The European Union and Council of Europe are assisting the Albanian Prison Service in introducing a Cognitive Behavior Treatment (CBT) programme, to better prepare prisoners for release.

A follow-up capacity-building activity took place in Tirana on 28-29 January, bringing together prison professionals as part of preparations to introduce the CBT tailored piloting methodology. Psychologists from Fier and Fushë-Kruja prisons who tested the programme in 2024, shared their experiences and good practices with peers from other prisons where the programme will be piloted.

CBT is delivered through a series of sessions where a therapist helps the individual identify and challenge negative thought patterns, learn to recognize one's distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and understand the behavior and motivation of others.

Initial feedback has been positive, with no resistance reported by prisoners in either Fier or Fushë-Kruja prisons. This activity follows the training delivered in 2024 on introducing CBT programme to the Albanian prison staff. Two additional prisons will be selected by the Directorate General of Prison Administration to continue piloting the programme. By February 2026, CBT is expected to be implemented in four Albanian prisons, reaching up to 60 prisoners.

Participants included professionals from Fier, Vlora, Lezha and Fushë-Kruja prisons, as well as selected representatives from the Directorate General of Prisons, who will provide on-site coaching and support programme’s sustainability.

The training was conducted in the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, and its action on Enhancing the protection of Human Rights of prisoners in Albania.