Before booking, you can ask for the psychologist's full name, registration number, specialty and current annual licence. These professional details help you know who is taking responsibility for your care.
Check the Psychologists' Registration Council's official register. If you cannot find the name or understand the entry, ask the Council to clarify. An old list or social media profile may not show current status.
Registration is a useful first check. It does not guarantee a good personal fit or experience with every difficulty.
If the person is still training
If the person does not yet have a licence for independent practice, calling them a “trainee” is not enough. There must be a recognised supervised placement, with clear responsibility for your care.
In the university route, the placement is linked to a recognised university and an appropriate degree programme. Institutions and programmes undergo evaluation and quality assurance by the responsible agencies; in Cyprus this is CYQAA, also known as DIPAE. Educational accreditation does not replace a psychologist's professional licence.
Cyprus law also provides for supervised practice in specifically approved settings to complete the required placement hours. If this route is offered, the service should explain the setting's approval and how the placement contributes to the trainee's registration.
A private institute's courses or training in a therapy method do not, by themselves, authorise independent psychological practice. An already licensed psychologist may undertake further training there, while remaining responsible for working within their recognised specialty and competence. Supervision alone does not create a licence.
“Supervision” means an appropriate professional guides and reviews the trainee's work. Before you agree, the service should explain their trainee status, university or approved training arrangement, licensed supervisor, responsibility for care and what session information is discussed in supervision.
You should know whom to contact beyond the trainee if a concern arises. The service must explain these arrangements clearly; you should not have to investigate the whole training and legal framework yourself.