[Development of child guidance clinics in Germany--an overview]

The development of child guidance centres began before 1910 with single institutions characterized by various subject areas (medicine, pedagogy, psychology) as well as by the connection of counselling and therapeutic treatments. Since about 1920 it has become customary to call such institutions child guidance centres. A consistent development lead to the fact that in the Child and Adolescent Aid Law of 1990 child guidance centres are called institutions which are capable of handling different problems with a multi-professional staff and various methods, and offering counselling and treatments as required. People seeking advice shall be able to contact child guidance centres directly of their own free will.