The 4th Congress of the Japanese Federation for Psychotherapy was held in Tokyo on 25th and 26th January, 2003 at Kitazato Hall in Keio University Medical Department.

On Saturday 25th, following the welcoming address by Dr Tsutomu Sakuta of Keio University Department of Psychiatry, the opening presentation under the overall theme of the of "World Psychotherapy" was given by Dr Alfred Pritz, the General Secretary of the European Association for Psychotherapy and the current President of the European Association for Psychotherapy.

Titled "The International Development of Psychotherapy and Quality Control Through Training Certificates", Dr Pritz presentations covered topics and issues related to the development of world psychotherapy, ranging from Psychotherapy as a Profession and "Fields of activity of psychotherapists" to "Training", "Modalities" and "Organizing psychotherapy - psychotherapists organizations".

Dr Pritz also focused on the development of the European Certificate for Psychotherapy (ECP) and the collaboration between the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) and the Japanese Federation for Psychotherapy (JFP). Referring to the first contact between Dr Sakuta, the General Secretary of the Japanese Federation for Psychotherapy, and the EAP, Dr Pritz said, "there was a big majority in the EAP Board to deepen this relationship. It shows us that there is beyond cultural differences a common understanding of psychotherapy."

He went on to say, "For our patients we are giving some guarantee of seriosity in our treatment efforts and for the colleagues in other areas of the world an example they may step by in the future With the congruent diplomas, the EAP and the JCP, we are moving towards a world standard and this is very much so because of your, the Japanese colleagues, efforts".