Evaluating the need of regulating the profession of psychotherapy based upon the opinions of Polish psychotherapists

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dc.abstract.en630 Polish psychotherapists participated in a study examining their opinions regarding possible legal regulation of the psychotherapy profession. Participants completed a survey using a five-point Likert scale to rate the favourability of certain issues for inclusion in the legal regulation of the profession of psychotherapy such as patient rights, rights relating to the profession, establishing a professional regulatory body, and other issues. Regardless of the psychotherapeutic approach, the most beneficial outcome of legal regulation of the psychotherapist’s profession was the guarantee of the right to patient confidentiality in relations with state authorities and the establishment of unambiguous criteria for waiving it. The participants were also unanimous regarding the most unfavourable effects of regulation, such as increased control over the activities of psychotherapists, mainly by state authorities, which suggests that they prefer a professional self-governing body. Despite differences between psychotherapeutic approaches on specific issues that have been examined here, Polish psychotherapists see a need for legal regulation of their profession. The results are important not only in the context of mental health deterioration but also given that legal regulations for the psychotherapy profession vary worldwide, and in many countries discussions are ongoing.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii i Prawa w Poznaniu
dc.affiliationCentrum Badań nad Rozwojem Osobowości
dc.affiliationInstytut Prawa
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorKubiak, Anna
dc.contributor.authorNahorska, Weronika
dc.contributor.authorDzielińska, Michalina
dc.contributor.authorHyżorek, Aleksander
dc.contributor.authorMichałowski, Jarosław
dc.date.access2026-10-10
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-10T08:11:49Z
dc.date.available2026-10-10T08:11:49Z
dc.date.created2026-06-25
dc.date.issued2026-06-25
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>630 Polish psychotherapists participated in a study examining their opinions regarding possible legal regulation of the psychotherapy profession. Participants completed a survey using a five-point Likert scale to rate the favourability of certain issues for inclusion in the legal regulation of the profession of psychotherapy such as patient rights, rights relating to the profession, establishing a professional regulatory body, and other issues. Regardless of the psychotherapeutic approach, the most beneficial outcome of legal regulation of the psychotherapist’s profession was the guarantee of the right to patient confidentiality in relations with state authorities and the establishment of unambiguous criteria for waiving it. The participants were also unanimous regarding the most unfavourable effects of regulation, such as increased control over the activities of psychotherapists, mainly by state authorities, which suggests that they prefer a professional self-governing body. Despite differences between psychotherapeutic approaches on specific issues that have been examined here, Polish psychotherapists see a need for legal regulation of their profession. The results are important not only in the context of mental health deterioration but also given that legal regulations for the psychotherapy profession vary worldwide, and in many countries discussions are ongoing.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeafter_publication
dc.description.physical110–126
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume57
dc.identifier.doi10.24425/ppb.2026.153997
dc.identifier.issn0079-2993
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2597
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki prawne
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enlegal aspects
dc.subject.enhealth policy
dc.subject.enlegal regulation
dc.subject.enprofession of psychotherapy
dc.subject.enindependent professions
dc.subject.enethics in psychotherapy
dc.subject.enmental health
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleEvaluating the need of regulating the profession of psychotherapy based upon the opinions of Polish psychotherapists
dc.title.journalPolish Psychological Bulletin
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle