New Law for Psychological Psychotherapists in Germany – its Rules and Consequences

On January 1999, a new law came into effect in Germany which created two new health professions: the Psychological Psychotherapist and the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. They are allowed to conduct psychotherapy independently and on their own behalf. Health insurance agencies will pay for such treatment the same way as they reimburse other types of medical treatment. Only those psychotherapy methods are approved that are “scientifically recognized” by a scientific advisory board. Psychologists with a psychology diploma (Masters Degree) have to enter a psychotherapy training programme in one of the scientifically recognized schools for an additional three years (full-time) or five years (part-time) of study at a university or a federal government-accredited private school