Wegweiser Domestic violence · Protection & support Deutsch

🧠 Psychological support and trauma counselling

Domestic violence often leaves emotional scars. Trauma outpatient clinics, advice centres and psychotherapy can help – regardless of whether you have filed a complaint.

Trauma outpatient clinic (Traumaambulanz) Psychotherapy Psychotherapeutic consultation (Sprechstunde) Trauma counselling

In brief

For the emotional consequences of domestic violence there are different, complementary points of contact: for acute need a trauma outpatient clinic (Traumaambulanz; rapid psychological first care, costs covered under SGB XIV if the conditions for entitlement are met, see the separate page on social compensation), for longer-term support a psychotherapeutic consultation (Sprechstunde) as the entry point to guideline psychotherapy through statutory health insurance, and for low-threshold, mostly free advice with no requirement for a diagnosis the local women's advice centres.

Step by step

  1. Acute emotional crisisContact a trauma outpatient clinic, a psychiatric outpatient department or an emergency department; if you have suicidal thoughts, also call the emergency number 112 or the TelefonSeelsorge (0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222, free of charge, around the clock).
  2. Long-term supportArrange a psychotherapeutic consultation via the appointment service office (116117) or directly with a psychotherapist.
  3. Use low-threshold advice in parallelMake use of free advice at a women's advice centre, also while waiting for a therapy place.
  4. Consider SGB XIV benefitsApply for social compensation in parallel if there was an intentional physical attack (see separate page).
  5. Do not forget the childrenFor children who witnessed the violence there are separate, age-appropriate counselling and therapy services.

Deadlines

No statutory deadline
For the psychotherapeutic consultation there is no statutorily fixed maximum waiting time; trauma outpatient clinics are conceived to offer prompt access, but this is a professional standard and not an enforceable deadline.–
Watch out – common mistakes
  • The actual waiting time for a guideline therapy place can be weeks to months depending on the region – advice centres and trauma outpatient clinics bridge this time, but do not replace longer-term therapy where it is needed.
  • Acute suicidal thoughts are an emergency in their own right: contact the emergency number 112 or the TelefonSeelsorge, do not wait.
  • Do not confuse trauma outpatient clinics (psychological acute help) with Gewaltschutzambulanzen (physical, forensic documentation) – both services are useful, but do different things (see securing evidence).
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Psychotherapeutic consultation

Under the Psychotherapy Guideline of the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss; on the basis of § 92 SGB V), the psychotherapeutic consultation is the regular first access to outpatient guideline psychotherapy in statutory health insurance and serves for initial assessment and, if applicable, referral to acute treatment or therapy.

Trauma outpatient clinics under SGB XIV

Trauma outpatient clinics are a core element of the social compensation law (SGB XIV) in force since 1 January 2024 and are meant to give victims of violence prompt access to first professional psychological support, regardless of the outcome of any criminal or compensation proceedings (for details see the separate page on social compensation).

Who is responsible
  • Trauma outpatient clinics
  • Women's advice centres
  • Psychotherapists
  • Appointment service office (116117)
Further reading
Social compensation for victims of violence (SGB XIV)Advice and contact points

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Psychological support and trauma counselling“?
Domestic violence often leaves emotional scars. Trauma outpatient clinics, advice centres and psychotherapy can help – regardless of whether you have filed a complaint.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
No statutory deadline: For the psychotherapeutic consultation there is no statutorily fixed maximum waiting time; trauma outpatient clinics are conceived to offer prompt access, but this is a professional standard and not an enforceable deadline. (–)
What should I do first?
  • Acute emotional crisis: Contact a trauma outpatient clinic, a psychiatric outpatient department or an emergency department; if you have suicidal thoughts, also call the emergency number 112 or the TelefonSeelsorge (0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222, free of charge, around the clock).
  • Long-term support: Arrange a psychotherapeutic consultation via the appointment service office (116117) or directly with a psychotherapist.
  • Use low-threshold advice in parallel: Make use of free advice at a women's advice centre, also while waiting for a therapy place.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • The actual waiting time for a guideline therapy place can be weeks to months depending on the region – advice centres and trauma outpatient clinics bridge this time, but do not replace longer-term therapy where it is needed.
  • Acute suicidal thoughts are an emergency in their own right: contact the emergency number 112 or the TelefonSeelsorge, do not wait.
  • Do not confuse trauma outpatient clinics (psychological acute help) with Gewaltschutzambulanzen (physical, forensic documentation) – both services are useful, but do different things (see securing evidence).
Evidence
  • § 92 SGB V, Psychotherapy Guideline of the G-BA (gesetze-im-internet.de, g-ba.de)
  • SGB XIV, trauma outpatient clinic concept (gesetze-im-internet.de)
As of

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.