The Albania Association for CBT was established in the 2015 by a group of Albanian psychologists who had participated in a three-year course for CBT in Kosovo. The course was organized by Moshe Landsman PhD, A certified supervisor from the Israel Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ITA). Mr. Yaakov Sinai, who was experienced in leading one of the more influential CBT courses in Israel, agreed to consult in establishing the course in Kosovo, which was modelled on that CBT course. Besides Landsman and Sinai, several other experienced ITA members lectured at the course. Later, a second course was organized in Kosovo and some of the Albanian Psychologists participated in this second course. Two of the Albanians' Marta Bej and Etel Turtulli, founders of the Albanian Institute for Psychological Services in Albania, after completing their full training and supervision, organized a similar CBT course in Tirana, with the help of Moshe Landsman, who acted as liaison to ITA, which gave lecturers and professional auspices to the project. Near the end of the first Albanian CBT course, Marta, Etel and Moshe established the Albanian CBT Association. Since that time two full courses in CBT have been completed and the third one is ongoing. Approximately 50 people finished the course, but not all of them have completed all of the required material. CBT therapists are still a minority in Albania and the professional association is still relatively small. However, CBT has become increasingly popular in recent years. Most Israeli universities now run courses in CBT for students in their psychology departments and schools of social work. The courses have all been under the auspices of ITA and ITA trainers come to Tirana to give lectures and give supervision. For this coming course, for the first-time local trainers, Dr. Bej and Msc. Turtulli, will take an active part in the training and supervision.


THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF CBT IN ALBANIA 
Overall, most CBT practice in Albania continues to be conducted in private clinics, but some CBT is conducted in public mental health settings, as well as schools. Almost all Cognitive-Behavioral therapists are psychologists, although there are several social workers who finished their training and are now active therapists. Some psychiatrists have received several CBT trainings, but have not participated in formal courses. Over the last few years, national and local institutions countrywide have substantially modified their attitudes toward CBT, demonstrating noticeable acceptance of CBT methods and sometimes even a preference for the short-term, structured, goal-directed, options that they offer. In some psychiatric hospitals and public mental health agencies nowadays, a CBT therapist works alongside therapists who hold more psychodynamic orientations. An area where CBT has shown positive outcomes is work with children in the national schools and institutions. School psychologists trained in CBT work actively with both teachers and children, alleviating behavioral problems and modifying learning problems.

RESEARCH IN CBT 
At this writing, research on CBT has taken only a few baby steps. A few people completing the CBT course have been university lecturers and we may see some research emerge from them. However, psychological research in general in Albania has a low output level. Dr. Marta Bej's PhD dissertation was dealt mostly with application of CBT in schools. Also, some of the Albanian lecturers, like Dr. Skerdi Zahaj, CBT psychotherapist, has published an article "The Urgency for Evidence Based Psychotherapies in Albanian Mental Health System", Moving from International Research to Cultural Treatment Practices" and Msc. Etel Turtulli is actually working on a research about CBT and Mindfulness treatment for Anger in the school environment. 

WHO DELIVERS CBT? 
Psychologists and social workers at the moment deliver CBT. Academic training is a requirement for practicing therapy by all three licensed mental health professions (Psychiatry, psychology and social work). In social work, fieldwork comprises an integral part of the university studies, and the formal registration to graduates is issued by the Ministry of Health. Psychiatrists and psychologists receive their license from the Order of Psychologist, after an internship of several years and an exam. Although psychiatrists may be admitted to the CBT course, so far none have applied. In Albania, psychiatry is an overwhelmingly biological profession and little psychotherapy is provided by them. 


ORGANIZATION OF CBT IN ALBANIA
 There is one professional CBT association in Albania (AACBT). As of 2021, AACBT will have about 60 members. These members, psychologists, and social workers, are all well trained and qualified therapists who studied CBT and apply it in their daily work. They all have fulfilled the requirements for becoming a CBT therapist, which are based on the 'Minimum Training Standards' as published on the website of the EABCT. Many other professionals also declare themselves as supporting CBT but do not pay dues and/or have not met the minimum training standards and therefore cannot become members of AACBT. Most members view themselves as CBT therapists, as defined by the EABCT. Most therapists apply either Beck's intervention mode or Ellis's REBCT. Lately what has become known as the 'third wave' has also become quite popular and attracts many CBT therapists. Most of the therapists, work with adults on pain, anxiety, stress, mourning, health problems, and some do work with children on anxiety, OCD, aggression, PTSD, learning difficulties, etc. Some were also trained in marital therapy and family therapy. There is also a CBT organization organized in Kosovo, but this organization has had a great deal of organizational problems and about 20 of the members who have received extensive CBT training decided to request to join the Albanian association, which has accepted them. Therefore, the combined Albanian-Kosovar association has about 80 members. The association organizes workshops, seminars, study days several international guests have visited in the past or will be coming to run workshops. Most of these are Israelis from ITA, but lately there have been some therapists coming from Italy. Many Albanian and Kosovar CBT therapists attend international congresses from EABCT.
What is CBT?
CBT, or Cognitive Behavior Therapy, is a talking therapy. It has been proved to help treat a wide range of emotional and physical health conditions in adults, young people and children. CBT looks at how we think about a situation and how this affects the way we act. In turn our actions can affect how we think and feel. The therapist and client work together in changing the client's behaviors, or their thinking patterns, or both of these. There is a great deal of research evidence to show that CBT works effectively in treating depression. This research has been carefully reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).  - BABCP
The Albanian Association for Cognitive and Behavior Therapy (AACBT) is a non-profit association  which promotes the scientific study and ethical practice in understanding and changing cognitions and behaviors in applied settings.  

The objectives of the Association:

  1. To provide education and training in the principles and practices of cognitive and behavior therapies.
  2. To promote principles of a good life style and health in the community.
  3. To offer specialized psychotherapeutic services CBT oriented to the people in need.  
  4. To organize the specialization in CBT course for professionals who meet the criteria for this specialization.
  5. To supervise and support mental health professionals in providing quality treatment.
  6. To give national accreditation on CBT for Albanian professionals.

Our Mission
For the public, aacbt.al

  • EDUCATES the public about mental health issues, treatment, and the process of therapy.
  • EMPOWERS all people's wellness journeys through access to reliable, unbiased, and non-pathologizing mental health information.
  • CHALLENGES the myths, stereotypes, and stigmas that can surround mental health  issues and treatment and prevent people from getting help.

For therapists, aacbt.al
"    CREATE a group of specialized psychotherapists oriented in CBT
"    FACILITATES a community of therapists who believe in and adhere to principles of ethical therapy and are committed to reducing harm in therapy.
"    SUPPORTS compassionate, collaborative therapists in their practices through access to quality continuing education events, up-to-date therapy news and information, and resources related to ethics and power dynamics in therapy.
"    SUPERVISE therapists on their process of professional growth.
"    PROVIDES a leading online directory with strict membership standards, giving therapist members consistent referrals and other benefits that foster a thriving practice.

Our Vision

  • We envision a mental health community in which therapists and counselors are guided by their hearts as much as their minds have the self awareness and courage to do their own therapy when appropriate, adhere to ethical principles, and treat all people with the dignity and respect they deserve. 
  • We envision a mental health community in which clinicians view all people as capable of change. We encourage therapists to give people the benefit of the doubt by holding to the wisdom that people are born lovable, loving, and vulnerable beings, and to understand that people are shaped by their experiences and circumstances.
  • We envision a world in which all people have access to information and treatment that can help them improve their mental and emotional health and achieve harmony, thus promoting healthier families and communities


About us 
Albanian Association for Cognitive and Behavior Therapies - AACBT is a group composed of national and international professionals specialized in CBT with the aim of creating the Albanian branch of CBT and filling un empty gap in the Albanian mental health offering qualitative services for the community in need also offering young Albanian professionals as psychologists, social workers, doctors and nurses a way to grown up professionally.

AACBT was created with the purpose to educate the community about the advantages of doing Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapy and to offer this service for the people in need and for the vulnerable groups. AACBT is offering to educate the Albanian professionals who work in the fields of psychology, health and social worker as well in order to develop their abilities as therapists and to be able to help people coping with their problems and diseases. AACBT develop and promote collaborative approaches within the professional community in Albania.