Portugal is one of our key markets, with many therapists and clients using It's Complicated from within the country. That's why, in addition to our global requirements, we've defined specific criteria for therapists based in Portugal, to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. This article outlines the country-specific requirements you'll need to meet in order to join the platform if you're practicing in Portugal.
馃憠 Important: Please note that country-specific requirements refer to the country where the therapist is based and actively practicing, not their country of origin.
Portuguese Laws and Regulations
In Portugal, the regulation of mental health professions varies significantly depending on the professional title being used (e.g. Psic贸logo/a or Psicoterapeuta). Some titles are also legally protected, meaning they can only be used by professionals who have completed specific training and received official recognition or licensing from the state.
The information below outlines the minimum qualifications required to join our platform if you want to use a protected title while practicing in Portugal. These guidelines are based on national legislation such as the Lei n.潞 57/2008 (Statute of the Order of Portuguese Psychologists) and Decreto-Lei n.潞 147/2019 (which regulates psychotherapy in healthcare), as well as on standards set by licensing authorities and professional bodies.
鈿狅笍 If you're not planning to use a protected title (for example, if you register as a Coach or Counsellor), our standard global requirements apply.
Portuguese Titles With Special Requirements
The table below provides an overview of legally protected professional titles for therapists based in Portugal. If the title you intend to use is not listed here, that means our standard global requirements apply instead.
| Professional Title | Country-specific Requirements | Sources & Further Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Psychologist Psic贸logo/a |
|
|
|
Clinical Psychologist Psic贸logo/a Cl铆nico/a |
|
|
|
Psychotherapist Psicoterapeuta |
|
|
|
Psychiatrist Psiquiatra |
|
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|
Social Worker Assistente Social |
|
Using a Foreign Degree in Portugal
If you are based in Portugal but obtained your degree or professional qualification abroad, you'll need to have it officially recognised by the relevant Portuguese authority (Ordem dos Psicologos Portugueses) in order to use a protected professional title such as Psic贸logo/a, Psicoterapeuta, or Psiquiatra.
Without formal recognition (reconhecimento), you are not legally permitted to use these titles in Portugal, even if your training is equivalent to Portuguese standards. Depending on your academic and professional background, you may still be eligible to join the platform using a non-protected title, such as Counsellor or Coach.
馃挕 Help us improve: We're committed to keeping these requirements accurate and up to date. If you notice any discrepancies or have questions about the information provided, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. Your feedback helps us ensure we're providing the most reliable guidance to our community.
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