Despite the availability of a well-developed healthcare system in Germany, people with migration and refugee histories continue to face substantial barriers to accessing outpatient psychotherapeutic care. Key barriers include stigma, structural and language barriers, insufficient networking between services, lack of provider knowledge, and experiences of discrimination and racism. Addressing these challenges requires innovative approaches, such as peer support, as well as greater emphasis on anti-racist and discrimination-sensitive training in psychotherapeutic education and practice.

This project investigates the key barriers that individuals with a history of migration face when accessing mental health care, with a particular focus on experiences of racism and discrimination. Using qualitative interviews, the study explores how these experiences shape access to and engagement with mental health services. The long-term aim is to develop evidence-based recommendations and training resources to improve the education and training of psychotherapists.