Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeut/Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeutin

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists are specialists in Germany who treat children, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 21. In this process, they also involve the clients' immediate environment, such as parents or legal guardians, in the treatment. They diagnose using medical findings and test methods, along with the patient's medical history (anamnesis), and inform patients or their guardians about treatment options. They create therapy plans and apply various treatment methods, such as behavioral therapies. Furthermore, they help prevent psychological disorders or relapses and support the environment of affected individuals through methods like counseling or supervision. Their duties also include documenting the treatment process, evaluating the success of therapy, and ensuring the billing of psychotherapeutic services.

Professionals in this field can typically find employment in their own private practices, counseling centers, inpatient treatment facilities like hospitals, or higher education institutions such as psychology institutes. Their work environments usually consist of therapy rooms, group work rooms, training rooms, and office rooms.

To pursue this profession in Germany, you generally need to have completed a Master's degree in psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology, or a Master's degree in pedagogy/social pedagogy. This Master's degree program typically must have started before September 1, 2020. Following the Master's degree, a federally standardized postgraduate professional training (postgraduale Ausbildung) is undertaken, lasting 3 to 5 years (full-time or part-time). This postgraduate training includes theoretical courses and practical participation in the diagnosis and treatment of at least 30 children and adolescents. Although legal regulations have changed, this postgraduate training path continues to be valid until September 1, 2032, under transitional provisions.

For Turkish students considering a career in this field, it is important to know that this career path can be complex due to legal changes in the German education system. Due to the current transitional period, a different training path (under the new Psychotherapeutengesetz) may apply for new entrants. Therefore, you should carefully research the current requirements and recognition processes (tanıma) and possess a good command of the German language.

In Germany, "Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeut/Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeutin" follows a 3-year dual Ausbildung — combining a vocational school (Berufsschule) with paid on-the-job training at a company. No university degree required.

In Germany, "Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeut/Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeutin" follows a 3-year dual Ausbildung — combining a vocational school (Berufsschule) with paid on-the-job training at a company. No university degree required. Foreign applicants should additionally verify diploma recognition via anabin.kmk.org before applying.

Workplace varies by employer. Check the official BERUFENET listing for the current breakdown of typical work environments for Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeut/Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeutin.

Salaries vary by region, employer size, and experience. Consult BERUFENET for current figures, or salary aggregators like gehalt.de and stepstone.de Gehaltsreport.