Poland

Most counselling services in Poland are practiced by psychotherapists of various theoretical orientations.

But how many psychotherapists there are in Poland is unknown, since the term “psychotherapist” is not protected and the professionals are not registered. The majority of psychotherapists with academic training are physicians (medicine) , especially psychiatrists, while psychologists are in the minority.

Intensive works have been carried out in Poland in the lawgoverning psychotherapy as a profession. The law is being prepared by the Ministry of Health in consultation with Polish psychotherapeutic associations. The law is to safeguard the patients rights and regulate the qualifications of psychotherapists. The postgraduate training courses are to be run by the Psychotherapy Association whose members are obliged to conform to codes of ethics.

Since consistent legally prescribed training standards do not yet exist, at least the specialist psychotherapeutic societies ensure a certain level of quality assurance.

They offer psychotheapy training, define the training content and award certificates that serve as proof of minimum standards. So far, each professional society follows its own rules and decides for itself who is admitted to the training. The training content, requirements and duration are also extremely heterogeneous.

Psychotherapy is covered not only by the statutory health insurance but also private health insurance. Private practice psychotherapy is becoming more and more popular when patients have to pay, but they can choose their therapist and have no limitations on the number of sessions. But for Polish patients, it is difficult to find their way around the diversity and to distinguish serious from dubious providers.