documented professional experience

• Training Documentation: Check psychotherapy training if applicable

• Professional References: Obtain professional references

• Professional Organisations: Check membership in professional associations
  

For International Practitioners:

• Start with A.T.E.E.N.: Begin the professional recognition process through the official body, A.T.E.E.N.

• EU Recognition: Understand EU professional mobility procedures

• HCPC Route: Consider UK HCPC registration for EU recognition

• Language Preparation: Develop Greek language proficiency

• Professional Integration: Connect with Greek psychology professional community

• Regulatory Awareness: Stay informed about regulatory reform developments

Red Flags to Avoid:

• No University Degree: Practitioners without a psychology degree from recognised university

• Unverified Training: Cannot document appropriate professional training

• No Professional Background: Lacks underlying professional qualification

• Unrealistic Claims: Makes unrealistic therapeutic claims or guarantees

• No Professional References: Cannot provide professional references
  

SOURCES AND VERIFICATION

Ministry of Health

Association of Greek Psychologists (SEPS)

Hellenic Psychological Society

European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP)

Professional Qualification Recognition Body (A.T.E.E.N.)

Recent Greek Mental Health Reform Plan

Mental Health Services Study

Ministry of Health licensing info

EuroPsy Recognition

Hellenic Psychiatric Association

This guide reflects Greece's current limited regulatory framework for mental health professionals with active advocacy for comprehensive professional regulation. The system is undergoing significant reform discussions with calls for establishment of formal regulatory oversight. Verify current status with relevant professional organisations for the most up-to-date information.