My experience to find psychotherapist in Germany as a student and an English speaker

17 comments

1. I’m uncertain how thing work for students (especially foreigners in Germany) but if you’re insured, surely you could see a GP and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist/psychologist? In Baden-Württemberg the KVBW is usually very helpful too. 116 117.

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3. I would just avoid seeking HR for help into this unless you’re no longer under probationary period and there’s a work council in your company or they do offer some mental health package or something like this (my former company and my current started to offer this after corona, especially for parents and those that were “stranded” away from family abroad but I know this is the exception).

   I almost broke my back and had physiotherapy and just needed our standup to be shifted by 30 minutes for 6 weeks and it was hinted that I wouldn’t pass the probation so I jumped to somewhere else. You have to know and trust your employer for this.

4. i just ended up paying for a therapist in my home country, because i thought having suicidal thoughts every day-week was a bit much. i am lucky enough to be able to afford to pay for it myself (not a student anymore otherwise it would be so shit).

   tbh i haven’t even been able to find a dentist or Hausartz who speaks English in my area. i went through my insurance company and the “English-speaking Hausartz” they sent me to can perhaps understand (some) English but not speak it. wasn’t able to understand what caused the issue i was coming to her for so i got a useless referral to a specialist. so yeah, accessing services is really area and individual dependent.

   and it’s incredibly frustrating to pay such a high health insurance contribution and not be able to access the services i’m paying for.

5. Wait therapists are free for students? Is that only for “legal insurances” or for private ones too?

6. Finding psychotherapy is very difficult in general here. Most Psychologists and psychiatrists have full schedules and start new patients with probably long-term therapy only after months of waiting time.

7. Document your search for a therapist as thorough as possible.

   If after 6 months you’ve not found a therapist that takes gesetzlich Versicherte, you can instead go to Privatpraxen and your health insurance will have to pay for it. That is, if you can prove, that you’ve been searching as long.

8. Your solution for finding a health professional in a foreign country is not to learn this countries’ language, but to find the professional who speaks your language?

   Good luck. You will need tons of it with this attitude.

9. I have someone in my family who would need help now acute but still has to wait another week for a spot in a psych unit.

   She called like 2 months ago for help, they gave her an appointment a week later to talk for 45 minutes and made an appointment clinical for 1 1/2 months later (earliest possible) and only for one week. After that week she has to go home and can go back in 6 weeks when they have space for her.

   This being said: I’d never want psych disabilities here. You won’t be treated and can’t be treated correctly.

   I never knew that so many people need psych help until this accured. Like wtf waiting 2 months if you have bipolar affective disorder and you are in a manic episode?

   A few years ago I thought you call 116117 but they just tell you they can’t do anything you gotta talk with a psychologist first or call the clinic but psych clinics are already massively filled. They literally told her to wait those 6 weeks and she argued that she needs help now.
   Well atleast they gave her 1 week.

10. My own experience as Native German speaker: Been running around with depression for 10 years now, then in Summer 2020 a friend said to me that I need help. So I looked for an appointment and got one in March 2021. Over 6 months later. Talked with them in March, they offered me a list of therapist that might be able to help me. Tried to called some of them but most often you just end up with the answering machine that tells you when to call, annoying, but fair. After being rejected five times because they had long waiting lists I had one therapist who invited me for a first meeting. We talked for an hour. Was nice. But then they had to tell me that they currently have no places available, and that I should keep calling. I haven’t since then and try to cope with myself.

11. Wow, your timing is amazing… just a couple hours ago I went down my list of all the English speaking psychotherapists I know if I’m my area and again left voicemails and emails hoping someone, anyone will take us this time. This is my third time trying since moving here 2 years ago. And I can’t find anyone taking new patients. Wishing you the best and fingers-crossed I will finally find someone.

12. I am glad you got help that fast.
    I took similar steps two years ago and still have no therapist.
    Last year I had a nervous breakdown, got a code that marked me as in dire need of therapy, I got one session then I had to place myself on waiting lists again. Still nothing.

    I am fucking depressed. It is so frustrating because I can barely muster up the energy to take the steps neccessary to get help and I feel like I am being ignored.

13. At this point there have to be tens of thousands of English-speaking paychologists around the world who will treat you over Zoom. You’d pay out of pocket, though.

14. Hey,

    even before Corona, average waiting time for German speaking psychotherapists was 2 years. So English should be even “more” or you might travel farer away for the sessions (if online is not a likely option).

    Also psychiatrist only gives 💊💊💊.
    Usually what you want is psychotherapy which you get from the psychotherapists.

    You can though, get “ambulante Psychotherapie” right away in the adequate clinics if need be, but this is an investment of at least several (6+) weeks and is paid for by the Krankenkasse.

    Thing is, if people feel need, they should right away get on any waiting list they can. In big MVZs the psychotherapists are often restricted from telling people how many are above them on the lists but still let them come only once for the “first appointment” after which they access what might be needed etc.

    Sorry for this mess in Germany, but the allowed practicing psychotherapists is limited by (bad) design while the need was even way higher even before the pandemic.

15. I struggled to find someone and when I finally did he told me he doesn’t think he can help me because of the language but I’m free to take advantage of the first 3 sessions. I didn’t go back.

16. Hey check out the universities! You might be with a “student doctor” (I forgot the correct term right now 😅) but there’s better chances of speaking English there.

17. Idk, in which land you are, but in Berlin there’s a crisis “center” berliner-kriesendienst.de, you can choose your language and get an urgent help.
    Apart from it, you can try http://www.teleclinic.com they may help you to get access to a therapist if they consider your case as urgent.