Fifty-two representatives from all prisons and the National Administration of Penitentiaries of the Republic of Moldova enhanced their abilities to deliver Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Programmes for long-term prisoners during a six-day round of sessions held from March 25 to April 1, 2026.

Through interactive sessions and practical simulations, multidisciplinary prison staff gained advanced skills in CBT techniques such as cognitive restructuring, imagery, and schema-focused interventions. Real-life role-plays deepened participants’ understanding of trauma-informed rehabilitation and emotional processes.

The piloted and validated CBT programmes—both General and Specialist Modules - equip staff to guide prisoners in developing healthier thinking patterns, improving emotional regulation, and reducing the risk of reoffending. These efforts contribute to an effective rehabilitation within Moldova’s penitentiary system.

The activity was organised under the auspices of the Project “Further strengthening the prison and probation systems, the provision of health care, and the treatment of patients in closed institutions in the Republic of Moldova”, as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova (2025-2028).