What does a depth psychologist do?

A depth psychologist conducts sessions to discuss current issues and explores their unconscious aspects in relation to present-day conflicts and relationships. This term typically refers to psychotherapists who work using approaches grounded in depth psychology. The term „depth psychologist“ is not a separate, state-regulated professional qualification. The title “psychotherapist” is protected, and anyone who wishes to practice psychotherapy under this title must, according to the Psychotherapist Act, obtain a license—that is, state authorization to practice the profession. The method is learned through training or continuing education, which includes one’s own Self-Awareness Listen. Describe in detail on separate pages the procedure and the Depth Psychology as a group of schools of thought.

What Happens During the Sessions

The sessions focus on current concerns, internal conflicts, and recurring relationship patterns. The experience of the relationship with the therapist can also help in understanding such patterns. The Joint Federal Committee’s psychotherapy guidelines identify three terms for this work. Transference refers to the reappearance of past relationship patterns in current relationships, including within the therapeutic relationship itself. Countertransference refers to the therapist’s reactions to these patterns. Resistance refers to unconscious processes that work against the treatment.

The person who comes to the session usually sets the agenda. Therapists ask questions, clarify issues, offer encouragement, and build on previous work. They often express their hypotheses about unconscious connections as questions or speculations, so that the person can reflect on them for themselves. The client’s life story becomes a topic of discussion to the extent that it is involved in the origin and persistence of their current difficulties. Depending on what a person needs, support may also be part of the process—such as relief and encouragement. If a person currently lacks certain fundamental skills—for example, in dealing with their own emotions or in relationships—the work can focus on strengthening those skills. A Research overview by Leichsenring et al. (in English) This resource page provides a general overview of psychodynamic therapies.

According to the German Society for Psychoanalysis, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics, and Depth Psychology (DGPT), a professional association, one or two hours per week in person is standard. The guideline limits treatment to a maximum of three hours per week. I have usually worked with one hour per week. Today, I offer psychological counseling online. This does not include diagnoses or the treatment of mental illnesses. This counseling is not a substitute for necessary psychotherapy.

What You Help Decide

According to the DGPT, you decide on a treatment based on depth psychology together with your therapist after the initial sessions. The guidelines also recommend deciding jointly on further treatment after receiving information, and whether you work individually or in a group is chosen by mutual agreement. These initial, exploratory sessions are designed to determine whether the therapeutic relationship is working. If it isn’t a good fit, bring it up. According to the DGPT, there is room for this, and switching therapists is also an option.

According to Michael Ermann’s textbook, therapists in this approach recognize and encourage personal responsibility and independence. If a client seeks additional help elsewhere, this is considered a step forward. If this also involves criticism of the treatment, any justified aspects of that criticism should be explicitly acknowledged. The goal of treatment remains limited: current symptoms should be reduced and, if possible, eliminated. A change in personality is not an explicit goal, but according to Ermann, it is an indirect effect of any psychotherapy.

How long and under what conditions

For adults covered by public health insurance, fixed rates apply for individual therapy Hour quotas. Prior to this, at least two and up to four trial sessions take place: These sessions are used to assess the symptoms and determine whether the treatment approach is appropriate. These sessions do not count toward the quota. Short-term therapy 1 and short-term therapy 2 each comprise up to 12 hours, and approved short-term therapy hours are credited toward long-term therapy. For long-term therapy using a depth psychology-based approach, the health insurance provider approves, according to Psychotherapy Guidelines (PDF) Initially, up to 60 hours; the maximum limit is 100. One hour consists of at least 50 minutes; in short-term therapy, 25-minute sessions are also possible.

How to Find a Depth Psychologist

The [source] lists clinics that offer this procedure DGPT Therapist Search; The Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians also maintain directories. In the statutory health insurance system, the process usually begins with a psychotherapy consultation—an initial appointment to determine whether further help is needed. How to find a A therapist who uses this method A separate article describes how to find it.