Psychotherapie-Netzwerk ME/CFS

Bettina Grande presented the role of psychotherapy in ME/CFS and introduced the Psychotherapy Network ME/CFS, which she co-founded. She emphasised that psychotherapy in ME/CFS does not aim to be curative; rather, it must serve as a supportive, protective space in which patients are neither psychologised nor their symptoms trivialised. She described the distressing living conditions faced by many severely ill patients, noting that they frequently lack access to primary or specialised medical care. For many affected individuals, psychotherapists represent their last remaining link to the healthcare system. The Psychotherapy Network ME/CFS—which is accredited by the Chamber of Psychotherapists in Baden-Württemberg—emerged from the need for peer exchange and support. The network adopts a multi-modal approach to psychotherapy, adheres to a clear consensus regarding the role of psychotherapy in ME/CFS, and offers education, case consultations, and professional guidance for practitioners. The network currently comprises around 300 members. The aim is to establish the network as a permanent professional and political structure.