The psychotherapeutic consultation (psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde) is the first step in outpatient psychotherapy in Germany. It clarifies whether there is a suspicion of a mental illness and shows which treatment would make sense next. This guide explains the scope, the process and the booking for students and young professionals.
Short answer: The consultation serves advice, diagnosis and a recommendation. For adults, the German Psychotherapy Guideline provides for up to six units per illness episode, with a total of up to 150 minutes, and each unit lasts at least 25 minutes. You can book directly with a practice or through the 116117 appointment service, and according to the Federal Ministry of Health no referral is required (Last updated: November 2026).
The most important points in brief
- The consultation is a low-threshold entry point that clarifies whether further treatment is appropriate.
- For adults, up to six units per illness episode are provided. For insured persons up to 21 years, up to ten.
- According to the guideline, further treatment requires a consultation of at least 50 minutes.
- If needed, the consultation can be followed by acute treatment of up to 24 individual sessions.
- You can book directly or through the appointment service, which under § 75 para. 1a SGB V should arrange consultation appointments within four weeks.
What exactly is the psychotherapeutic consultation?
The consultation is a separate service within outpatient psychotherapy. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, it is meant to clarify early whether there is a suspicion of a mental illness. It includes advice, diagnosis and a treatment recommendation. The ministry describes it as a conversation with personal contact. Many patients use it before any further treatment because it gives them a first assessment.
The consultation is therefore not the same as the therapy itself. It decides whether treatment continues and points to the right direction. If you are unsure whether your concern belongs in psychotherapy at all, this is the right place to start.
How many units are provided?
The guideline distinguishes by age. The table shows the key figures of the consultation under the version of 21 August 2025, which entered into force on 11 November 2025. The term illness episode matters here: it covers the current calendar quarter and the three following ones.
| Feature | Adults | Up to age 21 or with intellectual disability |
|---|---|---|
| Units per illness episode | Up to 6 | Up to 10 |
| Total scope | Up to 150 minutes | Up to 250 minutes |
| Minimum length per unit | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Consultation required before further treatment | At least 50 minutes | At least 50 minutes |
In practice, a consultation of at least 50 minutes meets the requirement for further treatment. The practice decides how many units it needs. In the conversation, you can ask how many units have already been used in the current illness episode.
How do you book a consultation?
There are two routes. You can call practices directly or use the appointment service on the number 116117. According to the ministry, the number is available around the clock, and there is also a website and an app. No referral is needed for the consultation. The appointment services are meant to arrange consultation appointments within four weeks under § 75 para. 1a SGB V.
- Note how urgent your concern is and which health insurance you have.
- Call several practices or use the appointment service on 116117.
- Ask for an appointment in the psychotherapeutic consultation, not only for therapy.
- Write down the date, time and result of every contact.
How the referral through the appointment service works is explained in Psychotherapy through the 116117 appointment service. The first steps of the search are covered in Finding a psychotherapist.
What happens in the consultation?
In the consultation you talk about your symptoms, your daily life and your history. The practice asks questions to place the suspicion in context. At the end there is a recommendation. If there is no need for treatment, this is stated. If there is a need, the practice suggests a path, such as probatory sessions, a guideline therapy or acute treatment.
Each unit lasts at least 25 minutes. It helps to prepare questions and to raise unclear points straight away. You do not have to say everything at once, and you can ask what the next steps are.
What should you bring to the consultation?
A short preparation helps, because the consultation time is limited. You do not need to collect medical records, but a few details speed up the start.
- Your insurance card or the details of your private health insurance.
- A short note on since when the complaints have existed and what has changed.
- A list of regular medication, if you take any.
- Information on earlier treatment, including by other doctors.
- Questions that matter to you, so that you do not forget them in the conversation.
The history matters because the practice must judge whether a temporary strain or a pattern that needs further treatment is involved. You decide how much you share. A conversation may start slowly, and you can take breaks. If it is hard to talk about your concern, you can say so openly, and the practice can adjust its questions.
What if you are not sure?
Many students wonder whether their complaints are serious enough. The consultation exists for exactly this question: it clarifies whether a suspicion exists. You do not need to be certain that an illness is present in order to book an appointment. A result that no treatable disorder is present is also a useful answer.
It helps to assess your situation honestly beforehand. How long have sleep problems, lack of drive, anxiety or mood swings been affecting you? How strongly do they influence your studies, part-time job and daily routine? Answering these questions in advance makes the conversation more concrete.
What applies to costs?
The costs of the consultation depend on your insurance. Statutory insured persons receive the service through contracted practices. Privately insured persons check their tariff, because reimbursement and the own share depend on its terms. An overview of the differences is provided in Private Health Insurance and Psychotherapy: Costs. Clarify cost questions with the practice before the first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book the consultation without a referral?
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, no referral is required for the psychotherapeutic consultation. You can contact a practice directly or use the appointment service.
How long does a consultation last?
Each unit lasts at least 25 minutes. For adults, up to six units are provided, with a total of up to 150 minutes. How many units you need is decided together with the practice.
What happens after the consultation?
The practice recommends a further step. This can be a guideline therapy, probatory sessions or acute treatment. Under the guideline, at least two and at most four probatory sessions are provided before a guideline therapy.
Do I have to start therapy after the consultation?
No. The consultation serves to clarify. You can review the recommendation, decide calmly or visit another practice.
How can I tell whether a practice offers consultations?
Ask directly when you call. Many practices list consultation hours on their website. The appointment service can also name suitable providers.
What to do next
- Decide whether you contact practices directly or use the appointment service.
- Ask specifically for a psychotherapeutic consultation.
- Prepare your most important questions for the appointment.
Related reading
- Mental health at university: where to find help
- Finding a psychotherapist
- Psychotherapy through the 116117 appointment service
- Psychotherapy as acute treatment
- Private Health Insurance and Psychotherapy: Costs
Sources: Psychotherapy Guideline (Psychotherapie-Richtlinie), version of 21.08.2025, in force since 11.11.2025 (in German), Federal Ministry of Health: entry on the psychotherapeutic consultation, status 08.01.2026 (in German), Section 75 SGB V, Terminservicestellen, gesetze-im-internet.de (accessed November 2026, in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
