Outpatient teaching and research psychotherapies at the university outpatient clinic
Beyond the psychotherapeutic consultation hours, we offer acute psychotheraputic treatments as well as short-term and long-term psychotherapies in the university outpatient clinic for psychotherapy.
As we have a teaching and research mandate in the university outpatient clinic, we offer these exclusively as teaching and/or research therapies. This means that all psychotherapies that are accepted after a psychotheraputic consultation with us are researched and/or take place under the supervision of therapy assistants (i.e. psychologists or psychotherapists in training). Further information on our teaching and research programme can be found here.
Acute psychotheraputic treatment
If an acute need for treatment becomes apparent during the psychotherapeutic consultation, acute psychotheraputic treatment can be arranged. This is intended to help improve an acute mental health crisis and prepare for psychotherapy.
If capacity is available, acute treatment can be carried out directly in our outpatient clinic. Alternatively, referrals are made to external centres with free places.
Psychotherapy (short or long-term therapy)
If the indication for guideline psychotherapy (short or long-term) is given during the psychotheraputic consultation, this will be arranged by our consultation therapists.
If capacity is available, short-term or long-term psychotherapy can be carried out directly in our outpatient clinic. Alternatively, referrals are made to external centres with free places. Psychotherapies in our outpatient clinic are carried out as teaching and/or research therapies. The focus of our outpatient clinic is on short-term therapies.
Procedure for teaching or research psychotherapy
In the following, we explain the organisational process of an outpatient teaching or research psychotherapy (short-term or long-term therapy) in our university outpatient clinic:
1. Psychotheraputic consultation hours
The first step towards educational or research psychotherapy in our university outpatient clinic is an appointment in the psychotheraputic consultation hours. Please contact us by telephone or e-mail to arrange a consultation appointment.
Scope: There are one or more consultation appointments lasting between 25 and 50 minutes. At least 50 minutes of consultation over 1-2 appointments are required to start psychotherapy.
Aim: During the psychotheraputic consultation, it is clarified whether a mental illness is present, whether psychotherapy is indicated and which further support measures are suitable. If outpatient psychotherapy is indicated, there are free places available and you are interested, you can then begin outpatient training or research psychotherapy with us. Alternatively, we recommend external centres for psychotherapy.
2. Probationary phase
Scope: There are 2-4 trial sessions ("getting to know each other" and "trial sessions") of 50 minutes each.
Aim: The aim of the trial phase is for the patient and therapist to get to know each other and to establish a therapeutic relationship. Further diagnostic information is collected and a biographical and family history is taken. During the trial phase, a consultation report is also obtained from your GP or psychiatrist in order to rule out underlying somatic illnesses that could explain your psychological complaints. Therapy goals are then formulated together with the therapist and a treatment plan is drawn up. In addition, an application for reimbursement of the costs of psychotherapy by your statutory or private health insurance or subsidy will be made as part of the probationary period.
3. Therapy phase
Scope: There are 12-80 sessions (depending on individual needs), usually once a week for 50 minutes each, in the case of serious illnesses or acute crises up to twice a week for 25-50 minutes each. Short-term therapy initially comprises 12 sessions and can be extended by a further 12 sessions to a total of 24 sessions if required. Long-term therapy comprises 60 sessions and can be extended to 80 sessions if necessary.
Aim: During the therapy phase, your problems are treated using recognised and scientifically proven psychotheraputic methods. The focus of the university outpatient clinic is on behavioural therapy. The therapies are mainly carried out by licenced psychotheraputics. In addition, therapy assistants will observe the therapies and carry out diagnostics and accompanying interventions with you. These are students in the Master's degree programme in psychology or psychotheraputics in training who have the appropriate previous training (Bachelor's or Master's degree in psychology) and are, of course, also bound by confidentiality. For the purposes of quality assurance and research, we will evaluate your course of treatment using diagnostic procedures. Further information on our teaching and research programme can be found here.
4. Aftercare phase
Scope: 1-16 sessions of 50 minutes each take place at intervals of several weeks or months.
Aim: In order to prevent a relapse and to support the long-term integration of the strategies learnt into everyday life, follow-up appointments are arranged at longer intervals after the end of the therapy phase with weekly sessions.