Information on psychotherapy

It is often possible to overcome difficult situations and psychological pressure in crises with the support of family and friends.The soul has considerable self-healing powers.

However, emotional conflicts can also put so much strain on people - both adults and children - that they make them ill. In this case, it can be helpful to consult a psychotherapist and clarify in a personal consultation whether treatment is advisable.

When is psychotherapy advisable?

Mental disorders should be treated with the same seriousness as physical illnesses.

Mental stress often first makes itself felt through physical complaints. On the other hand, sometimes physical illnesses lead to mental conflicts in the first place. Indications that should be taken just as seriously include a lack of goals for the future, low self-confidence and general dissatisfaction with oneself and everyday life.

The most common and easily treatable disorders include

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Addictions
• Compulsions
• Eating disorders
• Sexual problems and
• psychosomatic complaints

In psychotherapy

• your worries are taken seriously and you can clarify whether your problem needs treatment,
• you learn to understand yourself and are encouraged to face up to your problems,
• get to know a variety of psychotherapeutic offers and techniques,
• develop new perspectives and work on solving your problems.

Information about mental illness

You can find helpful information on mental illness on the following websites:

https://www.patienten-information.de/fremdsprachen/englisch
On the website of the Medical Center for Quality in Medicine you will find alphabetically sorted information on the various diseases.

Treatment

Depending on the nature of your problem or illness, there are three different ways to access psychotherapy:

• Outpatient psychotherapy with psychotherapists in private practice
• Outpatient psychotherapy in a counseling center
• Inpatient psychotherapy in a hospital

Treatment only by licensed psychotherapists

Only those who have a license to practice as a psychotherapist may call themselves a psychotherapist. These are, for example, qualified psychologists and qualified teachers who have completed an additional 5-year training course. Psychological psychotherapists (PP) and child and adolescent psychotherapists (KJP) working in Berlin are members of the PtK Berlin. They have their own professional code of conduct and are required to undergo further training.

Prerequisites for psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a matter of trust. The quality of the relationship is important for the success of the treatment. You are therefore responsible for choosing the psychotherapist! Successful psychotherapy also requires a willingness to deal intensively with your problems.

Counseling centers provide the best support here. They help when you don't know what to do next. In addition to life, parenting and family counseling centers, there are many institutions that are the right contacts for special conflicts such as suicidal endangerment, separation, violence in families or drugs. And this is often free of charge. You can also go directly to a psychotherapist or a counseling center. This also applies if you are looking for a child and adolescent psychotherapist with your child. The health insurance company or another funding body, e.g. the youth welfare office, will cover the costs of treatment.

Treatment in private practices/reimbursement of costs for outpatient psychotherapy by statutory health insurance

What should you know about the different routes? Who pays the costs? What will you have to pay? You will find the most important answers to these questions in the following sections and in the information sheet for patients.

• BPtK - Paths to Psychotherapy