The Korean Academy of Psychotherapists (KAP) started in 1974 as Psychotherapy Case Study Group, which was absorbed and expanded into the Korean Academy of Psychotherapy Research in 1976. Later, the Academy once again expanded and was established as the Korean Academy of Psychotherapists in 1979. From the beginning, Prof. RHEE Dongshick played a leading role with his pioneering efforts and prophetic insights and served as President for several terms.

The philosophical goal of the Academy has been to assimilate Western psychoanalysis and psychotherapy on the basis of Eastern Tao (Zen Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism) and the Korean cultural roots, and to integrate and unify Western psychotherapy and the Tao, known as the ultimate form of psychotherapy.

In the year of 1976, KAP became a society member of the IFMP (International Federation for Medical Psychotherapy, which was renamed the International Federation for Psychotherapy (IFP) in 1991) and members of KAP have actively participated in the world congresses sponsored by the IFMP (or IFP)

KAP hosted the 16th International Congress of Psychotherapy of IFP with the central theme 'Psychotherapy: East and West‘ in Seoul, Korea, August, 1994.

In 2002, the term "Taopsychotherapy" was used as a specific proper noun for the first time in the history of KAP, in successful symposiums and workshops held by KAP at the 18th World Congress of Psychotherapy held in Trondheim, Norway, and the 12th World Congress of Psychiatry held in Yokohama, Japan,

In August 2004, the International Forum on Taopsychotherapy and Western Psychotherapy was held in Seoul.

In December 2005, Honorary Chairman RHEE Dongshick became an Honorary Member of the IFP.

In July 2008, "Introduction to Taopsychotherapy" was published.

In November 2024, Professor Soam Dongshick Rhee's 10th Anniversary Memorial Conference and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Korean Academy of Psychotherapists were held in Seoul.

Now, KAP has around 80 regular members consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. It has several study groups of Eastern Tao classics, Western Psychotherapy, group supervision, psychotherapy workshop and case studies.