The Greek government is preparing legislation aimed at reshaping the regulation of the psychology profession, introducing a new national professional body, tighter oversight of licensing and ethics, and new mechanisms intended to safeguard professional standards.
The bill, expected to be submitted to Parliament later this month, seeks to strengthen the institutional framework governing psychologists, with a focus on protecting the profession, improving ethical standards and ensuring the quality of psychological services.
A central provision of the draft law is the creation of the Panhellenic Association of Psychologists, a public-law legal entity that would become the official institutional representative of the profession. The new body would be tasked with protecting psychologists’ professional and employment rights while also representing the profession in matters of public policy.
Under the proposal, the association would be granted the authority to intervene in legal proceedings involving the profession and would play an active role in protecting the professional title of psychologist and preventing the unlawful practice of the profession. It would also gain representation on Greece’s Central Health Council.
The legislation places particular emphasis on developing and enforcing a professional code of ethics. It also envisions the association contributing proposals for the regulatory framework governing psychotherapy and mental health counselling.
The draft bill also includes the establishment of a Technical Observatory for Psychotherapy and Mental Health Counselling. According to the proposal, the body would serve as a scientific monitoring and documentation mechanism, functioning primarily in a disciplinary and oversight capacity rather than as an independent authority.
Another key provision sets clearer conditions for the legal use of the professional title “psychologist,” aiming to protect both qualified practitioners and the public from individuals falsely presenting themselves as licensed professionals.
In addition, the legislation proposes creating a National Observatory for Forensic Psychology, designed to provide scientific support and develop standards in forensic assessments and judicial psychology.
Professional association raises objections
The proposed reforms have already sparked debate within Greece’s psychology community.
The Greek Psychologists’ Association has voiced strong concerns about the legislation, arguing that the professional title and associated rights should remain exclusively reserved for psychology graduates who hold a valid professional license.
The association is also calling for broader consultation with the government, the creation of a public registry of licensed psychologists, and stronger institutional safeguards to protect both the profession and public health.
In a statement, the association criticized the proposed framework, claiming it could alter the nature of the profession and undermine its long-standing role as the representative body for psychologists in Greece.
