This page is initial orientation and does not replace medical or legal advice. If there is immediate danger, call 112 right away.
Child psychotherapy in Germany: overview
When a child’s behaviour changes for a long time, or fears, sadness, sleep problems or school refusal persist, professional support can help. Here are the basics.
What is child and adolescent psychotherapy?
A child and adolescent psychotherapist (Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeut) is a specialist with a state licence (Approbation) to treat psychological difficulties in children and adolescents aged 0 to 21.
It is a serious, legally protected profession and needs no doctor’s prescription. Therapy usually works through conversation, play and sessions with parents.
When should you seek support?
There is no strict rule, but these signs are a good reason to talk to a specialist:
- Clear changes that have lasted for weeks (withdrawal, aggression, fear, sadness).
- The child refuses to go to school or kindergarten.
- Sleep, eating or concentration are noticeably disturbed.
- The child harms themselves or says they do not want to live (in that case, see the Emergency page right away).
First step: the consultation (Sprechstunde)
The official first step is the psychotherapeutic consultation (psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde). You can go without a referral (Überweisung), just with the health insurance card.
Here a specialist assesses the situation and says whether therapy is needed. This is the basis for every following step.
The search is in German, but you can filter by language (Sprache) to find practitioners who speak English.