When to file a complaint

Psychologists are bound by a Code of ethics, which they must respect. This is a set of rules of conduct designed to protect clients, ensure that services are rendered with professionalism, and preserve the credibility of psychologists. Psychotherapists, for their part, must abide by the code of ethics of their respective professional order or, in the case of psychotherapists who are not members of another professional order, by the rules governing their practice in the Code of ethics for psychologists.

If your psychologist's conduct makes you uncomfortable or seems unprofessional, do not hesitate to contact the Office of the Syndic or request an investigation.

To whom should a complaint be made?

If the professional is a psychologist or is not a member of an order
In the case of psychologists and holders of a psychotherapist's permit who are not eligible for membership in a professional order, contact the Office of the Syndic of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec.

If the professional is a member of another professional order
If the professional you are consulting is a member of one of the following professional orders, even if he or she holds a psychotherapist's permit issued by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec, contact the Office of the Syndic of his or her professional order directly:

• Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d’orientation du Québec
• Ordre professionnel des criminologues du Québec
• Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec
• Ordre des infirmières et des infirmiers du Québec
• Ordre des psychoéducateurs et des psychoéducatrices du Québec
• Ordre professionnel des sexologues du Québec
• Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec

As part of the inquiry process, the professional order may call on a psychologist to provide expert advice.