Free psychotherapy places in the teaching outpatient clinic at Witten/Herdecke University

The primary care teaching therapy centre - also known as the teaching outpatient clinic - of the School of Psychology and Psychotherapy at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) will be able to offer adults a free psychotherapy place from April. As capacities have been continuously expanded in recent months, there are currently places available.

Master's students undergo therapy under the close supervision of experienced psychotherapists

Teaching outpatient clinics mean that students on UW/H's Master's degree programme in Psychology with a focus on Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy lead the sessions, always accompanied and guided by state-certified, experienced psychotherapists. After an initial interview and a comprehensive diagnostic phase, in which the patient's problems and strengths are analysed in more detail, the therapy phase follows. Participants are invited to a total of twelve individual therapy sessions - one per week - and receive a full final report at the end.

"Studies show that being treated by newcomers to the profession has just as good an effect as being treated by experienced psychotherapists," says Dr Johannes Graser, who accompanies the students in the sessions as a teaching therapist. There are many reasons for this: for example, all sessions are intensively prepared and followed up. Every fortnight there is a supervision session in which the students, together with two to three fellow students and the teaching therapists, watch videos of the sessions and discuss what went well and where there were difficulties. "You don't have that on the open market," says Dr Johannes Graser. "The therapies in the teaching clinic are much more quality-monitored."

Treating first outpatient cases themselves

The student and teaching therapist work as a duo - so there are two people for every one patient. The teaching clinic offers real added value not only for the participants, but also for the students: "It was a very special moment for me - my first outpatient case. I found it really exciting to do so much on my own, but to always be closely supervised and be part of the supervision group," recalls Nils Kruse, who completed his Master's degree last summer semester. "My teaching therapist gave me a lot of space, but also had a good sense of where I needed support and where she should intervene. I simply had a good first experience, reduced my inhibitions about starting my career and started the actual work with a different calmness and composure." Yannik Kulik, also a graduate of the psychology master's programme, adds: "For me, it was also nice to accompany a patient so closely in the process, to be there from start to finish and to see afterwards that she really benefited from the offer and that we were able to make a difference." The teaching clinic has encouraged both of them to also go into the individual therapy setting in their professional lives.

A place in the teaching therapy is free of charge for patients and is not covered by health insurance. One special feature: unlike in the health insurance system, therapy ends after twelve sessions. However, these are used in a very focussed way and are intended to create real added value. They can also be used to bridge the waiting time until a place becomes available with a psychotherapist in private practice. "The therapy may be shorter, but it really is a special setting," emphasises Nils Kruse. "There is a lot of space around the patients; we think about the case in depth, exchange ideas and consider how best to proceed. I think it's simply a good place where you are met and helped in a positive way."

Growing team meets an ever-increasing need for psychotherapy

In principle, all mental illnesses can be treated - only addiction patients who are dependent on certain substances such as alcohol or drugs are not admitted to the Lehrambulanz.

The introduction of teaching therapy basic care around two years ago was made possible by the reform of the psychology Master's programme in the winter semester of 2023/24 and the new licensing regulations. Since then, more teaching therapists have joined the team, which has now grown to 13 people. Together, they guide 90 students and patients through the teaching clinic every year.

Anyone interested in a therapy place can call during consultation hours or send an email at any time to Lehrtherapeutische-Grundversorgung@uni-wh.de Further information and contact details can be found on the teaching clinic website.