Filing a complaint : three conditions

You may file a complaint if you believe a psychologist has violated their code of ethics. The complaint must meet three conditions to be processed :

1. - The events occurred after May 25, 2014 (the date when the code of ethics came into effect,
2. - The psychologist must be registered with the Commission of Psychologists . You can see if a psychologist is registered with our research tool,
3. - The complaint concerns the psychologist's professional activity or aspects of their private life that could have an impact on their professional activity.

The person against whom you are filing a complaint presents themselves as a psychologist, but you cannot find their name in our search engine? This may then be a case of title abuse.

Who can file a complaint ? 

Anyone can file a complaint

• a client/patient,
• a member of the client/patient's entourage,
• an employer,
• a colleague,
• the Commission of Psychologists
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The Disciplinary procedure in short

The Disciplinary Board will first determine if your complaint is admissible. Then, the investigation phase will begin. During this phase, the psychologist will have the opportunity to review the complaint file and provide their own version of events. If deemed necessary, the Disciplinary Board may also request additional information, summon witnesses, or seek expert opinion.

Based on the results of the investigation, the Disciplinary Board decides whether the complaint is substantiated and whether a sanction should be imposed. The Board deliberates and then rules by majority vote. Its decisions are always reasoned, with the principles in the code of ethics serving as criteria."

>> Click here to learn more about the Disciplinary Board

>> Find out more about Règlement d'ordre intérieur précisant le fonctionnement des Instances disciplinaires. 

Possible sanctions

Disciplinary sanctions are provided for by law. When it finds that an ethical misconduct has been committed, the Disciplinary Board may impose one of the following three sanctions on the psychologist :

• - a warming,
• - the temporary suspension from the list of psychologists: for a maximum of 24 months, the person cannot use the title of psychologist in Belgium,
• - the permanent removal from the list of psychologists: the person must permanently relinquish the title of psychologist and can no longer practice the related profession. In the case of removal, a request for rehabilitation can be made to the Disciplinary Board no earlier than five years after the decision. It will only be accepted if exceptional circumstances justify it.
  
  
  • If the psychologist is from another European Union country, we will also inform the competent authority in their country of origin, as stipulated in European Directive 2005/36/EC. However, we are committed to respecting the confidentiality of the transmitted data.
    
    

The Disciplinary Board decides on a dismissal when no breach of the psychologist's code of ethics has been found.

What you cannot obtain through a disciplinary procedure

• A financial compensation: The Board cannot rule on the psychologist's civil liability and therefore cannot be required to pay you financial compensati​on. If you wish to seek compensation in connection with your complaint, we refer you to the competent court​
  
  
• The correction or removal of a report written by the psychologist as part of a judicial procedure. The Disciplinary Board is not competent to intervene at this level. The Disciplinary Board also cannot confirm whether it has found any ethical violations in the report written by the psychologist.
  
  

If you have such expectations, we advise you to take contact with a lawyer.

The objective of disciplinary law

Disciplinary law aims to preserve and promote the quality of services provided by psychologists, thus contributing to the protection of the public interest and trust in the psychology profession. A disciplinary sanction is therefore seen as a way to address a psychologist's problematic behavior, rather than a form of punishment. In this regard, the complainant does not receive information about the disciplinary procedure.

A disciplinary procedure is conducted between the psychologist and the Disciplinary Board. Disciplinary law does not serve the personal interest of the complainant and does not consider them as a party in the matter.

Are you notified of the progress and outcome of your complaint?

As a plaintiff, you are reporting a supposed ethical violation, but you are not necessarily involved in the disciplinary procedure. This means that the Disciplinary Board does not keep you informed of the progress of the procedure or the final decision. They are not required to do so, as it is not stipulated by law.

However, the Disciplinary Board may contact you if it believes additional information is needed. It may also summon you for a personal appearance. Please note that this is at the Council's discretion. If you request to be heard in person, the Council is not obliged to grant your request. Lastly, please be aware that any testimony will always take place in the presence of the psychologist against whom you have filed the complaint.

How to file a complaint?

You can file a complaint with the help of the following form ​ 

• - Your name and address,
• - Your phone number,
• - The full name of the psychologist, and his/her professionnal address,
• - The registration number of the psychologist, which you can find with our research tool,
• - The dates and location where the event(s) took place,
• - A description of the complaint,
• - Your signature,
• - You may add any relevant evidence in attached files.
  
  
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You can then either submit the complaint :

Via email : plainte@compsy.be 

Via mail to the attention of the clerk of the Disciplinary Council, Commission des Psychologues, Avenue des Arts 3, 1210 Brussels.

The clerk will send you an acknowledgment of receipt.

Complaint Form

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