Finding and checking a private psychologist (psicólogo) or psychiatrist

Terms used

• Psiquiatra — A psiquiatra is a medical doctor specialised in mental health who can diagnose, treat and prescribe medication.
• Psicólogo sanitario — A psicólogo sanitario is a psychology graduate with a specialist health master's degree, authorised to practise health psychology privately.
• Psicólogo clínico — A psicólogo clínico is a psychologist with the four-year specialist residency, working mainly in the public health system.
• Psicoterapeuta — Psicoterapeuta is not a protected professional title in Spain, so anyone may use it.
• Colegiado number — The colegiado number is a professional's membership number with their professional college.
• REPS — The REPS is the Ministry of Health's national register of qualified health professionals.

Key rules

• Prescriptions: Only a doctor, such as a psychiatrist or GP, can prescribe psychiatric medication.
• Protected titles: Psicoterapeuta and coach do not prove any health qualification.
• Colegiado number: Ask for it and check it with the professional's college before booking.
• Clinic: The clinic must also be authorised by your region's health authority.

Which professional do you need?

If you may need medication, see a psiquiatra. Only doctors, such as psychiatrists and GPs, can prescribe psychiatric medication. Psychologists cannot. If you want talking therapy, you need a psychologist.

How the roles differ

• Psiquiatra: a doctor with a medical specialty. They diagnose, treat and prescribe.
• Psicólogo sanitario: a psychology graduate with a specialist master's degree. This is who you will usually meet in private practice, for general or lighter mental health needs.
• Psicólogo clínico: a regulated specialist who trained through a four-year residency. They diagnose and treat mental disorders, mostly in the public system.
• Psicoterapeuta: not a protected title in Spain. Some psychologists and doctors use it after extra training, but the word alone proves nothing.
• Coach: an unregulated occupation with no health authority. A coach is not a health professional.

What a psicólogo sanitario must have

A psicólogo sanitario needs a psychology degree plus the Máster en Psicología General Sanitaria. Earlier graduates may have qualified through transitional routes. They should work in a clinic with regional health authority authorisation. They should also belong to the colegio oficial de psicólogos.

If the person trained abroad, their qualification must be recognised in Spain. Ask to see proof.

Where to search

Directories let you filter by city, specialty and language. Doctoralia and Psychology Today both work for English speakers. Some colleges also offer referral services. A listing is not proof of authorisation, so always do the checks below.

How to check them

1. Ask for their colegiado number. This is their professional membership number.
2. Search that number with the colegio oficial de psicólogos of the province. For a psychiatrist, use the colegio de médicos and check the specialty title. The college confirms they are in good standing.
3. Look them up in the REPS, the Ministry of Health's national register of health professionals.
4. Check that the clinic is on your region's register of authorised healthcare centres.

If a professional will not give you a colegiado number, choose someone else. The checklist below sums up these steps.

Checklist

• Decide whether you need a psychologist or a psychiatrist, since only a psychiatrist (a doctor) can prescribe medication.

• Search for therapists on a directory such as Doctoralia or Psychology Today and filter by city and spoken language.

• Ask a psychologist for their colegiado number, the membership number from their professional college.

• Confirm that a psicólogo sanitario holds a psychology degree plus the Máster en Psicología General Sanitaria, or the PIR specialist training for clinical work.

• Ask for proof of recognition in Spain if the professional trained abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Can a psychologist in Spain prescribe medication?

No, a psychologist in Spain cannot prescribe medication. Only doctors, such as psychiatrists and GPs, can prescribe psychiatric medication. If you think you may need medication, book a psychiatrist or ask your GP.

Is a psicoterapeuta or a coach a qualified health professional?

No, neither title guarantees a health qualification in Spain. Psicoterapeuta is not a protected title, so check that the person is also a psychologist or doctor.

How do I check that a psychologist is really qualified?

Ask for the colegiado number, which is their professional college membership number, and search it with the provincial colegio oficial de psicólogos. For a psychiatrist, check the specialty title with the colegio de médicos. You can also look the person up in the national register of health professionals.

What if my psychologist trained outside Spain?

A foreign qualification must be homologated or recognised in Spain before the person can practise as a psicólogo sanitario. Ask to see proof of this, and check that they have a colegiado number.