Witten/Herdecke University opens psychotherapeutic outpatient clinic for children, adolescents and young adults

The Centre for Mental Health and Psychotherapy (ZPP) at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) is opening a psychotherapy outpatient clinic where children and young people can find help for mental health problems. "We treat the whole range of mental disorders, for example ADHD, depression or anxiety disorders. Our staff are specially trained to meet the needs of younger patients," explains Sarah Schwark, child and adolescent psychotherapist and deputy head of the outpatient clinic. For Witten and the surrounding area, this means that psychotherapeutic care for adolescents will be significantly improved in the short and long term.

At the ZPP, psychological psychotherapists under the direction of Prof Dr Ulrike Willutzki have been offering psychotherapy for adults and coaching in difficult life situations at the Witten FEZ (Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 44) since 2016. "We are delighted that we can finally add treatment options for children and adolescents and their families to our range of services," says Ulrike Willutzki. The fact that the ZPP combines the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with psychotherapy research means that therapeutic approaches are continuously reviewed and improved.

Young people and adults alike have suffered psychologically from the coronavirus pandemic

In recent years, and especially after the stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the need for therapy places has increased significantly. "We can see that children and young people in particular have been severely impaired in their development during the coronavirus period," explains Sarah Schwark. Corona has been stressful for everyone, but children in particular have suffered from isolation at home and have developed social or academic problems. For young people, social contacts are particularly important in the phase of orientation towards a future life; the lockdown was therefore a significant obstacle to their identity development and the necessary detachment from their parents. "Corona has generally exacerbated mental disorders such as anxiety disorders and depression and made them worse - in young people and adults alike," explains Sarah Schwark.

The search for therapy places is usually associated with long waiting times

However, families usually hope in vain for quick help. The search for a place in therapy is often complicated and associated with long waiting times. It is important to help those affected as quickly as possible. "If we recognise and treat mental disorders in childhood and adolescence at an early stage, we can also prevent mental illness in adulthood. So it's also about prevention and enabling young people to grow up healthily in the long term," explains Ulrike Willutzki. "We are all the more pleased to hopefully be able to help many families in Witten and the surrounding area in the future."

Contact the outpatient clinic now on 02302-926 7522.

Further information can be found on the website at uni-wh.de/zpp-kinder-jugendliche.