The Finnish Association for Biblio/Poetry therapy, the first association of its kind in Europe, was founded in 1981. It supports therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitative work, training, research and publishing in the field of biblio/poetry therapy as well as cooperation between persons interested in biblio/poetry therapy. The association has 165 members. It operates all around Finland and in Sweden. It publishes Kirjallisuusterapia [Poetry therapy] journal twice a year, and has published already nine edited Finnish books on b/pt and one in Swedish. The association has no paid staff, but lots of volunteers who organize poetry therapy groups and events. One of the association´s aims is to organise training in this special field. The first study programme was established for two years (1989-1991). Since that, there have been over ten programmes, each lasting one year or less.
