How do I find a
therapy place?
Searching for a therapy place can be an arduous process — too few therapists, too many hurdles. This page explains, step by step, all the relevant routes: from training institutes’ outpatient clinics to search portals to the cost-reimbursement procedure. The focus is on Munich, but the basic principles apply throughout Germany.
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This page is aimed at adults with statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). Similar principles apply to children and adolescents, with specialised therapists. In an acute crisis, help is available from the Krisendienst Bayern (Bavarian psychiatric crisis service, with English-speaking staff): +49 800 655 3000 — around the clock, free of charge.
If you are looking for a psychiatrist — or are not sure whether you need psychotherapy or psychiatric treatment: Psychiatrists & psychiatric outpatient clinics in Munich →
AI-generated conversation about the contents of this page (Google NotebookLM, in German). Automated rendering — may occasionally be inaccurate.
The basics of the system
Which types of therapy does statutory insurance cover?
The statutory health insurers cover four approaches: psychoanalytic therapy (Analytische Psychotherapie), depth-psychology-based psychotherapy (Tiefenpsychologisch fundierte Psychotherapie), behavioural therapy (Verhaltenstherapie) and systemic therapy (Systemische Therapie). Other approaches (Gestalt therapy, humanistic methods) are not covered.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can contact psychotherapists directly — no referral from a GP or psychiatrist is required. A doctor’s consultation report (Konsiliarbericht) is only needed later, for the formal application for therapy.
What is the psychotherapeutic consultation session?
Before any therapy begins, there is the initial consultation (Sprechstunde): diagnostic assessment, evaluation of your need for treatment, and issuing of the PTV11 form. It is not a therapy place — but it is the necessary first step.
Kassensitz — what does that mean?
Only licensed therapists with statutory insurance accreditation (Kassensitz) can bill the statutory insurers directly. Licensed therapists without a Kassensitz are equally well qualified — for them, the cost-reimbursement procedure applies (see route 6).
Training institutes’ outpatient clinics (Institutsambulanzen)
The outpatient clinics of the psychotherapy training institutes are often the best way in: coordinated placement, a diagnostic initial consultation, and a network of therapists in advanced training working under supervision. All treatment is covered by statutory insurance.
Psychodynamic clinics (psychoanalytic / depth-psychological)
Akademie für Psychoanalyse und Psychotherapie München
Landsberger Str. 6, 80339 München
+49 89 502 42 76 (Wed & Thu 10 am–12 noon)
Send in the registration form from their website → they will contact you by telephone
www.psychoanalyse-muenchen.de →Münchner Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Psychoanalyse (MAP)
Rosenheimer Str. 1, 81667 München
+49 89 4019 202-0
Questionnaire online or by post → appointments allocated after review
www.psychoanalyse-map.de →Ärztlich-Psychologischer Weiterbildungskreis (ÄPK)
Trautenwolfstr. 3, 80802 München
Places free therapy slots in psychoanalysis and depth-psychological therapy. Registration by telephone (often an answering machine with call-back)
aepk.de →Mixed-approach clinic
KIRINUS CIP Ausbildungsambulanz
Nymphenburger Str. 148, 80634 München
Behavioural, depth-psychological and systemic therapy. Aims to offer initial appointments quickly.
kirinus.de →Behavioural therapy clinics
AVM – Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verhaltensmodifikation
Kaiserstraße 14, 80801 München
+49 89 38 88 84 70 (Mon–Fri 10:30–11:30 am & 3:30–4:30 pm)
Enquiries by telephone during office hours. No call-backs possible.
psychotherapie-ambulanzen.de →IFT Psychotherapeutische Ambulanz
Leopoldstr. 175, 80804 München
+49 89 32 19 773-16 (Mon–Fri 9 am–12 noon & 2–6 pm)
ift-ambulanz.de →DGVT – Ausbildungszentrum München
Candidplatz 9, 81543 München
+49 151 566 978 60 (Tue 2–4 pm & Thu 9–11 am)
Registration by telephone during office hours. No registration by email.
dgvt-muenchen.de →VFKV – Ausbildungsinstitut München
Lindwurmstraße 117, 80337 München
+49 89 4524166-50 (Mon, Wed, Thu 10 am–12 noon)
Individual and group therapy. Contact by telephone during office hours.
vfkv.de →MUNIP – Münchner Universitäres Ausbildungsinstitut (LMU)
Leopoldstr. 44, 80802 München
+49 89 2180 72582
Register by telephone for a preliminary consultation with a licensed therapist.
munip-ambulanz.de →Contacting therapists in accredited practice directly
The classic route: research on your own, draw up a list, and contact several practices in parallel. This takes patience — full voicemail boxes and rejections are part of the process. Don’t be discouraged.
PTK Bayern — therapist search
The official directory of the Psychotherapeutenkammer Bayern (Bavarian Chamber of Psychotherapists). Lists licensed psychological psychotherapists by postcode. Minimal information, but reliable. (In German.)
To the PTK search →116117.de — KV practitioner search
The search portal of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians). Lists only therapists with statutory accreditation (Kassensitz). Easy to filter by district and therapy approach. (In German.)
To the KV search →therapie.de
A comprehensive portal with detailed profiles (in German). Important: activate the filter “GKV: Kassenzulassung” (statutory accreditation). Caution: non-medical practitioners (Heilpraktiker) are also listed — prefer fully licensed professionals.
therapie.de →DPtV — therapist search
Search portal of the Deutsche Psychotherapeuten Vereinigung (German Association of Psychotherapists). Similar coverage to the PTK search, with some additional results.
DPtV search →- Draw up a list of 10–20 contacts and approach them in parallel — don’t wait for one reply at a time
- Ask to be put on several waiting lists; once you no longer need a place, please take your name off them again
- A free consultation slot does not automatically mean a free therapy place
- Document every contact attempt (date, outcome) — you will need this later for a cost-reimbursement application
- Caution: portals such as therapie.de also list Heilpraktiker (non-medical practitioners) and coaches — always check for full licensure (Approbation) and statutory accreditation (Kassensitz). What the difference is: Information on outpatient psychotherapy →
Terminservicestelle (TSS) appointment service — 116 117
The Terminservicestelle (central appointment service) is sometimes recommended as the first port of call because it is quick and has no entry requirements. By calling 116 117 or going online, you can request a consultation appointment with an accredited therapist directly — the TSS is legally obliged to arrange one within four weeks (Section 75 (1a) of the Social Code, Book V). If your PTV11 form carries an urgency note, the deadline is two weeks.
- An appointment for the obligatory psychotherapeutic initial consultation (Sprechstunde)
- The PTV11 form with a diagnosis and treatment recommendation — required for all further steps
- In urgent cases: a referral code for acute treatment (up to 12 sessions) or promptly required probationary sessions
- No referral slip required — you can call directly
Every therapist with statutory accreditation is obliged to offer consultation sessions — but only to report existing free capacity, not to create new capacity. What often happens in practice: you get the appointment, tell your story, your need for treatment is confirmed — and there is no therapy place behind it. The consultation does not oblige the therapist to take you on. You leave the conversation with a diagnosis and the feeling of having been heard — and keep searching anyway.
How large this structural problem is, and why the official figures obscure it: “Beschönigende Statistik, belastende Realität” (Whitewashed statistics, a wearying reality — in German) on Couch & Agora. Why the situation is set to worsen as a result of current policy decisions: “Kürzung der Psychotherapie-Honorare” (Cuts to psychotherapy fees — in German).
Counselling centres and specialist services
Counselling centres are no substitute for psychotherapy — but they can bridge the waiting time in a meaningful way, provide orientation and help with your continued search.
FrauenTherapieZentrum München (FTZ)
For women with mental illness or in life crises. Psychosocial counselling, psycho-oncological counselling, socio-psychiatric service.
ftz-muenchen.de →TraumaHilfeZentrum München (THZM)
Specialised counselling for the after-effects of trauma. No long-term therapy, but stabilisation and referral to qualified trauma therapists.
Sozialpsychiatrische Dienste (SpDi — socio-psychiatric services)
Support for people with severe mental illness. They know the regional care landscape and can refer you onwards in a targeted way.
All SpDi locations →Caritas, Diakonie, Pro Familia
General psychosocial counselling centres. Low-threshold, free of charge, no health-insurance involvement needed. Good for orientation and initial conversations.
Psychosocial counselling of the Studierendenwerk (student services organisation)
Free counselling sessions exclusively for students — independent of health insurance, anonymous on request. Available in German and English.
Around three individual sessions of 50 minutes each. A professional assessment of whether a mental illness is present — and targeted onward referral if needed.
Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern
Helene-Mayer-Ring 9 (Olympiadorf)
+49 89 38196-1202 (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9 am–12 noon)
Waiting time for a first appointment: approx. 3 weeks. Free for students who have paid the semester fee.
studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de →Your GP can also be a sensible first step — not because of a referral, but because of local networks. And the doctor’s consultation report (Konsiliarbericht) that will later be needed for the therapy application comes from this direction anyway.
Cost reimbursement (Kostenerstattungsverfahren, Section 13 (3) of the Social Code, Book V)
If an intensive search over several months has not produced a therapy place, people with statutory insurance have the right to see a therapist in private practice and have the costs reimbursed by their insurer. This involves more effort — but it is a legitimate instrument.
Legal basis
Insurers are obliged to ensure timely care. If they fail to do so, insured persons may arrange their own treatment and claim the costs back — known as “system failure” (Systemversagen).
Documentation required
Provide at least 5 documented rejections from accredited practices. Show that the TSS was unable to arrange a timely place. Keep a record of every contact attempt.
Finding a therapist (private practice)
On therapie.de, use the filter “GKV: Kostenerstattung” (cost reimbursement). Licensed therapists without statutory accreditation are equally well qualified — they simply lack the formal accreditation.
Important before starting therapy
Apply for cost coverage before therapy begins. Wait for written approval — otherwise you bear the cost risk. Insurers often reject applications at first; an appeal is worthwhile. The Psychotherapeutenkammer Bayern (Bavarian Chamber of Psychotherapists) offers free advice.
The search is arduous — that is not your fault, but the result of a structural problem in psychotherapeutic care in Germany. Why this problem is becoming even more acute as a result of current policy decisions is explained in this article on Couch & Agora (in German): “Kürzung der Psychotherapie-Honorare” (Cuts to psychotherapy fees).