Meeting of the Pancyprian Association for Psychotherapists with the Minister of Health, Mr. Neophytos Charalambides: "The institutionalization of psychotherapy is a public health issue"

Press Release - June 9th 2026

The need to institutionalize and regulate psychotherapy in Cyprus was the focus of a meeting held by a delegation of the Pancyprian Association for Psychotherapists with the Minister of Health, Mr. Neophytos Charalambides.

During the meeting, the President of the Association, Ms. Thekla Vassiliou, presented the positions and priorities of the Association, emphasizing that the establishment of a modern and reliable framework for psychotherapy is a necessary condition for ensuring the quality of the services provided and the protection of citizens. As she emphasized, mental health is a fundamental pillar of public health and the state must ensure that citizens receive services from professionals with recognized qualifications, adequate training and continuous supervision.

In this context, the Association underlined the need to promote relevant legislation, which will establish clear criteria for education, certification and practice of the profession, while at the same time enhancing transparency and accountability in the field of psychotherapy.

The Association’s delegation submitted relevant information material and documented recommendations to the Minister, while proposing the creation of a working group with the participation of all stakeholders, with the aim of promoting a structured dialogue and examining the next steps towards institutionalization.

The Pancyprian Association for Psychotherapists reaffirmed its readiness to actively contribute to this process, making the scientific knowledge and experience of its members available to the Ministry of Health.

The institutionalization of psychotherapy is a long-standing request of the Association and a necessary reform that will strengthen the protection of citizens, upgrade mental health services and contribute to the creation of a modern and reliable framework for practicing the profession in Cyprus.