Why Polish psychiatry needs Antoni Kępiński: his achievements, their current limitations and potentials for future

Antoni Kępiński’s concepts were published in nine books written by him in the 1970s, and at that time they had significant meaning in the process of development of Polish psychiatry in the field of psychotherapeutic and social interactions. After publication, the books were received with great interest not only by professionals but also by ordinary readers. The aim of the article is to assess their current usefulness. Currently, due to the formalization of psychotherapeutic training, basic psychotherapeutic interactions in psychiatric treatment are often not used optimally. Currently, Kępiński’s concepts regarding strategies for helping patients understand themselves in ordinary treatment during a psychiatric visit are still useful. Of particular value are descriptions of the nonverbal dimension of doctor-patient contact and its significance in the diagnostic and therapeutic process. In the treatment people seeking help, they can be expanded to include the use of modern technologies. Antoni Kępiński’s views about therapeutic contact, and in particular those dealing with nonverbal communication, are still useful in ordinary contact between psychiatrists and patients. Especially valuable are descriptions of the importance of “experiencing the face” during the therapeutic encounter. The views on the axiological dimension of mental disorders have the potential to be developed and applied in therapeutic practice.