Bulgaria

Counselling cannot be seen as an independent activity in Bulgaria. Most counselling services are provided by psychotherapists or social workers.

The very roots of psychotherapy in Bulgarian can be searched for in the beginning of the 20^th century as well as in the developments between the world wars – processes that have been almost completely stopped and vanished in the times of communism to be re-started and renewed again in the very end of 70s and most of all in the very beginning of 80s of the 20^th century.

The Bulgarian Association for Psychotherapy (BAP) exists legally since 23.11.1993, registered as an NGO. The BAP also has declared and plays the role of an umbrella organization to the psychotherapy sphere in Bulgaria in general.

In schools, universities and other educational institutions, counselling services are often available (although they are not obliged to do so) not only the pupils and students, but also the parents or teachers are involved with the help of discussions, workshops, or training courses. specialists who advise in schools and other educational institutions include psychologists, educators, speech therapists, career consultants and pedagogical therapists.

Furthermore, the field of vocational guidance covers a wide range of counselling. the exercise of vocational guidance requires many specific competences, which can be acquired within the framework of several master’s programmes and the global career development faciliator (GCDF).

One of the main private providers of counselling training using an online platform is the Business Foundation for Education with the Prometheus project.