On April 1, 2013, the Federal Law about Psychology Professions (Psychologieberufegesetz, PsyG) has been introduced in Switzerland. According to this new law, all students who want to follow postgradual training in psychotherapy have to pass a master degree in psychology at a Swiss high school or university. As a consequence of this law, all institutions licensed to offer postgradual training have to undergo new accreditation of their curricula which have to fulfil the quality standards set down in the PsyG. This accreditation process should be finalised in 2018.
Psychotherapists – whether independent or employed – are only allowed to treatment by delegation, mandated by a medical doctor.
Only psychotherapists who have completed the above training are licensed to use the title Federally Approved Psychotherapist. And only this title allows them to open a practice, permission issued by the cantonal departments of health.
Basically, the training of psychotherapists follows three phases: basic training (master in psychology), postgradual training (psychotherapy) and further training.
Postgradual training takes roughly four years and has to be completed within six years, consisting of:
Institutes offering postgradual training in psychotherapy are licensed by the Federal Office for Public Health. All training institutes – there are approx. 40 recognised institutes in Switzerland – are privately financed; they receive no subsidies from the public hand. No institute has so far been integrated in an institution of higher education. For the time being, they have been accredited on a provisional basis and are awaiting final accreditation until 2018.
Psychotherapy is not included in general public insurance. Voluntary supplement insurance can partly include psychotherapy treatment. The question whether psychotherapy should be included in basic health insurance is subject to long ongoing debates.
Psychotherapy modalities are accepted as long as they are executed by a psychotherapist listed on the general register of health insurances. To be included on that list, psychotherapists have to fulfil strict criteria.
Situation Psychotherapy Switzerland (pdf, 72,6 KB)
Situation Psychotherapy Switzerland –
2013-04-01_PsyG_935.81_de_Vers_010913_Psychologberufegesetz (pdf, 125,8 KB)
Situation Psychotherapy Switzerland –
2013-04-01_PsyV_935-811_de_Psychologberufeverordn (pdf, 120,1 KB)
Psychotherapists are required to engage in extensive personal psychotherapy during their training which is up to seven years duration. Psychotherapists usually have a first degree followed by a professional, highly specialised, theoretical and clinical training which includes research methodology and continuous professional development. The EAP promotes the recognition of common standards of training throughout Europe, and will ensure their mobility across member states.
Training