The history of a formal approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy in Poland is very short, but cannot be presented without a brief description of the historical context for the advancement of psychotherapy in our country. The earliest Polish publications pertaining to the importance of psychological variables in medical treatments date back to the XVIII century. It has yet to be established in what ways the evolution of psychiatry and psychotherapy were affected by the Partitions of Poland. These left the South-East quadrant of the country under the influence of Habsburg Austria at the turn of the XX century, which is when Freud’s theories emerged and soon came to dominate the scene.

The first textbook titled "Psychotherapy" by Tadeusz Bilikiewicz was published in 1938. After the Second World War, the political situation in Poland influenced chances for traveling and exchanging information, as well as psychotherapy. Political infiltration of scientists and intellectuals resulted in some approaches in science and clinical practice being treated as more "politically correct" than others.  It should seem logical, however, that behaviorism associated with the name of the famous Russian Nobel Prize laureate Ivan Pavlov was recognized as conforming to the official ideology, whereas psychoanalysis was perceived as embedded in the Western tradition. Since 1951, when Professor S. Leder established the Neurosis Clinic at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw, techniques based on behavioral and social learning theories have been gradually included in the complex treatments of neurotic disorders.

An idea of organizing a scientific association focused on cognitive and behavioral approaches to psychotherapy came from Professor Bizon’s colleagues and had his support. Establishing cooperation with a group of Italian psychiatrists during the European Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Meeting in Venice in 1997 marked a turning point. At the next EABCT meeting, a formal cooperation agreement was reached between Agnieszka Popiel from the II Department of Psychiatry in Warsaw and Professor Tullio Scrimali from University of Catania, where cognitive therapy have been used for treating schizophrenia for the past twenty years. Unfortunately, a full realization of the idea of launching the Polish Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies came after professor Bizon’s death; the founding meeting was held in December 1998. The first election meeting took place in May 1999 and the following members were elected to the first Board of Directors: Agnieszka Popiel, Andrzej Kokoszka, Ewa Habrat-Praglowska, Marek Zebrowski i Jakub Szamanski. At the beginning the Association had 25 members, mostly psychiatrists and psychologists from Medical Academy and the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw.

Since 1989, the health services system, methods of refunding medical services, and regulations regarding psychotherapy as a legitimate form of treatment have been constantly modified. The availability of cognitive behavioral therapy is mostly low and varies across regions. Similar to other forms of therapy, cognitive therapy is more accessible in large academic cities. Only a few centers in which cognitive behavioral therapy is the main therapeutic method and which employ several therapists, psychiatrists, and/or psychologists have emerged. More often, it is one or two enthusiasts of the method working for a health institution or a private practice.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is most often used in individual therapy for treating anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and child and adolescent disorders. Compared with the generally insufficient number of therapists in Poland, the group of therapists specializing in treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) seems relatively large. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also used in group settings for treating depression and anxiety disorders.

Like in many other European countries where cognitive therapy associations have functioned for years, the Polish Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies is an autonomous scientific organization, independent of traditional psychiatric or psychological associations. PABCT is the only Polish association member of the European Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. The Polish association serves educational roles, organizes training in cognitive therapy, and provides information and recommendations for training seminars offered by other institutions.

In 2001, a Section on Cognitive Behavioral Therapies was founded within the Polish Psychological Association. Although this section functions independent of the PABCT, we share the same goal of disseminating knowledge about cognitive behavioral therapies.