MARUM Research Academy

Goal:

Healing or alleviating mental illness, emotional stress or profound psychological problems (e.g. depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, personality disorders).

Focus:

• On individual psychological processes (thoughts, feelings, behaviour patterns, unconscious conflicts).
• On the past and causes of problems (e.g. childhood experiences, traumatic events).
• On the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

Approach:

• Scientifically based (e.g. depth psychology, cognitive behavioural therapy, systemic therapy).
• Usually long-term (several months to years).
• Usually prescribed by a doctor (e.g. by a psychiatrist or licensed psychotherapist).

Legal basis:

• Psychotherapists are recognised by health insurance companies and can bill them for their services.
• Only licensed psychotherapists are permitted to offer psychotherapy.

Goal:

Based on what the client wants to achieve or where they perceive a disruption in their system. For example

• Strengthening self-awareness – helping individuals recognize patterns in their thoughts, emotions, and actions.
• Expanding perspectives – identifying and understanding different viewpoints within a system (team, organization, family).
• Facilitating sustainable change – implementing solutions that work long term within the given context.
• Improving conflict resolution skills – dealing with tensions constructively.
• Clarifying personal values and purpose – aligning decisions with what is most meaningful.
• Enhancing resilience – increasing the ability to adapt to setbacks and change.
• Optimizing collaboration – fostering trust and cooperation in teams or relationships.
• Identifying systemic influences – understanding how structures, processes, and relationships impact behavior and outcomes.
• Strengthening leadership abilities – developing skills for guiding others within complex systems.
• Supporting work-life balance – managing energy and priorities more effectively.

Focus:

• On the present and future (e.g. career, relationship with supervisors/colleagues, teamwork, partnership, self-development).
• On systems such as working groups, teams, family – how people interact with each other.
• On solution orientation and the ability to take action.

Approach:

• Systemic: Does not view people in isolation, but in context (e.g. working group, team, family).
• Short to medium term (e.g. 6–12 sessions).
• No diagnosis, no treatment of mental illness.

Legal basis:

• No legal authorisation as with psychotherapy.
• Coaching is not a medical treatment; therefore, it is not billable to health insurance companies.
• Coaches have to qualify independently (e.g. through training in systemic counselling or coaching). The name ‘coach’ is not legally protected in Germany, which means that anyone can theoretically call themselves a coach. It is therefore advisable to look for a person with (a) appropriate certified training, and (b) experience in this field.

see MARUM as a Workplace / (Mental Health)