Nice Premium: Why are you protesting today?
Fabien Berrais: Today the State, through its various decrees, completely obscures our quality as psychotherapists, notably our training. Whether in theory or practice. Faced with the risk of a dogmatic position of psychiatry, at some point, it is necessary to protect the public and us professionals.
NP: What consequences will this decree have on your profession?
FB: It has a whole series of consequences both on our profession and on the public. The first thing: it will eradicate psychotherapists in France. This decree challenges the profession of psychologist. It will put at risk 15,000 declared professionals in France. They will no longer be able to use the title of psychotherapist, even though they are currently working. It risks closing schools recognized and declared to the education authority, under the educational supervision of higher education. For example, the European Institute of Applied Psychology in Saint-Laurent-du-Var has obtained, through its training, VES (Validation of Higher Studies) with the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis. Tomorrow, these schools risk being at odds with their rigor and work. This decree will lock the accessibility to this training since one must hold a Master I or II to be able to practice the profession of psychotherapist. Moreover, there is an issue about VAT concerning this decree: only those who have the title of psychotherapist will not be subject to VAT. Today, I am not subject to VAT but tomorrow I will be. Not only am I being stripped of the title, but in terms of charges, it will be completely unmanageable.
NP: Why does this decree challenge the profession of psychologist?
FB: In its application path, the decree demands additional training for psychologists even though they have already gone through university. With the decree, psychologists have to do additional training. In terms of techniques, psychologists do not use the same tools as we do. It risks putting psychologists at odds with psychiatrists. Today, psychologists provide support in terms of diagnosis in accompaniment and in institutions. To work in an institution, with this decree, the psychologist will also have to be a psychotherapist.
NP: The government’s objective is to limit charlatanism. Do you see another reason?
FB: As in all professions, there are slip-ups. It was fundamental that there be a law to frame and define the profession but not at any cost. We have a big question today. It is precisely this privileged position given to psychiatry and psychiatrists. Today, a psychiatrist is not trained in psychotherapy in their curriculum and they obtain the title automatically. So, we question the issues in terms of social security, reimbursement, and medication. Are there pharmaceutical lobbies behind it? In the face of this relentlessness, we are entitled to ask ourselves a number of questions.
NP: What do you propose to better frame this profession?
FB: We propose that there be the acquisition of two different psychotherapeutic techniques, peer recognition, qualification through supervision so that there can be an identity through the peer group. Also, everything related to professional networks, meaning that we can work ourselves with psychiatrists. Sometimes and often, as in certain depressions, a medicinal support is necessary or even indispensable. And precisely, we want access to certain institutions.
NP: What are you expecting from this day?
FB: We want to alert the media and especially the public. Inform people about the freedoms being taken from them since they will no longer have the right to choose their therapeutic method. Alert politicians to our cause. Today, we wish to rehabilitate our identity.
NP: Do you think it’s going to be possible given that the decree comes into effect today?
FB: We have already had contacts and responses from certain deputies that we will be able to meet next week. Lionel Luca, who is a deputy, will receive us on Wednesday, July 7. We are really going to present our proposals which we have already sent him. We are hopeful because, in terms of a decree, it is always possible to add annexes. Precisely, we want an adaptation regarding our profession, notably through the writing of new annexes.
