Consultation with a psychologist or psychiatrist: what care?

Verified 03 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Evolution related to the reimbursement of sessions with a contracted psychologist

The My Psych Support device evolves.

Thus, in agreement with the conventional psychologist, 12 sessions per calendar year per person can be taken care of, compared to 8 before.

This page will be updated as soon as the text is published in the Official Journal.

Consultations with a psychologist or psychiatrist are not reimbursed in the same way. The difference is that one is a doctor and the other is not.

It exists 2 great types of "shrink" : psychiatrist (or child psychiatrist) and psychologist.

The psychiatrist is a specialist doctor. Thus, they are specially trained to make a diagnosis and prescribe drugs including psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, anxiolytics, neuroleptics, sleep aids, etc.). Care can also involve speaking and listening.

The psychologist is a university graduate, but not a doctor. He cannot so not prescribe of medicines. There are many specializations in psychology according to age groups (child psychologist, specialist in aging disorders...), field of activity (work psychologist, school psychologist...), etc.

The psychoanalyst and the psychotherapist can be a psychiatrist or a psychologist, but not necessarily.

Psychiatrist

You can consult a psychiatrist directly, without your consent attending physician. He's a medical specialist recognized under the care pathway.

Your treating doctor may also refer you to a psychiatrist as part of your care pathway.

Psychologist

You can consult a psychologist with the agreement of your treating doctor or directly. The refund will be different.

These rates may depend on where the care is provided.

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In the metropolis

Prices vary according to your age.

Over 25 years
Tableau - Consultation Rates

Situation

Psychiatrist

Rate

Refund Basis

Reimbursed amount (less the flat-rate contribution of €2)

Patient over 25 years of age, direct access

(patients without a treating physician or not available within the time frame compatible with their state of health, emergency situation, EhpadEhpad : Accommodation for dependent elderly persons(medical, social or penitentiary establishments)

Sector 1

€55

€55

€36.50

Sector 1 (very complex consultation)

€60

€60

€40

Adhering to the Controlled Pricing Practice Option (OPTAM) 

Sector 2

Fees with controlled overruns

€55

€36.50

Sector 2

Fees available

€42.50

€27.75

Within the framework of care pathway

Sector 1

€55

€55

€36.50

Sector 1 (complex consultation)

€60

€60

€40

Adhering to the Controlled Pricing Practice Option (OPTAM) 

Sector 2

Fees with controlled overrun

€55

€36.50

Sector 2

Fees available

€42.50

€27.75

Corresponding physician (for ad hoc follow-up)

Sector 1

€67.50

€67.50

€45.25

Adhering to the Controlled Pricing Practice Option (OPTAM) 

Sector 2

Fees with controlled overruns

€67.50

€45.25

Sector 2

Fees available

€67.50

€45.25

Outside care pathway

Sector 1

€61 maximum

€50

€13

Adhering to the Controlled Pricing Practice Option (OPTAM) 

Sector 2

Fees with controlled overruns

€50

€13

Sector 2

Fees available

€42.50

€10.75

Under 25
Tableau - Consult a specialist: price list, reimbursement basis, amount reimbursed

Consulted physician

Rate

Refund Basis

Amount Refunded

Psychiatrist or Child Psychiatrist, Sector 1

€67

€67

Under 18:

€46.90

18 years and older:

€44.90

Psychiatrist or child psychiatrist, adhering to the contract of access to care

Fees with controlled overruns

€67

Under 18:

€46.90

18 years and older:

€44.90

Psychiatrist or Child Psychiatrist, Sector 2

Fees available

€42.50

Under 18:

€29.75

18 years and older:

€27.75

In the overseas departments

The site of theDetailed health insurance reimbursements for consultations in French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion.

Psychologists involved

The psychologist should:

  • Sign an agreement with the local health insurance organization of its place of practice
  • Practice as a liberal or as an employee of a coordinated exercise facility (multiprofessional nursing home or health center)
  • Fulfill conditions of experience (at least 3 years of clinical experience) and training to attest to a consolidated course in clinical psychology or psychopathology.

The list of qualified psychologists who meet these conditions is available online:

Finding a conventional psychologist

FYI  

The insured freely chooses the conventional psychologist.

Support for this consultation

You pay directly the psychologist after each session or at the end of several sessions (depending on the psychologist's choice):

  • €50 for 1er session (assessment interview)
  • €50 for each of the follow-up sessions (up to 7).

Then the Health Insurance takes care of 60% the cost of the meetings, that is to say €30.

Your mutual or your supplementary insurance, as part of supplementary health care contracts, finances up to 40% the cost of the sessions.

Conditions to benefit from such consultations

The situation varies according to the situation: adult, student, 3-17 years old.

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Major

You have to answer 2 conditions following:

  • Be 3 years of age or older
  • Have disorders.

If you are mentally ill or have a minor psychiatric disorder, you can benefit from these sessions if you are in one the following situations:

  • Mild or moderate anxiety disorders
  • Mild to moderate depressive disorders
  • Non-addictive misuse of tobacco, alcohol or cannabis
  • Eating disorders without criteria of severity.

If you are a patient on psychotropic treatment or a bipolar or borderline patient on antiepileptics, you may be referred for psychological counseling in particular to reassess the relevance of the prescribed treatments.

In this case, a psychiatrist's opinion is required.

If you have been on antidepressants for less than 6 months or on hypnotics or benzodiazepines for less than 1 month, you may be referred by:

  • The attending physician
  • Or any doctor (or midwife) who is involved in the care.

You can notbenefit of this care if your situation requires from the outset or is in the process of being taken care of by a specialized psychiatrist.

Examples:

  • Suicidal risks
  • Severe forms of depressive or anxiety disorders
  • Eating disorders with signs of severity
  • Severe neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Severe psychiatric history within 3 years
  • Any situation of substance dependence.

In addition, you cannot take advantage of this support if you are in one of the following situations:

  • Recognized as suffering from a long-term illness or disability on psychiatric grounds
  • On psychiatric leave of more than 6 months
  • Having been in one of these situations for less than two years.

Student

If you are a student, you can benefit from a specific device that includes free sessions without advance payment.

3 to 17 years inclusive

The minor must respond 2 conditions following:

  • Be 3 years of age or older
  • Have disorders.

The minor must present a situation of mental ill-being or suffering which causes concern to the people around him.

Minors - even those who meet the eligibility criteria - cannot benefit of this care if his situation requires from the outset or is in the process of being taken care of by a specialist psychiatrist.

Examples:

  • Suicidal risks
  • Severe forms of anxiety or depressive disorders
  • Eating disorders with signs of severity
  • Major withdrawal and inhibition situations
  • Severe outsourced disorders
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Any situation of substance dependence.

A minor cannot benefit of this support if it is in one of the following situations:

  • Managed in child psychiatry or psychiatry
  • Supported in ALD for psychiatric reasons
  • Has been in one of these situations for less than two years.

Number of sessions

This support is limited to 8 sessions per calendar year.

Sequence of meetings

The 1era of these sessions is devoted to an evaluation interview.

During this interview, the psychologist does a 1era assessment of the patient’s needs.

The psychologist introduces the patient to the framework of the psychological support and offers him a number of sessions, according to his needs, within the limit of 8 sessions taken care of during a calendar year.

The assessment interview and the last follow-up session shall be followed by a written exchange between:

  • The psychologist
  • And the physician indicated by the patient.

A psychologist who believes at the end of the assessment interview or at any point in the care that the patient is under psychiatric supervision will inform the physician.

At the end of the last meeting, the psychologist shall state in the letter to the doctor whether he considers that psychological follow-up is still necessary.

The psychologist can conduct sessions by video transmission except during the assessment interview.

Consultation can be done directly without going through a doctor.

Unconventional liberal psychologists practice free fares not reimbursed by the Health Insurance. You can inquire with your mutual to determine if they are being taken care of.

Please note

Consultation with a psychologist in a medical-psychological center (CMP) is covered by the Health Insurance.

You can also consult a psychoanalyst or psychotherapist directly.

When these professionals are neither doctors nor psychologists, they charge free rates that are not covered by the Health Insurance.