Psychotherapy
Professional help for mental health conditions
Mental illnesses have many causes, but they usually share one thing in common: they affect a person’s daily life, thoughts, feelings, and actions. In this case, it is advisable to seek professional help. Mental illnesses are just as treatable as physical ones.
If you need psychotherapeutic treatment, we will cover the costs. We also make it easier for you to find a therapist who is approved by your health insurance provider. Here we provide information about the individual steps involved, from the psychotherapeutic consultation to the approval of psychotherapy.
The path to psychotherapeutic treatment
Psychotherapy Consultation
The process begins with a psychotherapy consultation. During this initial meeting, the therapist will assess whether treatment is recommended for you and, if so, what form it should take. This may be acute treatment, short-term or long-term therapy.
If a particularly urgent need for treatment is identified during the psychotherapy consultation, you can begin acute treatment straight away. If longer-term treatment is required, the acute treatment can be transitioned into psychotherapy.
We cover the costs of up to three consultations and up to twelve therapy sessions for acute treatment.
How do I book an appointment with a psychotherapist?
You can contact therapists who are registered with a health insurance fund directly. The nationwide appointment service can help you find registered medical and psychological therapists.
The nationwide
Please have your SBK healthcare card to hand when you call. The waiting time for an appointment should be no more than four weeks.
Alternatively, you can easily book a psychotherapy consultation via Meine SBK.
Trial sessions
If, during the consultation, it is determined that you require treatment, trial sessions will follow. These are known as ‘probatory sessions’. During these sessions, you and the therapist will work together to determine whether you can build a relationship of trust. We cover the cost of up to four probatory sessions. A minimum of two sessions is compulsory.
The
Application for Psychotherapy
Before you submit your application, a consultative medical examination will take place. The purpose of this examination is to rule out the possibility that a physical illness could be the cause of your mental health condition. Your psychotherapist will submit the consultation report from your doctor to us, together with the application for therapy. In certain cases, we commission a qualified expert opinion. If the criteria for therapy are met, we will send the approval to you and to your therapist’s practice. The therapy sessions can then begin.
Treatment options in psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can take place in both individual and group sessions. It is also possible to conduct therapy sessions via video. The therapist will decide, in consultation with you, whether this is appropriate. When using video consultations, it is important that data protection requirements and the necessary technical conditions are met.
As well as individual therapy, group therapy is at least as effective a way of treating mental health conditions. One major advantage of group therapy, for example, is that those affected can work together to find solutions and support one another.
Easy access to psychotherapy through the group
Group therapy often makes it easier to start therapy. In particular, you can easily take advantage of the new basic group psychotherapy service. This new service is designed to prepare you for group therapy and help alleviate your symptoms initially.
You can take advantage of this new service without our approval. Of course, the psychotherapist will check during the consultation whether this type of treatment is appropriate.
What costs does SBK cover?
We cover the full costs of necessary psychotherapeutic treatment at all therapy centers and medical practices approved by health insurance funds.
We cannot cover services that are intended solely for educational, marital, life, or sexual counseling.
Which treatment methods does the SBK cover the costs for?
SBK covers the costs for the following therapeutic approaches:
The therapist decides on a specific therapeutic approach in consultation with the patient. The following forms of therapy are recognised treatment methods by statutory health insurance funds:
Additional services offered by the SBK
Digital Health Applications
You can also receive support for managing mental health conditions through digital health applications (DiGA). These so-called “apps on prescription” can help with depression, stress or burnout, anxiety, and addiction.
The app content is usually based on principles of cognitive behavioral change and presented in varied formats such as texts, videos, audio recordings, and interactive exercises.
The duration of use depends on the specific program and your individual needs — most apps are initially prescribed for three months. It’s best to discuss with your doctor whether a DiGA is suitable for you.
You can find more information on how to obtain a DiGA and which options may be right for you on our
Online appointment booking via Meine SBK
With the
Health Courses
Relaxation techniques can also be part of the treatment for mental health conditions and are effective for reducing stress.
We offer health courses such as yoga, autogenic training, and progressive muscle relaxation. You can choose between in-person courses with a fixed training group or online courses that you can join via computer or smartphone app. For more information, please visit our
We are personally there for you
Your SBK consultant is always happy to provide you with advice and assistance. You can find their contact details in the SBK Consultant search or in your Meine SBK app.
If you would like to contact us directly by phone, you can reach us on the SBK customer hotline.
Frequently asked questions about psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can help people cope better with depression, anxiety, or addictive behavior and deal more effectively with difficult life circumstances. Psychotherapy can sometimes be supplemented with medication. Psychotherapy can also be helpful for relatives of people with mental illness.
The duration of therapy depends on the particular therapeutic approach, the individual therapeutic goal, and the course of therapy. A single therapy session usually lasts 50 minutes.
Finding a therapy place can be challenging. Be persistent and contact several therapy practices.
The appointment service center of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians can help you find a therapy place for a psychotherapy consultation, acute treatment, and probationary session. They will arrange an appointment for an initial consultation within four weeks. The service center is available every day around the clock without an area code at 116 117. Please have your SBK health insurance card ready when you call.
You can also book appointments online via the
The following websites may also be helpful if you wish to search for psychotherapy practices and other medical practices yourself:
We can only cover the costs of psychotherapy provided by registered psychotherapists. This is the case if they are able to bill via the SBK healthcare card. Registered psychotherapists possess the necessary qualifications. They are also obliged to practise in accordance with the guidelines of the statutory health insurance scheme. In principle, the practitioner may specialise in the following fields:
Psychotherapy for children and adolescents may be necessary if they are experiencing psychological challenges. These can manifest themselves in physical symptoms or conspicuous behavior. Since mental illnesses in children and adolescents often have very different causes than in adults, treatment is carried out within the framework of special child and adolescent psychotherapy. Therapists who perform this therapy have special qualifications.
In child and adolescent psychotherapy, children, adolescents, and young adults can only be treated up to the age of 21. This is stipulated by professional law. In principle, insured persons aged 18 and over are entitled to treatment through adult therapy.
Are you experiencing an acute mental health crisis? In addition to telephone counseling which can be reached free of charge at
Group members provide each other with feedback. This means that they receive an assessment not only from a therapeutic perspective. In addition, interaction with other individuals facing similar mental health challenges is encouraged. Other group members may approach their issues in a completely different way. This broadens the options for resolving each individual's concerns. In addition, the group can provide support and become a place of strength. In this community, you can try out new techniques and develop them further in the group based on your experiences.
Further information can be found here:
If the relationship of trust with the treating psychotherapist is disrupted, it is possible to change therapists. Even if it becomes apparent during the course of therapy that a different therapeutic approach would be more appropriate, you can change therapists.
If you have any concerns, please discuss them directly during your psychotherapy session. As with all interpersonal relationships, misunderstandings can arise during psychotherapy. Addressing these openly may be important for the therapeutic process. Please also mention if you feel that you are not making progress in therapy.
If you cannot find a solution with your therapist, you can switch to another psychotherapy practice or another therapist. In this case, please contact your SBK consultant.
