Getting a therapy appointment for your child

Step 1: book a Sprechstunde

Call practices near you and ask for an appointment in the Sprechstunde. Call several at the same time, nobody expects you to wait for one answer. No referral is needed.

If you find nothing, call 116 117 or go to 116117.de. This appointment service (Terminservicestelle) has to offer you a Sprechstunde within four weeks. You cannot choose the practice.

What to say on the phone

Speak slowly on the answering machine and spell your name. Many practices also answer emails. Two sentences you can read out:

• „Guten Tag, mein Name ist … Ich suche einen Termin in der psychotherapeutischen Sprechstunde für meine Tochter (or: meinen Sohn), … Jahre alt, gesetzlich versichert. Bitte rufen Sie mich zurück unter …“
• „Haben Sie eine Warteliste? Wann darf ich wieder anrufen?“

Step 2: trial sessions

If therapy is recommended, two to six trial sessions (probatorische Sitzungen) follow for children. You, your child and the therapist find out whether you can work together. If it does not fit, changing therapist at this stage is common and causes no problems with the insurer.

Step 3: the therapy itself

The therapist applies to the health insurer. Short-term therapy (Kurzzeittherapie, up to 24 sessions) is usually decided without an expert report. Longer therapy (Langzeittherapie) often needs one, which adds a few weeks. Sessions are usually weekly. Parents get their own sessions (Bezugspersonenstunden).

ADHD, autism, development

For these questions a child and adolescent psychiatrist or a social paediatric centre (Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, SPZ) is often the right place. The SPZ needs a referral (Überweisung) from the paediatrician. Waiting lists there are long too, so ask early.

Ways to use the waiting time →