Psychological Counselor or Alternative Practitioner for Psychotherapy: Which Is Right for Your Needs?

A naturopath specializing in psychotherapy is permitted to practice medicine, limited to psychotherapy; a psychological counselor without a medical license or a license to practice naturopathy is not. No law protects the title “psychological counselor”; anyone may use it as long as they do not mislead others, and it says nothing about their qualifications. In contrast, a non-medical practitioner must obtain a license under the Non-Medical Practitioners Act, and since a 1993 ruling by the Federal Administrative Court, this license may be limited to psychotherapy. Under the statutory health insurance system, only licensed physicians may treat mental illness; educational and family counseling centers provide counseling free of charge.

Who Is Allowed to Do What, and Who Pays?

What a person is permitted to do depends on whether the activity constitutes the practice of medicine. According to the German Act on Non-Medical Practitioners (Heilpraktikergesetz), the practice of medicine is any professional or commercial activity intended to diagnose, cure, or alleviate illnesses, ailments, or physical injuries in humans; it requires a license or medical certification. Counseling that falls outside the scope of medicine does not require a license and is therefore also available to psychological counselors. A separate article explains, How Counseling and Psychotherapy Differ.

A person may hold several of these qualifications and still offer only counseling; what matters is what they actually offer you. Statutory health insurance does not cover private counseling or psychotherapy provided by a practitioner licensed as a “Heilpraktiker.” If you have private health insurance, check with your insurer beforehand to see if they will cover any of the costs. The article on the health insurance system explains which conditions are treated by whom within the system. three occupational groups one. Prices by Provider are on a separate page.

What the naturopathic license indicates

Permits are usually granted following an inspection by the public health department, or in some cases based on a review of the documentation. The inspection is intended to prevent hazards. It is intended to, according to the Guidelines from the Federal Ministry of Health (PDF file) Determine whether the person reliably assesses the limits of their knowledge and abilities and is willing to base their actions on that assessment. Neither the Implementing Regulation to the Heilpraktiker Act nor the guidelines require a specific type of training. The licensing examination does not certify a standardized, comprehensive psychotherapy training. Ask about the specific therapeutic training, supervision, and experience.

Even the license itself has limitations. Alternative practitioners may not use the title „psychotherapist.“ Prescription drugs are available only with a prescription from a physician or dentist, not from an alternative practitioner. Alternative practitioners must limit themselves to activities they are fully qualified to perform.

Confidentiality

Whether Section 203 of the Criminal Code applies depends on one’s professional qualifications and activities. A license to practice alternative medicine alone does not confer this criminal law protection. For alternative medicine practitioners and counselors, additional qualifications or activities may be decisive in this regard.

The duty of confidentiality subject to criminal penalties under § 203, paragraph 1 applies, among others, to members of the healthcare professions with state-regulated training (including licensed practitioners), professional psychologists with a state-recognized academic degree, marriage, family, parenting, or youth counselors at a counseling center recognized by government authorities or under public law, as well as state-recognized social workers and social educators. Licensed psychotherapists are additionally bound by confidentiality under their professional code of ethics.

Association rules and data protection laws apply in addition to these provisions and do not replace criminal law protections. The German Association for Gestalt Therapy, for example, requires its members to maintain confidentiality in its ethical guidelines; this applies only to members. Under Article 9 of the General Data Protection Regulation, health data is considered to be subject to special protection. Ask which confidentiality obligations apply.

What to Look for When Voting

If a mental illness is to be diagnosed or treated, that constitutes medical practice; to do so, the person must have a medical license or a license to practice alternative medicine. If you have public health insurance, you can visit a psychotherapy consultation Find out whether you need treatment. If the issue involves a conflict or another matter unrelated to medicine, counseling may also be an option. For parenting questions or family problems, parenting and family counseling centers offer advice, according to Federal Family Portal Free of charge.

A good personal fit is important. You should also verify the person’s proven qualifications, their authorization to provide the service offered, and their professional limitations.

I am a licensed psychotherapist. I offer online psychological counseling; this does not include the diagnosis or treatment of mental health conditions. This counseling is not a substitute for necessary psychotherapy.