A group of deputies in the State Duma has presented a federal law project titled “On the Basics of Regulating Psychological Activity in the Russian Federation.” This document aims to become a foundational regulatory act in the field of psychology, ensuring systematic legal regulation and improving the quality of psychological services for the population. The bill is designed to protect citizens from low-quality and pseudo psychological services, as well as create conditions for enhancing psychological well-being in society.
The document establishes basic concepts such as “psychological activity,” “psychologist,” “psychological secrecy,” and others, and defines the forms and types of psychological activity. Particular attention is paid to the qualifications required for psychologists, the rights of recipients of psychological assistance, and the conditions for maintaining confidentiality. The document also provides for the creation of legal foundations to protect citizens from dishonest practices, such as magic, witchcraft, and personal growth training masquerading as psychological assistance.
One of the key objectives of the bill is to improve the quality of psychologist training and establish uniform standards for providing psychological assistance. This is particularly relevant given the growing demand for such services. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the number of applicants for psychology programs reached 278,782 in 2023. Additionally, analysts note a significant increase in interest in online psychologists, with traffic to these services rising by 81% over the year.
