Freiburg protesters demand urgent funding for psychotherapist training delays

Around 400 people took to the streets of Freiburg on May 7, 2026, to demand better funding for psychotherapist training. The protest was part of a nationwide campaign highlighting delays in state support promised by a 2020 reform. The demonstration began at Platz der Alten Synagoge before moving through Europaplatz and past Bertoldsbrunnen. Organisers warned that without proper funding, the shortage of trained psychotherapists would grow worse. They stressed that longer waiting times for therapy could harm patients in need of care.

The protest was led by the Conference of Psychology Student Associations and the Forum of Psychotherapists in Training. Many trainees now face uncertainty about completing their education, as some training institutions risk closure due to financial strain. The 2020 Psychotherapists Act had promised state-funded training, but these funds have yet to arrive. The event ended in Freiburg’s city centre with a musical performance, marking the close of a peaceful but determined demonstration.

The lack of funding threatens both training programmes and future mental health services. Without intervention, organisers say, the shortage of qualified psychotherapists will continue to affect patients across the country. The protest was one of many planned as part of a month-long national campaign.