What is a general health psychologist?
A general health psychologist is a healthcare professional who has completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in General Health Psychology.
This role has been officially recognised in Spain since the passing of Law 33/2011 of 4 October, the General Public Health Act , which formally incorporated it into the Spanish healthcare system as a regulated healthcare profession.
Their work focuses on preventing, assessing and treating psychological and emotional problems that do not require hospitalisation. They support people experiencing emotional, behavioural or cognitive difficulties, helping them to understand how their behaviours and habits affect their health and working with them to improve it. All of this is done from a clinical perspective, based on scientific evidence and aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle habits and greater mental wellbeing.
Requirements for practising as a general health psychologist
These are the essential requirements for practising legally as a general health psychologist in Spain:
- A university degree in Bachelor’s degree in Psychology , with at least 90 ECTS credits in health-related content accredited during the degree programme.
- a Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology (MPGS) , an official qualifying qualification which must include a minimum of 30 ECTS credits of external placements in authorised healthcare centres.
- Membership of the Official Association of Psychologists of the relevant autonomous community.
- Registration in the Ministry of Health’s Register of Healthcare Professionals.
In addition to these mandatory requirements, many professionals supplement their training with specialised master’s degrees or continuing professional development in specific areas of psychology, which enables them to stand out in the market and offer more specialised care to their patients.
Roles of the general health psychologist
The roles of a general health psychologist extend far beyond individual consultations. This professional can guide and support people at different stages of their lives, helping them to develop appropriate coping strategies, and offer counselling at an individual, family and couple level.
To better understand the scope of their work, it is useful to organise it around the four levels of prevention at which they can intervene:
| Level of prevention | Main objective |
| Primary | To prevent mental health problems from arising |
| Secondary | To intervene once a problem has arisen in order to reduce its impact |
| Tertiary | To rehabilitate and improve quality of life following a serious situation |
| Quaternary | Avoiding unnecessary interventions and over-diagnosis |
Primary prevention
At this level, the general health psychologist designs and implements health education programmes. The aim is to take action before a problem arises, by promoting healthy habits and reducing risk factors. Some of the most common measures include:
- Promoting healthy eating habits and preventing the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
- Developing programmes to improve social skills, impulse control, self-esteem and coping strategies.
- Working with vulnerable or at-risk groups to build their resilience and help them cope with the challenges specific to their situation.
Secondary prevention
Once a problem has arisen, the general health psychologist intervenes to alleviate emotional distress and prevent the situation from worsening. At this stage, they may:
- Implement crisis intervention programmes for people who have suffered a loss, experienced a traumatic event or feel overwhelmed by work, family or social problems.
- Support patients with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, epilepsy or rheumatic disorders in adopting healthier lifestyles.
- Provide psychological tools to carers of people with dementia or who are highly dependent.
- Design support programmes for those living with chronic and disabling conditions.
Tertiary prevention
At this level, the focus is on the psychological rehabilitation of people who have experienced particularly serious health issues. The general health psychologist can implement recovery programmes for patients who have suffered severe heart problems, a cancer diagnosis, infertility treatment, an organ transplant or a prolonged hospital stay.
Their role in this context is to help them improve their quality of life, manage the emotional consequences of the illness, overcome the fears that often persist, and regain their emotional balance.
Quaternary prevention
Less well known but equally important, this role involves avoiding unnecessary interventions, alleviating the burden on the healthcare system and preventing over-diagnosis or over-treatment of people who, in reality, are merely experiencing difficulties in adapting. In this area, the general health psychologist can:
- Set up parenting classes to offer specific guidance on situations such as tantrums, childhood fears, learning difficulties or behavioural problems.
- Provide support during adoption and family reunification processes.
- Advise teenagers and young people on romantic and sexual relationships, bodily changes, substance use and the use of new technologies.
Where does a general health psychologist work?
The MPGS qualification enables practitioners to work in a wide variety of settings, both in the private sector and within the social and healthcare sector. The most common are:
- Own private practice : a very common option amongst those who wish to offer individual, couples’ or family counselling with complete professional autonomy.
- Private clinics and healthcare centres: working in multidisciplinary teams alongside doctors, social workers or other healthcare professionals.
- Social organisations and NGOs: in programmes providing support for people with substance misuse problems, victims of violence, those with chronic illnesses or those facing social exclusion.
- Care homes: providing psychological support to older people and their families at times of particular vulnerability.
- Rehabilitation centres: providing both neuropsychological and psychosocial rehabilitation, supporting people with disabilities or those recovering from serious illnesses.
- Occupational injury insurance schemes: providing support to workers affected by accidents or work-related illnesses with emotional after-effects.
- Addiction treatment centres addiction : supporting the processes of recovery and social reintegration.
- Companies and organisations: designing workplace wellbeing and stress prevention programmes in the professional environment.
- Educational institutions and universities: providing guidance and psychological counselling to students and families.
- Online psychological support: a growing field that enables us to reach people regardless of their location.
How much does a general health psychologist earn?
A general health psychologist’s salary varies depending on factors such as experience, specialisation and place of work.
- Early in their career: Between 1,500 and 2,500 euros per month in the private sector.
- With experience and a stable client base: Earnings can exceed 3,000 euros a month, particularly if they run their own practice.
Areas such as neuropsychology, child therapy, bereavement counselling and couples’ counselling are in particularly high demand and allow practitioners to stand out in the market.
Those who choose to set up their own practice have more variable earnings, but with a stable client base, the financial potential is significantly greater.
Summary
The general health psychologist is a healthcare professional legally recognised in Spain under Law 33/2011, whose role is to prevent, assess and treat psychological and emotional problems using an evidence-based clinical approach. To practise, it is compulsory to hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in General Health Psychology (MPGS), as well as the relevant professional registration and registration with the Ministry of Health.
Their roles encompass all four levels of prevention: from designing health education programmes and crisis intervention, to the psychological rehabilitation of people who have suffered from serious illnesses, and counselling for families and adolescents. All of this makes them a highly versatile professional, capable of working in settings as diverse as their own private practice, an NGO, a care home, a company or a rehabilitation centre.
As for salary, the average gross annual salary is around 25,000 to 26,000 euros, with the potential to reach 40,000 euros with experience and specialisation. A career that has a real impact on people’s lives and offers solid, growing career prospects.
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