Psychotherapy in Munich: how to find a therapy place

How long is the wait for therapy in Munich?

Munich does comparatively well within Bavaria. The Bavarian association of statutory health insurance physicians (KVB) analysed how many days pass between the first appointment in the psychotherapeutic consultation (psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde) and the start of the actual therapy: for therapies that began in 2021, the median was 82 days in Munich and 97 days across Bavaria². The wait has grown across Bavaria since then, to 108 days in 2025. The KVB calls this “a clear warning sign”³. It has not published a more recent figure for Munich alone.

When the KVB and the health insurers named the regions with the greatest shortfall in 2025, Munich was not on the list. Most of the areas named were rural, such as Kitzingen, Tirschenreuth or Freyung-Grafenau⁷. That does not mean things move fast in Munich: several months between consultation and the start of therapy are normal here too. A median also means that half of all people waited longer. For comparison: in the nationwide 2018 waiting-time study of the German Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists, Bavaria stood at 5.0 weeks until the consultation and 19.0 weeks until therapy began¹.

Three routes you can take in Munich at the same time

You do not need a referral to get started⁴. If you want to make progress faster in Munich, do not wait for a single call back. Use three routes in parallel.

1. Consultation: directly with practices or via 116117Every course of psychotherapy starts with the psychotherapeutic consultation⁵. Via 116117 or the eTerminservice you get an appointment within four weeks⁴. If you would rather call yourself: the expert search at arztsuche.116117.de shows the practices’ direct phone numbers. Every practice that bills statutory insurance must be reachable by phone for at least 200 minutes a week, half-time practices for 100 minutes⁶.
2. The KVB coordination office for psychotherapyThis exists only in Bavaria: on 0921 880 99 40410, the coordination office (Koordinationsstelle Psychotherapie) gives you addresses of practices that have reported free therapy places. It searches near where you live and, if you wish, takes into account the method, special focus areas and whether you would prefer a female or male therapist⁶. The area code belongs to Bayreuth, where the office is based, but it arranges places across Bavaria, including Munich.
3. University and training clinicsMunich has an unusually large number of outpatient clinics at universities and training institutes. Licensed or advanced therapists treat patients there under supervision, and the costs are usually covered by statutory health insurance¹². A selection is listed below. The database wobehandeln.de, run by the Munich association vfkv, lists more than 800 addresses in and around Munich¹².

If the PTV 11 form from the consultation states that treatment is needed promptly, it includes a referral code. With it, 116117 arranges acute treatment or probatory sessions, acute treatment within two weeks⁵⁴. The service cannot book a specific practice of your choice⁵.

Training clinics: how to ask

In training clinics, psychotherapists in further training gain experience, supported by experienced supervisors. For you this means the same insurance benefit, often a little more time for assessment, and a waiting list of its own that is separate from the practices’ lists¹².

1. Call several clinics in the same weekEach clinic keeps its own list. Asking three or four at once doubles your chances without doubling the wait.
2. Look at the methodThe clinics belong to institutes with different orientations: the VFKV clinic, for example, is linked to an association for behavioural therapy, while the Akademie für Psychoanalyse and the Alfred Adler Institut work psychoanalytically and psychodynamically. Ask which method is offered when you first call, and say so if you already know what suits you.
3. Check the age rangeSome clinics treat adults only, others also children and adolescents. The MUNIK clinic at LMU takes children and young adults up to 21¹².
4. Do not skip the consultationEven in a clinic, everything starts with the consultation. You can book a consultation via 116117 at the same time without risking your place on a clinic’s waiting list.

No place covered by insurance? Reimbursement in brief

If you cannot find a place with a practice that bills statutory insurance despite a thorough search, your insurer can pay for treatment in a private practice (§ 13(3) SGB V). You need confirmation from the consultation that therapy is necessary and urgent, a list of refusals from at least three to five practices that bill statutory insurance, and a private practice qualified in an approved method that can start soon⁹. Apply before treatment begins. Insurers decide case by case.

For young people and students in Munich

Munich has several services aimed specifically at young people:

• FAQ Psychotherapie at the youth information centre (Sendlinger Straße 7): on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 4–6 pm, psychotherapists from Munich counselling centres answer your questions. No registration, free, confidential, up to age 26¹².
• The city’s counselling centre for the mental health of children and adolescents: for under-18s, parents and professionals, with phone advice and referrals¹².
• Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern: psychotherapeutic and psychosocial counselling for students; register by phone on 089 38196-1202, Monday to Friday, 9 am–12 pm¹²¹⁴.

Therapy in English and other languages

The Krisendienst Psychiatrie crisis line offers phone counselling in more than 120 languages and in German Sign Language¹⁰. For ongoing therapy in another language, there is no central, official list for Munich. Ask the KVB coordination office and practices directly. In the search of the Bavarian Chamber of Psychotherapists you can add further requirements, such as the method or billing with statutory insurance⁸.

Where to turn in Munich

Outpatient clinics, counselling centres and services we compiled from publicly available sources and checked. Opening hours can change, so it is best to call ahead. Most services work in German.

Making good use of the waiting time

It often takes months for a therapy place to become free. You can already do something for yourself in that time: understand what keeps happening in your conflicts and try out small first steps. That is what we built MindMotion for.

Frequently asked questions