Wegweiser Care leavers · Transition out of youth welfare Deutsch

🩺 Mental strain and after-effects of trauma: finding counselling

Out-of-home placement is often linked to distressing experiences – regular and care-leaver-specific contact points for psychological support.

Trauma Psychotherapy Trauma outpatient clinic (Traumaambulanz) § 27 SGB V 116117

In brief

Many care leavers had distressing experiences before or during out-of-home placement that can have after-effects even after youth welfare ends. Unlike during ongoing youth welfare, where psychosocial support was often part of the care, afterwards you often have to organise help yourself. Regular access is through statutory health insurance: psychotherapy is a standard benefit covered by every health insurer, regardless of your background.

Step by step

  1. Go to a consultation hourIf you are under acute strain, go to a psychotherapeutic consultation hour (Sprechstunde) at a practice with a statutory insurance licence – a therapy place can be arranged directly afterwards.
  2. Use the emergency numberIn acute crises, contact the appointment service office of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (116117) or an emergency outpatient clinic.
  3. Look for a trauma outpatient clinicFor traumatic childhood experiences, look specifically for a trauma outpatient clinic (Traumaambulanz) or trauma-specialised therapists.
  4. Use peer counselling as a supplementAdditionally use care-leaver-specific peer counselling, e.g. through Careleaver e. V. or local care leaver networks.
  5. Actively ask the Jugendamt for referralIf aftercare (§ 41a SGB VIII) is ongoing, actively ask the Jugendamt to refer you to suitable specialist services.

Deadlines

No statutory deadline
Access to psychotherapy through health insurance is not limited in time and is independent of the end of youth welfare.§ 27 SGB V
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The wait for a psychotherapy place can be several weeks to months depending on region and insurer – this is a known structural weakness of care in Germany and not specific to care leavers; the appointment service office can help shorten it.
  • Care-leaver-specific psychosocial services are distributed very unevenly by region – reliable, nationwide uniform information on this cannot be given here.
  • If therapy was already begun during ongoing youth welfare, a break at the transition to adulthood can interrupt treatment – talk to your therapist early about continuing it.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Access to psychotherapy

Under § 27 SGB V, medical treatment also includes psychotherapy as a benefit of statutory health insurance. Since the 2017 reform of the psychotherapy guideline, access is regulated through a psychotherapeutic consultation hour, which can be used without a prior referral.

Trauma outpatient clinics and social compensation law

Anyone who became the victim of a violent crime as a child or young person may, under the conditions of social compensation law (SGB XIV since 1.1.2024, previously the Victims Compensation Act), be entitled to rapid trauma outpatient clinic treatment, regardless of the outcome of any criminal proceedings.

Peer counselling as a supplement

On careleaver.de, Careleaver e. V. describes exchange among care leavers as a distinct element of support, which does not replace professional therapy but complements it.

Who is responsible
  • Statutory health insurance (psychotherapy)
  • Social compensation authority (trauma outpatient clinic after violent crimes)
Further reading
Advice and contact points for care leavers

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Mental strain and after-effects of trauma: finding counselling“?
Out-of-home placement is often linked to distressing experiences – regular and care-leaver-specific contact points for psychological support.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
No statutory deadline: Access to psychotherapy through health insurance is not limited in time and is independent of the end of youth welfare.
What should I do first?
  • Go to a consultation hour: If you are under acute strain, go to a psychotherapeutic consultation hour (Sprechstunde) at a practice with a statutory insurance licence – a therapy place can be arranged directly afterwards.
  • Use the emergency number: In acute crises, contact the appointment service office of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (116117) or an emergency outpatient clinic.
  • Look for a trauma outpatient clinic: For traumatic childhood experiences, look specifically for a trauma outpatient clinic (Traumaambulanz) or trauma-specialised therapists.
Evidence
  • § 27 SGB V (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved September 2026)
  • SGB XIV (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved September 2026)
  • Careleaver e. V., careleaver.de, retrieved September 2026
  • Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, 116117.de, retrieved September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.