Dr Devang Vaidya
New River Psychotherapy Practice
16A Cheverton Road
London
N19 3AY
United Kingdom
To the Mental Health Authorities in Greece
October 25, 2026
Subject: Professional Recognition of Mental Health Counsellors in Greece
Dear Sir / Madam,
I understand that the Mental Health Authorities in Greece are actively considering the regulatory aspects of mental health counselling. I wish to offer the following statement of support to mental health counsellors.
I am an independent counsellor and psychotherapist with over 23 years of practice in Britain. I am a registered member with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Having an ongoing interest in counselling training, qualification, accreditation, and ongoing fitness to practise, I follow these developments regularly in the UK. My academic background includes a postgraduate study and doctoral research in the philosophy of the person-centred approach to counselling and therapy. I have an ongoing involvement in international person-centred and related associations and conferences. I have taught person-centred, psychoanalytic, existential, body-centred, and psychopathology theory and practice for many years at graduate and post-graduate level. I have also published, and extensively presented internationally in these areas. Based on this lengthy and diverse experience, including a long and ongoing clinical practice, I have no doubt that the person-centred approach to counselling is one of the most reliable therapeutic methods currently available, and recognised as such throughout the world.
As part of my ongoing engagement in the above areas as well as a growing interest in the philosophical and theological traditions in Greece, this year I have begun collaborating with counselling practitioners there. In July of this year, I had the privilege of attending a five-day conference organized by the Association for the Development of the Person-Centred Approach and Child-Centred Psychotherapy of South-East Europe (ADPCACPTSEE) on the island of Samothrace. More recently, on the Mental Health Awareness Day (10th October), I worked with practising mental health counsellors attached to this organisation. Both these events were marked by discussions that have identified important research opportunities. These opportunities have been identified through rich deliberations on synthesising psychological research, philosophical and theological perspectives on human flourishing, genetic and epigenetic biology, and community-based practice. These areas are highly significant for mental health counselling with individuals (adults and children), couples, families, and groups. This work is founded upon proven methods, sound ethical values, and theoretical principles, and show a high level of clinical effectiveness.
ADPCACPTSEE practitioners operate as part of the Hellenic Association for Counselling (HAC). They are a dedicated team, active in training, research, and community-based counselling. To support their work and ensure a balanced regulatory framework, I would urge you to consider the broad aims of HAC:
1. Autonomous Legal Recognition: Explicitly establish mental health counselling as an independent, distinct scientific and professional field, recognizing the profession itself rather than merely treating counselling as an eclectic activity across various disciplines.
2. Equitable Representation: Guarantee representation for HAC on the proposed seven-member board of the National Observatory, ensuring balanced representation for both psychotherapy and mental health counselling.
3. Protection of Existing Practitioners: Implement fair transitional provisions that recognize currently practising counsellors registered with HAC—taking into account their training, supervised practice, personal therapy, and ethical commitments—and provide reasonable timeframes to meet new standards rather than enforcing automatic exclusion.
4. Standardized Training Recognition: Mandate formal consultation with HAC prior to any ministerial decisions establishing educational and professional standards, and establish clear pathways for recognizing existing HAC-certified training centres.
5. Precise Professional Boundaries: Clearly define unlawful impersonation of a psychologist to ensure that the legitimate, professional use of the title “mental health counsellor” is not wrongfully classified as the unlawful practice of psychology.
6. Comprehensive Institutional Framework: Resolve regulatory uncertainties surrounding counselling practice, the operation of specialist training centres, and ministerial jurisdictions, while protecting current practitioners and trainees from professional and educational insecurity.
In summary, establishing formal recognition for mental health counselling and incorporating HAC’s standards into the upcoming legislation will safeguard both public welfare and the future of qualified practitioners in Greece. Ensuring explicit legal status, fair representation, and fair transitional provisions will allow this vital field to continue serving the community effectively. For this, I propose an impartial and thorough review that would reassure you of the reliability of the above claims.
Please feel free to raise any questions and clarifications here on email. I firmly believe that the best interests of the mental healthcare profession in Greece will be served by extending your support and granting ongoing recognition to properly qualitied and experienced mental health counsellors.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Devang Vaidya
Counsellor and Psychotherapist
(UKCP Reg., MBACP Accred.)
London,