WCP - Goals and responsibilities



  • To promote psychotherapy on all continents of the world (in accordance with the Strasbourg Declaration on Psychotherapy of 1990)
  • To enhance the conditions for psychotherapy patients
  • To cooperate with national and international organisations in peacekeeping and conflict management measures
  • To create an international information centre for psychotherapy
  • To reach a counselling status as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) of the United Nations (UN)
  • To establish international ethical guidelines for psychotherapists
  • To support all efforts to achieve and maintain human rights
  • To establish international working groups on special topics
  • The exchange of training standards world-wide
  • To support its members in all psychotherapeutic concerns


Ordinary membership in the WCP is open to psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic organisations of different orientations from all continents. Other individuals and organisations that support the WCP and/or its goals shall be accepted as Extraordinary Members. Individuals and organisations that have contributed extraordinary work to the field of psychotherapy can be appointed Honorary Members.

WCP - Constitution


1. Name and Seat of the WCP

World Council for Psychotherapy - WCP

Weltverband für Psychotherapie - WVP

The registered seat of the WCP is in Vienna, Austria.

Address of the secretariat: Freudplatz 1, A-1020 Vienna

2. Purpose of the WCP

2.1 To unite all psychotherapists, psychotherapeutic institutes with their different school orientation, psychotherapeutic researchers and their institutes, and their national and international organisations.

2.2 To develop a world-wide network on all psychotherapeutic issues.

2.3 To support the development of psychotherapy as treatment, human science and profession according to the "Strasbourg Declaration on Psychotherapy of 1990".

2.4 To consult authorities in different countries on issues concerning the emotional/psychic sphere of individuals and groups.

2.5 To function as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) of the United Nations (UN).

2.6 To support its members in all psychotherapeutic belongings.

2.7 To support the development of psychotherapeutic umbrella organisations in national countries and continents.

2.8 To co-operate with national and international organisations in peace- keeping and conflict management.

2.9 To offer and provide psychotherapy experts world-wide.

2.10 To support all efforts in maintaining the human rights

3. Activities to realize the purpose of the WCP

3.1 Organization of Congresses

3.2 Working out of guidelines

3.3 Issue of publications

3.4 Consulting of national and international associations

4. Means to realize the purpose of the WCP

4.1 through voluntary contributions and subsidies

4.2 through membership dues

4.3 through net earning of events, such as congresses

5. Membership

The members of the WCP are structured into ordinary, extraordinary and honorary members.

5.1. Ordinary members can be psychotherapeutic organizations, in exceptional cases also individuals who are busy in the field of psychotherapy.

5.2. Extraordinary members can be individuals and organizations that support the WCP and/or its goals.

5.3. Honorary members can be individuals and organizations that have contributed extraordinary work to the field of psychotherapy.

6. Ending of Membership

6.1. A member has the right to withdraw from membership after having submitted a written notice of his or her intention.

6.2. Membership is also cancelled by the death of a member or termination of a member organization.

6.3. A member can be suspended from membership through the Governing Board if it neglects the duties of their membership and/or acts disgracefully, respectively against the intentions of the WCP. There does not exist any right of appeal.

7. Rights and duties of the members

7.1 The members are obliged to support the aims of the WCP with all their strength.

7.2 All members have the right to participate in the General Assembly as well as on all meetings of the WCP.

7.3 All ordinary members resp. functionaries or delegates have active as well as passive voting rights.

8. Voting Rights and Procedures

All organizational members are entitled to have a number of delegates:

8.1.1 Every continental umbrella organization (Australia/Pacific Islands, Africa, Asia, Latin-America, North-America, Europe): 50 votes.

8.1.2 International psychotherapeutic organizations (members in at least 8 countries and 2 continents): 10 votes

8.1.3 National umbrella organizations: 10 votes.

8.1.4 National psychotherapeutic organizations: 3 votes.

8.2 All delegates and ordinary individual members are eligible to appointments within the WCP.

8.3 Any delegate or member unable to attend the General Assembly may arrange with another delegate or member to vote on his or her behalf on condition that he or she communicates both names to the Organizing Committee of the General Meeting before its opening.

9. The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the WCP consist of the General Assembly, the Board, the Auditors and the Arbitration Court.

10.The General Assembly

10.1. The General Assembly will be held every 3 years.

10.2 The Governing Board may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting on the motion of 1/3 of the ordinary members or a 50 % majority.

10.3 The invitation to the General Assembly as well as to the Extraordinary General Meeting must be sent by letter to all members at least two month before the GM.

10.4 Proposals for the agenda of the General Assembly must be sent to the President not less than 1 month before the GM.

10.5 All members are entitled to participate in the General Meeting. Voting rights will be reserved to ordinary members only, whereby each member has one vote.

10.6 The General Assembly shall be considered in session when half of the ordinary members are present. If this number is not present within 30 minutes after the time designated for the opening of the session, the GA starts with the ordinary members present with the same agenda out of regard for the members present.

11. Duties of the Governing Board

11.1 Receipt of the reports of the Treasurer, the Auditors, the Arbitration Court, the President and any Committees established.

11.2 The regulation of the membership fee and the date of payment.

11.3 The election of two Auditors.

11.4 The consideration of the motions of the Board or those motions which have been submitted by members to the Board at least 90 days in advance.

11.5 The revision of the constitution, for which the vote of 2/3 of the ordinary members are requested.

11.6 The election of the Board Members. Each member has to be elected in an own procedure of voting. The election takes place secretly through a written vote.

11.7 Dissolution of the WCP.

12. Governing Board

12.1 The Governing Board which has been elected at the General Assembly for the period of 3 years has all power to carry out the activities of the WCP during the time of the last and the future General Assembly.

12.2 The Board shall consist of the following 12 persons:

the President
one delegate from each of the continents: Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin- America, North America, Europe. These delegates should bear the title "Vice-President of the WCP"
the General Secretary
the Treasurer
furthermore three additional Board Members
12.3 The Board meets at least twice between the last and the future General Assembly.

12.4 To constitute a quorum all members have got to be invited and at least 1/3 of the members have to be present.

13. Duties of the Board Members

13.1 The President shall represent the WCP to outside bodies.

13.2 The President shall organize the General Assembly by an invitation sent to all members together with the agenda.

13.3 The General Secretary has to support the President in carrying out the activities of the WCP.

13.4 The Treasurer is responsible for the duly treatment of the financial affairs.

14. The Auditors

14.1 The Auditors, who have been elected by the General Assembly for the period of 3 years, shall examine all financial affairs and submit their report to the General Assembly.

14.2 The Auditors shall have no other official function within the WCP.

15. The Arbitration Court

All differences which may appear within the WCP will be decided by the Arbitration Court.

16. Cancellation of the WCP

16.1 The dissolution of the WCP can only be carried out through a call of an Extraordinary General Meeting. A 2/3 majority of votes will be required.

16.2 Following such decision any money, goods or property owned by the WCP shall, after satisfaction of all proper debts and liabilities, be transferred to the European Association for Psychotherapy or to some other non-profit organization for the promotion of psychotherapy or shall be used for non-profit purposes within the meaning of §§ 34ff BOA.

17. Public Utility

The activity of the association follows no intention of realizing profit and is aimed at public utility.

Strasbourg Declaration on Psychotherapy of 1990


In accordance with the aims of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the non-discrimination accord valid within the framework of the European Union (EU) and intended for the European Economic Area (EEA), and the principle of freedom of movement of persons and services, the undersigned agree on the following points:

  1. Psychotherapy is an independent scientific discipline, the practice of which represents an independent and free profession.

  2. Training in psychotherapy takes place at an advanced, qualified and scientific level.

  3. The multiplicity of psychotherapeutic methods is assured and guaranteed.

  4. A full psychotherapeutic training covers theory, self-experience, and practice under supervision. Adequate knowledge of various psychotherapeutic processes is acquired.

  5. Access to training is through various preliminary qualifications, in particular human and social sciences.

Strasbourg, October 21st, 1990


WCP - Membership Application


Ordinary membership in the WCP is open to psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic organisations of different orientations from all continents.
Other individuals and organisations that support the WCP and/or its goals shall be accepted as Extraordinary Members.

If you want to apply for WCP membership, please contact the WCP headoffice.



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