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World CBT Day 2025 – April 7th

Event Date: April 7, 2025

For the fourth year running CBT Associations around the world will be celebrating World CBT Day which coincides with the WHO’s World Health Day, and aims to reflects the importance and impact of cognitive and behavioral therapies (CBT) on global health. 

The theme this year is that “CBT is solid return on investment” and there will be a variety of talks around the world outlining the efficacy of CBT for a variety of problems and that scaling up evidence-based interventions is a solid return on investment.

Professor David M. Clark
Professor David M. Clark

To mark the day, Dr Lata K McGinn, President of the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (WCCBT), conducted an exclusive interview with Dr. David M. Clark, the leading architect of the Talking Therapies program in the UK which is one of the most ambitious and successful mental health initiatives in the world, dramatically improving access to evidence-based psychological treatments.

The full podcast of the interview is available on the WCCBT Website and discusses the origins and development of the initiative, the challenges and successes of scaling up psychological therapies, and its impact on consumers, professionals, healthcare systems, and the economy. It also explores how the model has been adapted in other countries and what policy makers should consider when implementing paid mental health services. Watch this insightful conversation on the power of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (CBT) in transforming mental health care worldwide. 

Dr. David Clark was unanimously selected to be WCCBT’s inaugural Global Impact Award recipient. He will be presented with WCCBT’s Global Impact Award during the WCCBT World Congress in San Francisco, California, USA between June 25-28, 2026. Dr. Clark is also the recipient of the Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Knowledge Award for his joint work with Dr. Anke Ehlers on Better and More Available Treatments for Mental Health. The international award included recognition of his work with NHS Talking Therapies. It is the first time that the award, which recognises exceptional achievements in knowledge and innovation, has been awarded for mental health research.

Other World CBT Day Activities

CACBT: Canadian Psychologist Dr. Randy Patterson Explains “What is CBT?” for World CBT Day

For the Canadian Association (CACBT), Dr. Randy Patterson is a Vancouver-based psychologist and cognitive behavioural psychotherapist, author (The Assertiveness Workbook, How to be Miserable: 40 Strategies You Already Use, How to be Miserable in Your 20s, Private Practice Made Simple, Your Depression Map), and mental health educator for clinicians and for the general public. The common aim of his work has been to increase the accessibility and availability of evidence-based psychological information and services and he will be giving a prerecorded talk that will be posted on social media on World CBT Day. The talk is called “What is CBT?” There will also be a press release and a number of people are lined up ready to speak to the press on the importance of CBT and the return on investment.

Randy Patterson

AnzaCBT (New Zealand) Highlights CBT as a National Investment on World CBT Day

AnzaCBT in New Zealand are planning to have two “events”, on or around 7 April. They are hoping to have a member of their Executive committee do a national radio interview on a morning programme with a wide/large national audience. 

Secondly, the AnzaCBT President, Ron Chambers has been in contact with the Office of their national Minister for Mental Health to have a meeting with members of the AnzaCBT Executive Committee. In the meeting they will focus on outlining the efficacy of CBT for various problems and indicating how “CBT is solid return on investment.” They will highlight that it therefore makes good sense to provide support/resourcing for professionals who provide CBT.

ALAMOC (Columbia) Celebrates 50 Years with World CBT Day Events in Bogotá

Celebrations for the Half Century of ALAMOC will take place at the University of La Sabana in Bogotá Colombia from April 7 to 9, 2025 in conjunction with World CBT Day. The Celebration will have Keynote Speakers by founding members (who are still alive) as well as important ALAMOC leaders from all member countries. 

In 2025 ALAMOC will celebrate its 50th Anniversary ALAMOC was founded in 1975 and to mark their 50th Anniversary they held 10 virtual Master clinics from February 10 to February 19, the day ALAMOC was founded.

To celebrate the Half Century of ALAMOC, they are also holding an in-person event at the University of La Sabana in Bogotá, Colombia, from April 7th to 9th, 2025, in conjunction with World CBT Day.

The Celebration will have Keynote Speakers by founding members of ALAMOC as well as important ALAMOC leaders from all member countries. Lata McGinn, President of the WCCBT will be attending and will give a Keynote.

There will be an Awards Ceremony for old and longstanding members to thank them for their for their contribution to the development of behavioral analysis and Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy in Latin America. All of the event will also be transmitted via streaming and there will also be Mini Conferences and posters.

Cyprus Association Launches “CBT is an Investment in Life” Online Campaign

The Cyprus Association for Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapists (CACBP) has been running an Online Campaign: “CBT is an Investment in Life” from 1-7 April 2025 using Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, ZOOM Aim: To highlight Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy as a solid investment with substantial benefits, through scientifically documented content and personal testimonies. 

The Daily Schedule of Posts is: 

  • 1 April: What is the CBT? 
  • 2 April: Myths & Truths about the CBT 
  • 3 April: Acknowledging the Anxiety Crisis 
  • 4 April: Testimonies of IPSEPA Students 
  • 5 April: CBT at Individual and Systemic Level
  • 6 April: The Science behind CBT and its effectiveness 
  • 7 April: The Power of the CBT through the Trainers of the IPSEPA Training Centre 

For Mental Health Professionals a case Presentation and Discussion is being held on zoom on Thursday 3 April “Youth with social anxiety disorder who received CBT treatment” presented by: Irene Frangoulopoulou, Trainee Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist For the public an Online Lecture and discussion will take place on zoom on Monday, April 7, on 18:30 – 20:00 “Panic Attacks and The Effectiveness of CBT Therapy” presented by Olivia Kanapitsa, Trainee in CBT, 

DGVT (Germany) Releases Lecture on Loneliness for World CBT Day

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verhaltenstherapie (DGVT) will put the opening lecture of our conference online and It will be available in German through DGVT’s website dgvt.de. 

Einsamkeit: Erkennen, verstehen, handeln Loneliness: Recognizing, understanding, acting by Prof. Susanne Bücker, Ph.d., University of Witten/Herdecke 

They will also run activities during the day both for professionals and the public with a well recognised newscaster.

BABCP (U.K.) Hosts Open Access Talk on CBT Across the NHS

British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) will be hosting an open access online talk by Dr Adrian Whiitington, the Chief Psychological Professions Officer for England, on how CBT has been successfully disseminated across the National Health Service, from children to adults and for a very broad range of problems.

SRABCT (Serbia) Promotes CBT with National and International Events

Serbian Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapists (SRABCT) has a plan for future efforts to link CBT with public systems, and is organizing several events aimed at CBT promotion: 

  1. On 7 April 2025, there will be an in-person event in European House, in Niš, Serbia, on “Mental Health and CBT in Crisis”. Representatives of several institutions and organizations engaged in youth mental health will meet to discuss the contemporary challenges in this area. SRABCT will take active part in the discussion and dialogues to promote CBT. The event will be covered by media. 
  2. On 7 April 2025, there will be an online event (free webinar) on “Relaxation Techniques in CBT“. 
  3. On 10 April 2025, there will be an in-person event at the University of Nis, Fin the form of a panel debate on “Generation of Stress – CBT, Activism and Mental Health”. 

SRABCT continues to promote CBT through international collaborations with other associations. On 27 March, the two Serbian CBT associations held an online training session for our CBT colleagues from Belarus.

FACBT (Finland) Members Highlight CBT’s Effectiveness on Social Media

FACBT, the Finnish CBT Association has challenged their members to post on social media about the efficacy of CBT.

NFKT Shares Information and Inspiration with Members for World CBT Day

NFKT, the Norwegian CBT Association will be part of the celebration, and will send out information and inspiration to our members in connection with the day.

ACBTA (Asia) Organises “Ask Us Anything” Forum on CBT

The ACBTA board is organising an “Ask Us Anything” forum on CBT on 7th April. The Indian Association will be organising a public awareness program on CBT and talk about how CBT is a good return on investment on 7th and will be free of charge. Nimisha will also be doing a YouTube video on CBT and World CBT Day.