European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP)

EABP is a fully accepted European Wide Accrediting Organisation (EWAO) of the European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP). As such EABP has a seat on the Governing Board of EAP and is a member of the  the European Wide Organisations Committee (EWOC). (For more information about the EAP, click here.)

In order to become an EWAO (European Wide Accrediting Organisation), there must be training programs at European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) level, in at least 6 European countries, and the Scientific Validity of that method of psychotherapy must be clearly established. This is done by answering 15 Questions about the Scientific Validity and then submitting these to the EWOC for scrutiny and acceptance.

The submission from EABP on the Scientific Validity of Body-Psychotherapy was completed in July 1999 and we have established the Scientific Validity of Body-Psychotherapy. (Click here, to see the submission). There was then one additional condition: - that all 'separate' modalities or sub-modalities within Body-Psychotherapy must also submit their answers to the 15 Questions about Scientific Validity and EABP would act as a channel for these different modalities. Integrative or generic Body-Psychotherapies did not have to do this: they were covered by the general submission.

In 2006, this condition was relaxed and EABP can now institute a process to determine which methods or modalities of Body-Psychotherapy are 'scientifically valid'. It will probably be best to do this within the Forum of Body-Psychotherapy Organisations, in a process similar to that within the EWOC.

This has been a major achievement as it helped to establish Body-Psychotherapy as a significant 'mainstream' of psychotherapy within the EAP, with now several well-established (scientifically valid) modalities - Hakomi, Biodynamic Psychology, Bodynamics, Unitive Psychotherapy, Emotional Re-Integration, Character-Analytic Vegetotherapy, and Psychotherapeutic Postural Integration .  Some other Body-Psychotherapy modalities (Biosynthesis, Bioenergetic Analysis, Psycho-Organic Analysis, Concentrative Movement Therapy, etc) are also independently an EWAO and have been scientifically validated as well.

Body-Psychotherapists can now be awarded the ECP (European Certificate for Psychotherapy).  In the 'grandparenting' process, they must be (i) on the National Psychotherapy Register in their country, via their National Awarding Organisation (NAO) and be (ii) fully Accredited Members of EABP (or another EWAO).  About 300 or more Body-Psychotherapists currently have the ECP.

Body-Psychotherapy Training Schools can now apply for European Accredited Psychotherapy Training Institute (EAPTI) status.  All graduates from such an Institute can then be awarded the ECP.  Such a school or institute has to be (i) registered with the NAO in their country; and (ii) accredited by EABP through The FORUM of Body-Psychotherapy Organisations (or by another EWAO).  Their Body-Psychotherapy 'method' or 'modality' also needs to have been scientifically validated (see above).

Now that EABP is an EWAO and the Scientific Validity of Body-Psychotherapy is clearly established, and the process of accreditation of individuals and institutes is underway: the next major task is prepare submissions to the EAP, as certain countries within EAP do not yet accept Body-Psychotherapists onto their Register and therefore these people cannot get the ECP. Currently one of these countries is Austria, though some Austrian psychotherapists have got the ECP by applying through Germany.  Hopefully such countries will accept that Body-Psychotherapy is scientifically valid and will put properly accredited Body-Psychotherapists onto their Registers. German Body-Psychotherapists can get the ECP, even though the German law on psychotherapy is quite restrictive.  

All Full Members of EABP in the various European countries are now encouraged to apply for the ECP and EABP will help these people get 'grand-parented' onto the ECP Register.  Other Body-Psychotherapists, already on a National Register, may have to join EABP to get their European-wide accreditation, though in several countries the EABP National Association is a member of the NAO and a second 'separate' membership is not necessary. Once a significant number of Body-Psychotherapists in all the various countries are properly on the National Register of Psychotherapists in that country, Body-Psychotherapy will be properly and generally established professionally in a number of the major European countries and one of our main organisational aims will be fulfilled.

Members of EABP and other Body-Psychotherapists play a very significant role in the day-to-day running, the establishment of the structure, and the politics of EAP - and thus in the emerging profession of psychotherapy in Europe. This helps keep open a general awareness that Body-Psychotherapy is a significant mainstream branch of Psychotherapy. We encourage other Body-Psychotherapists to think, act, write and publish from this perspective. The EAP International Journal of Psychotherapy has accepted several articles from Body-Psychotherapists and about Body-Psychotherapy.

However, there is also a wider debate that opens up here about the whole process of 'scientific validity': we present 2 essays [ one here by Courtenay Young and another here by Michael Heller] with 2 different arguments. Whilst these are now somewhat dated, they still raise interesting questions. We hope you enjoy them. There is also - somewhat confusingly - a 3rd article, by both Courtenay Young and Michael Heller about whether psychotherapy is an art or a science. You can view this here. This area of debate has also been developed in a series of articles by Courtenay Young on what is appropriate 'science' for Body-Psychotherapy. Please click here.What we need now is your contribution to the debate!

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