Is Health Psychology legally regulated in Austria?

Legally regulated health profession (Psychologists Act 2013). Listed in the Ministry of Health's register of health psychologists.

Does Health Psychology treat illnesses?

No. Does not treat mental illness; that is the role of clinical psychology, psychotherapy or psychiatry.

What is Health Psychology allowed to do?

Promote healthy behaviour, e.g. around stress, sleep, exercise or quitting smoking. Support everyday coping with chronic illness. Offer health-psychological counselling and assessment. Plan and accompany health-promotion projects.

Where are the limits of Health Psychology?

No treatment of mental disorders. No medication, no physical treatment. Only scientifically validated methods. Refers to clinical psychology, psychotherapy or physicians if illness is suspected.

How do I recognise good quality in Health Psychology?

Listed in the register of health psychologists. Continuing education duty. Refers on when illness is suspected instead of treating it. Concrete, everyday recommendations instead of one-size-fits-all advice.

Health Psychology · drüber reden

What is Health Psychology?

What is Health Psychology for?: Health promotion, prevention and coping with strain for healthy and chronically ill people
Is Health Psychology legally regulated?: Legally regulated health profession (Psychologists Act 2013). Listed in the Ministry of Health's register of health psychologists.
Does Health Psychology treat illnesses?: No. Does not treat mental illness; that is the role of clinical psychology, psychotherapy or psychiatry.

Health psychology is concerned with how people stay healthy and prevent strain from building up. It is aimed at healthy or chronically ill people and does not treat mental illness.

The focus is prevention and health promotion: a healthier way of dealing with stress, exercise, nutrition, sleep, quitting smoking, or living with a chronic condition. Work often happens in counselling sessions, workshops and workplace health promotion.

If a mental illness of clinical relevance is involved, clinical psychology, psychotherapy or medicine are responsible.

What is allowed

Promote healthy behaviour, e.g. around stress, sleep, exercise or quitting smoking
Support everyday coping with chronic illness
Offer health-psychological counselling and assessment
Plan and accompany health-promotion projects

Where are the limits?

No treatment of mental disorders
No medication, no physical treatment
Only scientifically validated methods
Refers to clinical psychology, psychotherapy or physicians if illness is suspected

How to recognise quality

Listed in the register of health psychologists
Continuing education duty
Refers on when illness is suspected instead of treating it
Concrete, everyday recommendations instead of one-size-fits-all advice

How it works

First sessionclarify concern and goal
Taking stocklook at habits, strains and resources
Implementationconcrete steps, keep going, adjust
Endingwhen the goal is reached

Costs & insurance

Private serviceapprox. 80 to 130 € per session

Partial reimbursementvaries by insurer and reason, clarify in advance

Workplace programmesoften funded by employers or insurers

SVS health bonus100 €/year if the provider is an SVS partner

Typical topics in this field