General Information about Psychotherapy

The professional title "psychological psychotherapist" is awarded to psychologists who have completed a 5-year diploma or master's degree in psychology and at least 3 years of full-time training or at least 5 years of part-time training as a psychological psychotherapist in accordance with the Psychotherapist Act (PsychThG) and who are entitled to carry out psychotherapy independently (certification). Psychologists who have not completed any further training after graduation are not entitled to treat patients. But they are, for example, in business, in the human resources department of companies, or in consulting.

A medical psychotherapist must have completed at least 5 years of additional training as a specialist in psychotherapy and psychiatry or as a specialist in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy after completing his or her medical studies. Doctors who have completed additional training in "psychotherapy" or "subject-specific psychotherapy" with a focus on "behavioural therapy" or "psychodynamic/deep psychological therapy" or additional training in "psychoanalysis" may also offer psychotherapy. These additional training courses are shorter and less comprehensive than the training courses for specialists in the field of psychotherapy.

University graduates with a diploma or master's degree in psychology, pedagogy or social pedagogy who later wish to work psychotherapeutically with children and young people undergo specialised training to become a child and adolescent psychotherapist. This takes 3 to 5 years and allows the therapist to treat young people up to the age of 21. Doctors who have completed specialist training in paediatric and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy after completing their medical studies are also entitled to treat children and adolescents.

Psychiatrists are physicians (medical doctors) with a specialist training in psychiatry and psychotherapy. A psychiatrist may treat his patients not only psychotherapeutically but also, if necessary, with medication.

Neurology generally deals more with physical disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles and less with mental disorders. Neurologists undergo further training to become a "specialist in neurology" after completing their medical studies.

In contrast to medical psychotherapists, psychiatrists and neurologists, psychological psychotherapists and children and adolescent psychotherapists cannot prescribe psychotherapists medication or provide a doctor's certificate!