Transparency up front is part of treatment as far as I am concerned. This page sets out the process, the fees, and answers to the questions that come up most often.
Step by step
From enquiry to first session
01
Book an appointment
You book a free intake call through It's Complicated. Alternatively, send me an email.
02
Intake call
We briefly clarify what brings you here and whether what I offer fits you. You ask your questions and get a sense of whether you feel comfortable with me and my approach.
03
Paperwork & assessment
Before the first session you receive the treatment contract, the fee agreement and the information and consent form for video treatment. You also receive scientifically grounded questionnaires and a sleep diary, whose results inform treatment planning.
04
History-taking and plan
The first sessions build a picture of your situation and from it a concrete treatment plan with a foreseeable scope.
05
Treatment
Usually weekly, by video. Evening appointments are possible. You receive an invoice after each session.
Process & fees
Transparent fees — clearly structured
I work with a clear, fair fee structure based on the official German fee schedules for psychotherapists (GOP/GOÄ), while staying easy to plan for self-paying clients.
Intake call
15 minutes, by video
A free intake call helps us check whether what I offer fits your situation, and which format makes sense.
Assessment is a core part of every psychotherapeutic treatment: questionnaires, scoring, clinical evaluation and case formulation. Self-pay: €100. Privately insured and civil-service allowance (Beihilfe): €167.58 (GOP 812a: €134.06 + GOP 801a: €33.52).
€100 / €167.58
Individual session
50 minutes, by video
Billing follows the German fee schedule for psychotherapists (GOP). Self-pay: €130 per session. Privately insured and civil-service allowance (Beihilfe): €153 per session (GOP item 870, 3.5× rate, via a written fee agreement).
€130 / €153
Group session
100 minutes, per person, by video
Self-pay: €150 per session. Privately insured and civil-service allowance (Beihilfe): €203 per session (GOP item 872, 3.5× rate).
€150 / €203
Accompanying short session
30 minutes, by video
For brief check-ins between sessions, e.g. to fine-tune sleep restriction. Self-pay: €70. Privately insured and civil-service allowance (Beihilfe): €75.
A structured, scientifically grounded programme based on CBT-I and ACT — well suited to chronic insomnia.
€950instead of €1,330 billed item by item
Included
Free intake call
Initial assessment (€100)
Individual intake (€130)
6 × group sessions (100 minutes each)
1 × short individual session (30 minutes)
Closing session (50 minutes)
Questionnaire scoring
Sleep diary analysis
Relapse prevention & recommendations
Private insurance & Beihilfe — itemised billing
For privately insured clients, billing follows the GOP/GOÄ fee schedules. You automatically receive a detailed itemised breakdown after each session.
Service
Duration
GOP
Amount
Initial assessment
30–45 min
812a + 801a
€167.58
Individual intake
50 min
870
€153
Group session (each)
100 min
872
€203
Accompanying individual session
30 min
870
€75
Closing session
50 min
870
€153
Total
approx. €1,750
Reimbursement depends on your individual policy. I recommend obtaining a cost confirmation before starting, so you know which services are covered. Additional individual sessions beyond the programme are not included (€130 / €153 per 50 minutes, see above).
How progress is measured
At the start, midway and at the end I use standardised questionnaires, so it is verifiable whether something has actually changed — and in what.
ISI
Insomnia Severity Index — the core measure of severity
PSQI
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index — sleep quality
ESS
Epworth Sleepiness Scale — daytime sleepiness
PHQ-9 · GAD-7
Screening for accompanying depressive and anxiety symptoms
DBAS-16
Beliefs and attitudes about sleep
Sleep diary
Daily, for one to two weeks before starting and during sleep restriction
Cost confirmation — what you can clarify beforehand
Many private insurers cover psychotherapeutic services in full or in part. For planning certainty, you can clarify the following points in advance:
Is behavioural therapy reimbursed?
What is the reimbursement share per session?
Are assessment services (812a/801a) covered?
Are group services (GOP 872) covered?
Is there a limit on the number of sessions?
I am happy to provide a short description of services for you to submit to your insurer.
Why self-pay?
Some people deliberately choose self-pay therapy:
no waiting times
nothing reported to a health fund
flexible scheduling
discretion, e.g. ahead of civil-service appointment or insurance applications
clear structure and a predictable scope
The sleep programme is deliberately designed to stay clear, affordable and effective.
Formalities
Cancellations up to 24 hours in advance are free of charge; later cancellations or non-attendance are invoiced.
Healthcare treatment is exempt from VAT under § 4 no. 14 of the German VAT Act.
You receive an invoice after each session and submit it yourself.
As a self-paying client, nothing is reported to any health fund.
Common questions
What else you might want to know
Will my private health insurance cover this?
For privately insured clients and those with civil-service allowance (Beihilfe), the standard rate is €153 per session (GOP item 870, 3.5× rate, via a written fee agreement). How much of that is reimbursed depends on your individual policy. Whether group therapy is reimbursed is additionally policy-dependent and cannot be assumed. Please clarify reimbursement with your insurer in writing before starting; I am happy to provide a short description of services for that purpose.
What if I have statutory health insurance?
Then you are a self-paying client with me — nothing is reported to your health fund. Under narrow conditions, reimbursement under § 13 (3) SGB V may be possible if you can demonstrate that no reasonable therapy place is available. This requires documented rejections and a formal application; funds frequently refuse and an appeal is often necessary. Please do not count on it.
Do you work in English?
Yes. Treatment is available in German and in English. Written materials such as the sleep diary, worksheets and the treatment contract are available in both languages.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Considerably faster than in a practice contracted with the statutory system, where the German Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists reports an average of around 142 days between a first consultation and the start of therapy. Currently available slots are visible directly in the booking calendar.
Is video treatment just as effective?
For cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia and for anxiety disorders, there is good evidence of effectiveness in video format as well. Video psychotherapy is permitted under German professional regulations; I check at the outset whether the setting is suitable in your case, and we agree an approach for crisis situations including local points of contact where you live.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance. For later cancellations or non-attendance, a missed-appointment fee equal to the session fee applies — regardless of the reason, as the slot was reserved for you. The details are set out in the treatment contract.
What technology do I need?
A device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a room where you can speak undisturbed. I use a certified video service with end-to-end encryption and a data processing agreement; you receive an access link before each appointment. No installation is required.
How long does treatment take?
The ACT sleep programme runs over six weeks with a fixed structure. In individual therapy, the scope depends more on the individual case; we set a framework together after the assessment and review it regularly.
Are you bound by confidentiality?
Yes. As a licensed psychotherapist I am bound by statutory confidentiality under § 203 of the German Criminal Code and by the professional regulations of the Bavarian Chamber of Psychotherapists. Without your explicit release I pass on no information — including to relatives or doctors.
Still have questions?
We can cover everything else in the intake call — or just drop me a line.