Psychotherapy Services in China: Current Provisions and Future Development.

The current paper provides an overview of the history and development of mental health services with special emphasis on psychotherapy in China. Recent epidemiological surveys have revealed high prevalence rates of mental disorders that translate into a huge demand for mental health care. The Chinese government responds to such demand by increasing the number and types of mental health professionals in delivering mental health interventions, one of which is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Due to unique Chinese cultural values, CBT needs to be adapted to these values so as to enhance its acceptability by Chinese people. Furthermore, training and supervision of Chinese therapists require some cultural adaptation in therapist's training and supervision skills. This paper concludes by providing some specific recommendations on improving the quality and accessibility of CBT in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]