Hamburg clinic expands family therapy to include school-age children
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Annika Berger and her husband sought help from Asklepios Clinic in Harburg, Germany, when their son Lars’ intense emotional outbursts began to overwhelm their family.
Lars, six, experienced feelings more strongly than other children, leading to unpredictable and difficult situations. The family initially avoided outings, fearing Lars’ reactions, and eventually entered a three-month stay on the clinic’s parent-child ward. The program at Asklepios focused on treating both the child and the parents, recognizing how each affects the other’s mental health.
Therapists, doctors, and educators worked together to break the cycle of stress within the family. Berger reports the therapy helped Lars develop coping mechanisms and allowed the family to navigate crises more effectively. Asklepios Klinikum Harburg recently opened a new facility, the Hamburg Parents and Children Therapy House, to expand this unique treatment. The new building provides 30 inpatient and 10 day-treatment beds, allowing up to 20 families to receive care at once.
Previously, the clinic’s program only served families with children up to preschool age. Now, for the first time, the clinic can offer inpatient treatment to families with children aged six to ten, filling a gap in regional care. Clinic leaders see the new facility as a milestone in psychiatric care, emphasizing the importance of treating families together and providing comprehensive support.
