MA Interdisciplinary Psychosis Therapy

Multiprofessional Work for People with Psychoses

For people with psychoses and complex mental disorders, systematic cooperation between different professions and disciplines is essential. The development of treatment structures increasingly requires training programmes that enable and strengthen more effective multi-professional cooperation.

This Master's programme with its extra-occupational design is specifically geared toward educating professionals who work with people with psychoses; it is tailored to their needs and spans several sectors. The approaches taught within the curriculum can also be applied to people with other mental disorders. The programme is carried out at the IPU in cooperation with the Charité University Hospital Berlin, the Teaching Hospital in Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and the Catholic University of Social Sciences Berlin (KHSB).

Course of Studies

The Master's programme provides scientifically sound and practice-oriented answers to the specific challenges that come with the complex field of treating patients with psychosis. Many of the contents conveyed have been taken up by the Federal Cabinet in a draft for new legislation concerning the care for people with mental health issues (PsychVVG). The study programme is accredited by the ACQUIN® accreditation agency.

What (and how) can you learn?
As a student, you will have the opportunity to deepen your professional knowledge and skills, to expand on them in interdisciplinary discourse and to apply cross-professional knowledge. The semester structure enables you to experience working in a multi-professional team as an example. The focus of the course is on people with psychoses and their social environment. The curriculum integrates and combines different methods and psychotherapeutic approaches. It deepens and links the specific occupational profiles. The combination of theory and practice, self-reflection during the course and case presentations makes it possible to integrate questions from everyday working life into the course, to look at them from different perspectives and to put the ideas gained in class back into practice.

As a collaboration between four renowned universities, the course of studies enables the integration of a wide variety of professions in a unique way, all of which are needed in the work with psychotically ill people. Pharmacological, psychotherapeutic or social-psychiatric competences are included as well as social work, nursing and somatotherapeutic competences. Legal innovations with their effects on the different occupational groups and fields of work are included in teaching and dealt with discursively, always keeping in mind multiple perspectives.

Legal innovations and innovative occupational fields are taken into account, as are current model projects, for example on treatment adapted to the needs and challenges posed by aspects of migration.

Key Data

Contact

Arrange personal application consultation
For questions about the application
Prof. Dr. med. Dorothea von Haebler
Stromstr. 3b - Room 1.48
Tel.: +49 30 300 117-751

For questions about the organisation of the studies
Kathrin Lüning-Brunken
Stromstr. 3b - Room 0.41
Tel.: +49 30 300 117-546

Examination Office M.A. Interdisciplinary Psychosis Therapy
questions about studies, course of studies
lecturer support
prospective student consultation

Office Hours:
In-person
Tue. 11:30 – 12:30
Telephone
Fr. 11:00 – 12:30

Head	Prof. Dr. med. Dorothea von Haebler
Degree	120 credit points, MA
Type	Extra-occupational
Other forms of participation	We offer the option to attend select courses separately.
Credits	120 credit points
Duration	6 (8) semesters
Attendees	max. 20 students each year
Presence	each term will have 4 x 1 ½ days (Friday afternoon/Saturday) + 1 block week
Teaching formats	Lectures, seminars, case work, supervised reflection, e-learning
Teaching language	German
Prerequisites	at least one year of specific experience, a first academic degree or as an alternative the academic degree may be replaced by passing a qualification exam provided by the IPU
Cost	€ 350 monthly, € 2,000 per semester, or € 11,100 in advance
Start of Studies	summer term of each year

in cooperation with

Information

What is the structure of the programme?

The standard period of study is 8 semesters. By proving specific previous knowledge and professional experience, 2 semesters can usually be credited, so that the course can be successfully completed in 6 semesters. The course begins in the summer semester.

Recognition of Professional Experience and Prior Knowledge
The Berlin Higher Education Act expressly stipulates that in the case of continuing education programmes, proven previous professional experience can be credited towards the period of study. The professional experience and prior knowledge required for admission must cover the contents of the basic curriculum, so that the first two semesters can be recognised either by proof (previous studies and professional experience) or by an oral examination at the IPU. Students are then enrolled in the 3rd semester, and prior experience is credited as 30 ECTS. Therefore, the programme is commonly comprised of six semesters, and the remaining 90 ECTS will be acquired in the third through eighth semesters. The Master of Arts degree is awarded in the last two semesters, during which the Master's thesis is written, accompanied by individual courses and colloquia. The IPU supports the students in this process and offers them the opportunity to write their thesis within the framework of ongoing research projects. The degree qualifies the students for management tasks in therapeutic and psychosocial institutions. Further details on the course of studies can be found in the exemplary study plan.

Study Contents
Scientific aspects, multiprofessional and societal perspectives, treatment models, research, leadership, intensive case work and self-reflection

Questions that will be answered in this course:

What are the essential aspects that we see in working with people with psychoses?
How can I manage situations in my profession, which seem to be hopeless?
How do I structure exchanges with colleagues from different professions?
How can I make use of advanced training in the field of social psychiatry?
How can I further develop my therapeutic and professional identity?
How can I contribute relevant research?
Which leadership tools make sense for me?

Who can apply?

Every year in April, we welcome our new students of the Master’s programme in Interdisciplinary Psychotherapy. Additionally, we invite you to learn more about the program through one-on-one exchange at any time. Please contact programme head Prof. Dr. Dorothea von Haebler by e-mail at dorothea.vonhaebler(at)ipu-berlin.de to arrange a meeting.

The course of studies is addressed at all occupational groups who work in health and social services with and for people with psychoses, in particular:

Doctors and physicians
Peer care professionals
Psychiatric Nurses
Psychologists
Social workers
Social pedagogues
Etc.

A prerequisite for admission is a professional qualification from a university and at least one year of practical and specific experience in the therapy, counselling or treatment of patients or clients with psychosis or complex mental illness lasting several hours per week.

A university degree can be replaced if special professional qualifications have been acquired through at least five years of specific professional activity in the therapy, counselling or treatment of patients or clients with psychoses after acquiring the higher education entrance qualification according to § 11 BerlHG and the ability to study at Master's level has been established by an aptitude test. This is intended above all to enable professionals with many years of professional experience in nursing and peer care to gain access to the Master's programme in psychosis therapy.

Tuition

The tuition for a 6-semester course are € 11,100, € 2,000 per semester or € 350 per month.

Financial Support

The IPU participates in the Deutschlandstipendium programme, a scholarship programme funded by the German government and open to applications from all students. The most important criteria for receiving this scholarship of € 300 per month are previous performance, social commitment and a possible financial need.

Since 2019, the IPU has been a member of the Studentische Darlehenskasse Berlin e.V. (DAKA). This means, that as an IPU student you get a loan with some of the best conditions in Berlin.

IPU Berlin is pleased to announce its latest partnership with Brain Capital. The agreement enables students to conclude reverse generation contracts to finance their studies. Find out more on the IPU and Brain Capital website.

You can find current financing options here.