[Sex/Gender in psychotherapy]

Mental health is significantly influenced by social, cultural and gender-specific factors. The article highlights the relevance of sex/gender in the psychotherapeutic practice and shows how stereotypic expectations can distort both diagnosis and treatment. Using substance use disorders and eating disorders as examples, it demonstrates how deeply societal norms influence psychological distress. Concepts such as doing gender, intersectionality and feminist psychotherapy provide valuable perspectives for discrimination-sensitive care. They enable clinicians to reflect on structural inequalities and to recognize individual life realities in a more nuanced way. The article advocates for a stronger integration of sex/gender aspects into training, diagnostics and treatment to make psychotherapeutic approaches more equitable and effective. A concluding session offers practical recommendations for clinicians on how to incoporate sex/gender-sensitive approaches into the clinical routine.