Master Programme – Psychotherapy Science

Faculty

Faculty of Psychotherapy Science

Duration / ECTS

4 Semester / 120 ECTS

Academic degree

Magistra / Magister der Psychotherapiewissenschaft (Mag.pth.)

Level of qualification

ISCED–2011: Level 7 and EQF/NQF: Level 7

Curriculum

• Information on the Curriculum
• Type of study
• Full-time
• Language of instruction
• German

Tuition Fee

6.579 € per semester

Venue

Berlin

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The Master programme in psychotherapy science builds on the Bachelor programme and provides in-depth knowledge of theory, methodology, scientific and research methods and clinical competences. The course duration is four semesters. Upon successful completion, students earn the academic degree Magistra / Magister der Psychotherapiewissenschaft (Mag.pth.).

Please note that the Master Programme in Psychotherapy Science at SFU Berlin is offered in German .

Admission Requirements

a) Proof of BA.pth. degree in Psychotherapy Science

→ the Masters degree programme in Psychotherapy Science builds on the Bachelors degree programme in Psychotherapy Science at SFU Berlin.

b) Proof of polyvalent BA or BSc degree in Clinical Psychology (profile “Psychotherapy”) according to the “Approbationsordnung” of 14th Feb, 2020

→ If the contents of a psychotherapy bachelors degree are missing in the preliminary studies, it is possible to enrol in level B5 of the Bachelors degree programme in Psychotherapy Science with the corresponding crediting options after a case-by-case examination. The psychotherapy degree programme at SFU Berlin is designed to overlap procedures and is oriented towards the German Law on the Reform of Psychotherapeutic Training (PsychThG) of 15th Nov. 2019, in particular the implementation regulations according to §12 PsychThG and §62 of the Approbation Regulations (PsychTHApprO) of 14th Feb. 2020.

Admissions procedure

No admission procedure (see previous point “Admission requirements”) if the Bachelors degree programme in Psychotherapy Science has been completed.

Course structure and content

Knowledge

The students acquire general knowledge concerning the four basic orientations (scientifically based humanistic methods, psychodynamic methods, systemic methods and behavioural therapy-based methods) as well as knowledge corresponding to the focal points with regard to different personality theories and disorder patterns. Building on the general theory of illness from the bachelors degree programme, the focus of knowledge acquisition is placed on specific clinical phenomena. With regard to the theory-practice unit of psychotherapy science, the aim is to combine the acquisition of theoretical knowledge with the experiences from the internship parts to be completed in parallel.

Cognitive and practical skills

In the courses, students acquire knowledge about the psychotherapeutic process, which includes the initial interview and diagnosis as well as the therapy plan and final phase. In addition to the method-specific teaching of illnesses, the main topics immanent to psychotherapy, such as disorders of sexuality, trauma and addiction, are dealt with and developed from a cross-procedural perspective. The teaching of cultural-historical and social framework conditions sensitises students to the individual context in which diagnostics and the psychotherapeutic process take place.

Competences

Students acquire in-depth knowledge of the general and method-specific theory of illness and a differentiated view of personality theory and disorder patterns. The breadth of scientifically recognised procedures, including the basic orientations of psychotherapy, is illustrated. The practice of psychotherapy with children and adolescents and with adults and older people is taught, taking into account the various scientifically tested and recognised psychotherapeutic procedures and methods.

The students record psychological and neuropsychological disorders as well as psychological aspects of physical illnesses in all age and patient groups, taking into account scientific findings, estimate the opportunities, risks and limits of the various scientifically tested and recognised psychotherapeutic procedures and methods on a scientifically sound basis and depending on age, They explain their assessment of the opportunities, risks and limitations of the various scientifically tested and recognised psychotherapeutic procedures and methods to the patients, other persons involved or to be involved, institutions or authorities, select scientifically based treatment guidelines appropriate to the findings and the patient on the basis of previous diagnostics, differential diagnostics and classification, independently develop scientifically based case concepts and the corresponding treatment planning and observe the special features of the respective age group, the respective clinical pictures and the respective disease context as well as the emotional and intellectual stage of development of the patients concerned, explain mental and psychologically co-conditioned diseases in childhood, adolescence and adulthood including old age on the basis of the current state of science.

Students develop and evaluate psychodiagnostic procedures according to current test-theoretical models, prepare expert reports on clinical-psychological or psychotherapeutic issues according to the general state of scientific assessment, decide according to scientific criteria which diagnostic procedures are to be applied appropriately to the situation, taking into account the respective issue, including the patients age, personality characteristics, social environment as well as emotional and intellectual stage of development, carry out these procedures in individual cases, evaluate the results and interpret the results, use diagnostic procedures appropriately to recognise risk profiles, suicidality, signs of child welfare endangerment as well as signs of experiences of violence of a physical, psychological, sexual nature and unfavourable courses of treatment, systematically record and assess processes of progression and change, process and evaluate scientific expert opinions, They deal with and evaluate scientific expert questions concerning psychotherapeutic care, including questions about incapacity to work, occupational disability and the degree of disability or damage, recognise the limits of their own diagnostic competence and ability to judge and, where necessary, initiate measures to support themselves.

Research

An essential part of the study is devoted to psychotherapy research. In order to be able to interpret and compare empirical research, but also to independently design and pursue questions, differentiated knowledge is necessary. Therefore, the theoretical basic knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods is deepened and also practised.

Internships and personality development

Practical application of the theoretically acquired knowledge is of great importance. The degree programme therefore provides for internships, some of which are to be completed externally, but also internally at the planned outpatient clinic, authorised practices and cooperating clinics, and which are reflected on during the course. In order to acquire the necessary psychotherapeutic attitude, the study programme includes compulsory personality development.

In the Masters degree programme, the documentation, evaluation and organisation of psychotherapeutic treatments to the extent of two ECTS, the profession-qualifying activities II – in-depth practice of psychotherapy to the extent of 15 ECTS, the profession-qualifying activities III – applied practice of psychotherapy to the extent of 20 ECTS and the research-oriented internship II psychotherapy research to the extent of five ECTS take place in cooperation with the psychotherapeutic training outpatient clinic of the SFU Berlin under the supervision of licensed psychotherapists recognised according to German and Austrian law with corresponding specialist knowledge.

PRAKT: internal and external internships in the care setting: seminars, internships, outpatient psychotherapy (incl. assumption of individual diagnostic and therapeutic actions under supervision in case seminars; maximum group size 12 students).

Psychotherapy in interdisciplinary contexts (in-patient or day-care facilities or interdisciplinary treatment centres; incl. assumption of individual diagnostic and therapeutic actions under supervision)

Self-reflection both in the role of therapist, patient and observer or relative and improvement of individual emotional, cognitive, communicative and behavioural skills for self-regulation

Practical psychotherapeutic activities: external internships of at least 300 hours and a practical consolidation as a practical semester of 600 to 900 hours are anchored. Within this framework, practical training of at least 300 hours must be completed in an inpatient psychiatric facility.

Prior to the start of the internship, have it approved by the head of the degree programme and the responsible internship supervisor of the institution (form Studienbuch).

Internship I (B1/2-B4): 480 hours, of which at least 20 hours in the SFU outpatient clinic | 20 hours reflection

Internship II (B5-B6 + M1-M4): 275 hrs. method-specific, of which 150 hrs. each

Compulsory competence goals: Initial experience with the practical use of categorical and psychometric diagnostics of mental disorders; experience in obtaining information in the initial interview, taking a case history and psychotherapeutic diagnostics in at least two areas of application; initial experience with the documentation of psychodiagnostic processes; Knowledge of psychotherapeutic treatment concepts and psychotherapy procedures in different psychotherapeutic fields of application and both age focuses; knowledge of the indications for measures of care for persons with mental and psychosomatic illne