[Body psychotherapy at the university--a needs assessment at psychosomatic clinics supports the installment of the first German study major in body psychotherapy].

As part of the accreditation process of a study major in Body Psychotherapy (BPT) at the University of Marburg, a needs analysis at 74 German Psychosomatic Clinics was conducted. Objective of the analysis was to assess the importance of body psychotherapy in psychosomatic clinics and to inquire about a demand for therapists with a University Masters Degree in body psychotherapy. Almost two thirds (61.3%) of the participating 31 chief physicians valued body psychotherapy as "very important" to their treatment program and 77.4% stated a hiring preference for a therapist with a Masters Degree in BPT. These positive results supported the creation of the study major BPT in question, which is open to students since Winter Semester 2010/11.