FAQ

Why does specialist training in Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy cost so much money?

Specialist medical training is completed exclusively within employment relationships subject to social security contributions. This is stipulated in Section 4 of the Model Specialty Training Regulations and, accordingly, in the specialty training regulations of the State Chambers of Physicians.

It can therefore be concluded that this covers everything, both the work performed by physicians in training and the training services provided by authorized training physicians, including supervision and theoretical instruction.

There is discussion only with regard to the financing of self-experience. However, here too, the costs for the hours required by the specialty training regulations should be covered by the employer (see Self-Experience).

Do I have to register with an institute? And what happens if problems arise there?

No. Contracts with institutes are private agreements entered into voluntarily. It is the sole responsibility of the authorized training physicians to ensure that the specialist training and all required components are completed. Training agreements are concluded for this purpose.

If authorized training physicians obtain certain training components from institutes, for example, which is possible, they remain fully responsible for them, including for resolving any problems that arise in this context.

As a rule, institutes are not authorized to provide specialist medical training.

The legal relationship between physicians in training and authorized training physicians is governed by private law. This means that the authorized training physicians are personally liable for ensuring that the specialist training can be completed in accordance with the applicable requirements. This liability cannot be transferred.

Who should I contact if I experience problems with my specialist training?

The authorized training physicians should always be the first point of contact. They are personally responsible for fulfilling the training agreements.

The State Chambers of Physicians can, of course, also be contacted. They often have an ombuds office specifically established to help resolve conflicts arising during specialist training, where concerns can initially also be raised while maintaining anonymity.

Where can I complete my long-term cases?

Psychotherapy is an integral part of specialist training in this field. Psychotherapy, whether short-term or long-term, can therefore be completed without difficulty as part of outpatient specialist training in a medical practice.

Due to the nationwide framework conditions for specialist medical training established by the social courts, outpatient training can be financed effectively and, thanks to flexible working conditions, very often accommodates individual life planning.

Why do I have to complete so much self-experience before the intermediate examination?

The specialty training regulations do not provide for an intermediate examination. It is a concept used in the training of psychologists to become psychological psychotherapists, where it leads to authorization to provide treatment.

Physicians are authorized to provide treatment immediately upon receiving their medical license.

Anyone who agrees to be bound by contractual and entirely voluntary provisions of registered associations must clarify whether these were required by the authorized training physician or not.

In this case, the individual's legal capacity to enter into contracts applies; in other words, it is a consequence of a voluntary decision.

If the authorized training physician has imposed such a requirement, clarification is necessary, if appropriate with the involvement of the responsible State Chamber of Physicians.