Kuwait bans spiritual healing under new psychotherapy rules

Kuwait's Ministry of Health has implemented a comprehensive regulatory framework for psychotherapy, imposing strict licensing requirements and prohibiting various practices deemed unsupported by scientific evidence. The Ministerial Decision No. 225 of 2026 outlines the rules governing the practice of psychotherapy and the acquisition of professional licenses, with the aim of safeguarding patients.

Prohibited methods include energy and spiritual therapies, Reiki, pranic healing, false hypnosis, astral projection, cosmic healing, "star seeds," treatments utilizing stones and crystals, law of attraction-based therapies, body-language analysis, and practices centered around chakras and auras. The list extends to neurolinguistic programming, pseudotherapies, and unfounded therapeutic claims, as well as psychological relaxation and mental-guidance techniques lacking scientific backing.

Additionally, psychological yoga, color therapy, and sound vibration treatments are banned. Life coaching and self-development activities are also prohibited unless practiced within an approved professional licensing framework.

To become licensed, practitioners must possess academic qualifications from recognized educational institutions, with equivalent qualifications required for those obtained abroad. Academic study must be pursued through regular in-person attendance. Practitioners must also complete clinical training under direct supervision and record a specified number of face-to-face therapy sessions conducted within licensed healthcare facilities, emphasizing the importance of practical clinical experience alongside academic qualifications.