Zum Heilpraktiker, zum Psychologischen Psychotherapeuten oder doch lieber zum Facharzt?

In Germany, in addition to licensed psychotherapists it is also possible for alternative practitioners to work in the field of psychotherapy. The sometimes blurred professional titles often lead to confusion and uncertainty among patients regarding the qualifications of the providers.

The study investigated whether patients have a clear preference for qualified psychotherapists over alternative practitioners and whether the designation and academic titles influence their preference.

An online survey was conducted with 2332 participants who had experience with or interest in psychotherapy. Participants were presented with practice nameplates with different professional titles, academic titles and specializations. The preferences were analyzed using conjoint analysis.

A clear preference hierarchy was found: licensed psychotherapists were preferred most, followed by alternative practitioners with a degree in psychology and finally alternative practitioners. Different professional titles for alternative practitioners lead to different preferences and are enhanced by doctoral degrees, masters degrees and certain specializations, although these do not necessarily indicate a psychotherapeutic qualification.

The results show that the skilful choice of a professional title leads to a more positive evaluation of alternative practitioners. This increases the risk of possible confusion between the therapies offered and those of licensed professionals. The solution lies both in a clear regulation of designations and in the establishment of training standards for a low-threshold offer.