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.

Training in cognitive behavioral therapy:

The Polish Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies applies training standards established by the European Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and has the authority to grant certificates/licenses for the PABCT Cognitive Behavioral Therapists.

In order to receive the PABCT certificate, a person is required to complete a training course offered or accredited by the Association and satisfy all other requirements specified in the training standards.

In 2002, two centers that offer training in cognitive behavioral therapy were founded in Warsaw. Despite using a similar name, they are independent of each other.
These centers are:

• CBT Center. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center and School,
  ul. Piękna 68 IV floor
  00-672 Warszawa
  www.cbt.pl
  

• Center for the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CTPB)
  ul. Narbutta 8 m. 3
  02-564 Warszawa
  www.ctpb.pl
  

Twenty-nine professionals participated in the 3-year program offered by the PABCT that commenced in September 2002, whereas 70 people signed for the courses offered by the aforementioned accredited institutions.

The next step in professional development is training in supervision. Fifteen persons attended the supervision course offered by PABCT in 2007.

Because of empirically proven effectiveness for the treatment of a variety of problems, cognitive behavioral therapy is in many countries included in the teaching curricula of medical and psychology schools. It is also a mandatory course in psychiatric and clinical psychology specialization programs.
The Board of Directors of the PABCT addressed an official request to the Ministry of Health to include cognitive behavioral therapy in the register of competencies/skills in specialized medical fields.

Summary

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been experiencing dynamic growth in Poland recently, which can be demonstrated by the number of individuals in training. It seems most important that training participants come from places other than Warsaw or other big academic centers. It offers the opportunity for the propagation of cognitive therapy in clinical practice across the country and its greater availability for patients.