Thus, therapists reinforce families’ conviction that common conversations about the most painful issues are not only possible but also very helpful. Organization In 1998, the increasing interest in family Cilengitide therapy was reflected in the formation of the Family Therapy Scientific Section (FTSS) within the Polish Psychiatric Association (PPA). Its founders were members of the Psychotherapy Scientific Section of PPA who believed that the rapidly developing field of family EX 527 solubility dmso therapy should have its own representation. The first president of the section was Professor Maria Orwid. The decision not to establish a separate Family Therapy Society was based on political grounds. As mentioned above, psychotherapy

has been closely connected to psychiatry in Poland. It seemed beneficial to remain within the structure of the large association as numerous changes occurred: changes in the Polish National Health Service that had been occurring since 1999, the introduction of a new reimbursement system for medical treatment costs, and the changing regulations on the

psychotherapeutic practices of psychologists. This decision led to a number of positive outcomes. First, the section cooperates very closely with the Psychotherapeutic Section of the Polish Psychiatric Association, one of the largest selleck kinase inhibitor Polish psychotherapeutic associations, which has introduced standards for psychotherapeutic training in Poland, criteria for assessing training programs for psychotherapists and psychotherapy supervisors, and regulations for conducting the examination that align with the directives of the European Association for Psychotherapy. Because of this cooperation, all decisions related to the issues discussed above are made during joint meetings of the managing boards of the two sections. This activity is extremely important because there is currently a regulation on the professions of psychology and psychotherapy being developed in the Ministry of Health.Polish law does not regulate many

issues related to psychotherapy, and therefore, the procedures introduced by the two sections have almost been used as the basis for regulations concerning psychotherapy and family therapy for many years. Moreover, both boards cooperate closely with the Psychotherapy Section of the Polish Psychological Association to unify the standards and curricula for psychotherapeutic trainings and courses. The FTSS is a national organization that represents family therapists in the National Family Therapy Organizations of the European Family Therapy Association (NFTO EFTA). Today, FTSS has 356 members and holds annual national conferences devoted to selected issues.2 Moreover, there is another association for family therapists in Poland: the Wielkopolskie Systemic Therapy Association. It closely cooperates with family therapists from Heidelberg and organizes training in family therapy.