WCP 2025

Introduction In recent decades, two processes have been crucial for the development of psychotherapy regulation, which are interlinked and mutually reinforcing: efforts to legalise psychotherapy as an autonomous profession, and efforts to academise psychotherapy as an autonomous scientific discipline. While in Europe the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) plays a key role in efforts to legalise psychotherapy as an autonomous profession, the academisation of psychotherapy in the twentieth century started at postgraduate level, then, after the Bologna reform, at Masters and Doctoral level and, since 2005 also at undergraduate level, first in Austria and then in Slovenia and Germany.

Methods The descriptive and interpretive qualitative study will be presented which took place over the last 20 years and included data collection in three main ways: through observation, questioning and the use of documentary sources. This study presents the pioneer work of the comprehensive description of the development of psychotherapy regulation in Europe and Slovenia.

Results Based on descriptions of the regulation of psychotherapy in 30 European countries it is pointed out that concern for equitable access to psychotherapy and its quality for those in need of such kind of help must be a key criterion and goal in efforts to regulate psychotherapy. Without this, even the legal recognition of psychotherapy as an autonomous profession and scientific discipline makes no real sense and loses its ethical compass.

Conclusion In all the countries illustrated, therefore, regardless of their stage of development, there are many problems in providing accessible and quality psychotherapeutic and other professional services in the field of mental health care. This cannot be achieved once and for all, but requires continuous review and improvement. However, without a good legal framework, the needle on the ethical compass remains without key coordinates. To point us in the right direction, we need regulation based on international standards of an autonomous profession and scientific discipline. International comparisons clearly show that if psychotherapy remains only in the hands of doctors and psychologists (as a method or specialization), or medicine and psychology, its fate as an eternal orphan is sealed. It will survive but it will not flourish.