Psychotherapie – zwischen Gesetz und Unmöglichkeit

Psychotherapy is a discipline that treats people with psychological problems, using the methods available to it. The Psychotherapy Act that entered into force in Austria back in 1991 has now been providing a legislative framework for this profession for almost three decades. For some time, there has been discussion about taking a fresh look at this legislation. Any such change to the form of this legislation should primarily address an improvement to the academic status of psychotherapy such as that being practiced in Austria for some years at a few (private) universities as well as that initiated in other European countries such as Germany since 2019. Every era demands change to reflect its own dynamic course of events. Change serves as a creative deconstruction of existing structures while at the same time creating a space for new things to occupy. As well as all the considerations relating to vocational policy, an ethical dimension needs to be considered in relation to education and in clinical practice. This article addresses precisely that point and briefly maps out the status quo of psychotherapy legislation and the changes being debated in relation to a possible redrafting of that legislation. Over and above that, this article discusses the potential opportunities and difficulties of creating a fully comprehensive academic status for this field.