You may first want to understand what happened, find another professional or request formal examination. These decisions do not have to be made together.
A trusted person or independent professional can help organise your thoughts. Different bodies handle different issues. You can first ask whether a body handles your concern before sending an entire therapy record.
If you suspect unauthorised professional practice
If you discover that someone providing your care lacks legal authority for the particular psychological practice, contact the Police. You can also report a serious suspicion. Unauthorised practice of the profession is a criminal offence in Cyprus, rather than only a professional-conduct concern.
This includes independently providing psychological assessment or treatment of a mental disorder reserved to registered psychologists without the required registration, licence or other lawful authorisation. Using “psychotherapist” instead of “psychologist” does not bypass these rules. A course certificate or private association membership is not enough.
You do not have to decide whether an offence has occurred; the Police investigate the facts. A title alone, or a name missing from an online directory, does not settle the question. The service, registration and any lawful exception need checking. Recognised supervised practice described in the topic about checking registration, and lawful care by another authorised professional, are different situations.
Keep advertisements, receipts, messages and details of the claimed professional role if you have them. You do not need to confront the person or obtain an admission. Ask your nearest police station or the Citizen's Line 1460 how to make a report. You can start with the official Police contact details.
The Psychologists' Registration Council can confirm registration and specialty and be informed of your concern. Statutory discipline concerns people on the registers; professional associations consider their members' conduct within their remit. Those processes do not replace a police report about suspected unauthorised practice. You can seek lawful, appropriate care elsewhere at the same time.
Where to begin
| Issue | Starting point | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Suspected unauthorised psychological practice or false professional status | Cyprus Police · nearest police station · 1460 | How to report and safely provide relevant evidence. The Council can separately confirm registration. |
| Psychologist registration, specialty or professional conduct | Psychologists' Registration Council · 22 730270 · secretary@seps.org.cy | Submission process, responsible body and deadlines. |
| Conduct of a Cyprus Psychological Association member | Cyprus Psychological Association | Membership and remit. This differs from the statutory registration route. |
| GeSY referrals, coverage or charges | GeSY · 17000 · info@gesy.org.cy | Whether a separate professional-conduct route is also needed. |
| Patient rights | Ministry of Health | The appropriate service or committee and how to contact it. |
| Doctor's professional conduct, including a psychiatrist | Cyprus Medical Association · 22 316874 | Process and cost. Published terms list a €100 fee with possible refund by decision; confirm before submission. |
| Personal-data use, protection or access | Commissioner for Personal Data Protection | A suitable secure channel before sending private records. |
Before a formal complaint
Clarify documents, fees, deadlines and information shared with the professional. Ask what the body can decide; a complaint does not automatically lead to discipline or compensation. Patient-rights routes do not determine every negligence or damages issue.
No outcome can be promised. Equally, absence of a sanction does not establish that the behaviour was acceptable. You can seek other care without waiting for an official decision.
You can also contact the Police about threats, sexual abuse or other suspected offences. For immediate danger, call 112.