Psychotherapy and Counselling in English

Although we are not native English speakers, we appreciate working with people from different countries and cultures and we realize the importance of offering counselling in English to Berlins' international inhabitants. We are psychologists that have been trained in Behavioural Therapy.

Combining methods of different schools, pursuing a so-called integrative approach to therapy, is a characteristic of our work. However there are situations in life where certain symptoms seem to dominate the entire life, such as phobic symptoms, social fears, excessive eating or alcohol abuse can do. In these instances behavioural therapy can be very helpful and productive suggesting concrete steps that we can take to reduce the symptoms. Though our focus is Behavioural Therapy, it's always the individual strengths and resources that we are looking for and working with.

First steps
Fees & Insurance
Private insurance
Statutory health insurance system

First steps

If you are interested in either individual psychotherapy or counselling please contact us via phone or email. We will get back to you as soon as we can and schedule a first ‘getting-to-know-each-other’ appointment.

If we decide to start a therapy we will usually schedule one session per week at a mutually convenient time. A regular psychotherapy session takes 50 minutes. Short-term psychotherapy is 25 sessions. Long-term psychotherapy is 45 to 80 sessions.

Fees & Insurance

We do charge according to the valid tariff system for psychotherapists (GOP). Currently that is 100,55 Euro per 50 minute session.

Why it can make sense to pay for psychotherapy privately: There are no formalities involved and you can start treatment right away. You can freely determine the number and frequency of sessions, independent from insurance concerns.

Private insurance

Private insurances cover the costs of psychotherapy in general. However, we do not deal directly with your insurance company. You pay and then request reimbursement from the company. If you want them to reimburse you, we will provide you with a monthly “Receipt for Insurance” which you can turn in to your insurance company for reimbursement. You would be responsible for:

1. Checking with your insurance carrier to make sure that they will pay for therapy with us

2. Paying upfront and sending in the “receipts for insurance” to your insurance to get reimbursed.

Statutory health insurance system

Although we do not have the possibility to bill the German statutory health insurances directly, there is the possibility of getting the costs of a psychotherapy reimbursed under certain conditions. The German statutory health insurances are obliged to guarantee the adequate care of their clients. If you can prove to your health insurance company that you were not able to find a psychotherapist who works within the statutory health insurance system in your immediate surrounding who can offer you treatment within a reasonable period, you have the right to make arrangements with a psychotherapist of your choice. Here are the necessary steps (German templates are provided to you at our initial meeting).

1. Step: Get in touch with your health insurance and ask how you can make an application for "Kostenerstattung für Psychotherapie" (cost allowance for psychotherapy).

2. Step: Collect refusals. Call a few psychotherapists and ask for a free therapy place. Take written notes of name & address of the therapists that can not offer treatment within three months, also note date and result of the telephone call or mail. (Attention: do not ask for the waiting period up to the preliminary session, but for the waiting period up to the beginning of the actual therapy).

3. Step: Certified urgency. This requires a visit with your family doctor or psychiatrist / neurologist. Ask your doctor to certify the urgency of a psychotherapeutic treatment. A short written statement is sufficient. Moreover, you need a medical "Konsiliarbericht" which basically has to state that physical causes for your condition can be excluded.

4. Step: Application for "Kostenerstattung". If all documents are together, you have to send a written application for "Kostenerstattung für Psychotherapie" to your German statutory health insurance provider. Usually they will require a written report from your therapist. In order for us to complete such a report we need to schedule up to four appointments with you. In the case of an approval the costs of these initial appointments are covered by the insurance. In the case of a refusal these appointments are charged to you. As soon as your health insurance approves your application we can start therapy.

Therapy Method

Therapeutic Services Individual Psychotherapy
Counselling & Coaching
Confidentiality
Cooperation

Therapeutic Services Individual Psychotherapy

Behavioural Therapy is one of three therapeutic modalities (next to Psychodynamic Therapy and Psychoanalysis) that are officially state-recognized in Germany. Behavioural Therapy has been shown to be effective for:

Depression
Anxiety
Phobias
Relational and intimacy issues
Low self-esteem
Social anxiety and shyness

Grief and loss
Substance abuse
Personality disorders (e.g. borderline)
Work related issues (e.g. burn-out, writer's block)

Counselling & Coaching

In critical life transitions one can feel disoriented or even desperate. This may trigger the wish for professional support and advice, in absence of a distinct mental health concern. In such a case, Counselling and Coaching can be a sensible alternative to individual psychotherapy.

The advantage for you is that the appointments can be adapted (in number and frequency) completely to your individual needs and wishes. Within a time-limited framework we will explore new approaches to the existing problems and develop suitable solutions.

Confidentiality

The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist. Information cannot be disclosed without written permission. However there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. If a client intends to harm him or herself, the therapist will make every effort to enlist the client's cooperation to insure his or her safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken in order to ensure his or her safety. If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, the psychotherapist is legally required to take the necessary measures for the protection of the third party.

Cooperation

If you decide to take up psychotherapy, your active cooperation is required. You need to be ready to speak of your inner experiences, even if this may sometimes feel embarrassing or frightening. Also you might need to do tasks on your own between sessions e.g. write a diary card or exercise relaxation training.

You should also be aware that the therapeutic process might cause a temporary intensification of your symptoms.

Limitations of psychotherapy in private office

For people with acute suicidal tendencies, an acute psychotic episode or eating disturbances in a critical physical condition, an ambulant psychotherapy is not adequate. In this case a stationary treatment in a psychiatric hospital is necessary.
People with acute substance abuse issues need a stationary detoxification and treatment program, before an ambulant psychotherapy can take place.