[Psychotherapy accompanying vocational counselling sessions (author's transl)]

The article reports on psychotherapy accompanying counselling sessions for patients undergoing in-patient psychotherapeutic treatment. With respect to the practical implementation of vocational counselling sessions, the experiences gained within this framework are summarised in three principles: (1) Psychotherapy accompanying vocational counselling sessions are contraindicated if they relate to a partial aspects of problems which so far have not been therapeutically treated. (2) The sessions should take place at the final stage of treatment. (3) The recommendation for a job change should only be given if two conditions are (simultaneously) met: a) the patient can no longer cope with his job and is dissatisfied with it. b) There must be (at least) one alternative job for which the prospects are more favourable. The communicative situation (counsellor, therapist, social worker, employment office, and financially responsible agencies) is discussed as well as the specific behavioural patterns of the patient (acting out, indolence, tremendous demands, wish to have an adjunct therapy, need to safeguard himself.