Helpful information and interesting facts

General information about psychotherapy

 

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What is psychotherapy? What are the criteria of a mental disease? Who treats mental diseases? How to find a psychotherapist? How are mental diseases treated? What happens during psychotherapy? Does psychotherapy "work"? Who covers the costs? What are my rights as a patient?

• The brochure Paths to Psychotherapy of the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists provides important information about mental diseases and psychotherapy.
• The German Association of Psychotherapists (DPtV) provides General information on psychotherapy as a service provided by statutory and private health insurance companies.
• Furthermore, on the website of "Stiftung Warentest" you will find helpful information on the Course of psychotherapeutic services for people with statutory health insurance.

How can the lay person recognise the expert?

 

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According to the Psychotherapist Act, expert in psychotherapie are identifiable by the legally protected professional title "Psychological Psychotherapist" ("Psychologischer Psychotherapeut") or "Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist" ("Kinder- und Jugendpsychotherapeut") or "Medical Psychotherapist" ("Medizinischer Psychotherapeut").

"Psychological psychotherapists" and "child and youth psychotherapists*" hold a degree in psychology (diploma or MSc.Psych. - Master in Psychology), while "medical psychotherapists" (as well as "psychiatrists") are trained as physicians.

*Before the last amendment of the Psychotherapist Act (winter 2019), "child and adolescent psychotherapists" education was also accessible with degrees in education or social pedagogy.

Important: practicing psychotherapists hold a license to practice in health care and are usually listed in the medical register.

While the professional title "psychological psychotherapist" and "child and youth psychotherapist" as well as the short form "psychotherapist" are legally protected terms, this does not apply to the terms "psychotherapy" or "psychotherapeutic treatment". "Psychotherapeutic treatments" are therefore sometimes also offered by persons who are not officially authorized or qualified to use the title "psychotherapist". In the case of doubt, please ask for the qualification of your therapist in the information meeting.

Who else can I approach?

 

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Unfortunately, the need for therapy places will usually extent the capacity for therapy places at the Psychotherapeutic Ambulance of the University of Siegen. During the initial consultation and further diagnostic appointments, you will be notified whether we can offer you suitable outpatient treatment. In cases where this is not possible, we will bive you advise about alternative treatment options. Furthermore, the following search portals can support the search for a qualified psychotherapist and ambulatory psychotherapy:

Nationwide search portals:

• https://www.bptk.de/service/therapeutensuche/ (Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer, BPtK)
• psychotherapeutensuche.de

Regional search portals:

• Psychotherapeutenkammer (PTK) NRW
• Kassenärztliche Vereiniung Westfalen-Lippe, KVWL
• Appointment service oder 116117 (available 24 hours a day)

These search services provide information about therapists' specializations, such as the focus on certain therapy methods, disorders, and patient groups (e.g. children, adolescents, adults, pain patients, etc.) as well as foreign languages and whether the office is barrier-free.