Kathryn A. Moon, MA, LCPC
6240 N Magnolia Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60660
+ 1 (773) 643-1140
kmoon5555@earthlink.net
October 25, 2026
To the responsible Greek authorities and anyone who is concerned.
Subject: Letter of Support: Professional Recognition of Mental Health Counsellors in Greece
Dear Sir or 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.
As a counsellor and psychotherapist, since licensed clinical mental health counselors first became
recognized in the state of Illinois, USA, I have worked, with professional parity alongside doctoral
psychologists (mainly in terms of status and eligibility as opposed to equality in fees) as a school
counselor, family and couple therapist, and therapist to hundreds of individuals, mainly in my private
practice setting. Also, under contract with various mental health and educational organizations, I
have served hundreds as consultant, supervisor, and educator. The main point to make about my
work is that professional parity has allowed me and thousands of other mental health counselors free
to constructively educate and serve, thereby directly and indirectly ameliorating suffering, and to
some extent, in the long term, reducing poverty.
To support the work of mental health counsellors in Greece and ensure a balanced regulatory
framework, I respectfully share the following considerations aligned with HAC’s (Hellenic
Association for Counselling) key points:
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 activity.
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
practicing 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 centers.
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 centers, and ministerial jurisdictions, while fully
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.
I firmly believe that the best interests of the mental health profession in Greece will be served by
extending your fullest support and ongoing recognition to this organization.
Yours sincerely,
Kathryn A. Moon, MA, LCPC
IL Reg. #180-003652