The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Day Clinic (DTK) is a semi-inpatient unit within the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. It provides eight treatment places.

The DTK cares for children aged 4 to 10 years with a range of mental health conditions, including:

• Self-harming and aggressive behaviour
• Hyperactive behaviour (ADHD)
• Attachment disorders
• Trauma-related disorders
• Autism
• Developmental delays and disorders
• Separation difficulties and anxiety
• Selective mutism
• Enuresis (bedwetting) and encopresis (soiling)
• Mood disorders
• Psychologically related difficulties at school

The DTK provides a interdisciplinary, therapeutic community-based approach. The treatment team consists of therapists, nursing staff/social  pedagogy and the school team who supports and accompanies children throughout their treatment. Our approach is tailored to the individual strengths, challenges and needs of each child and their family. A shared understanding of the referral and jointly agreed treatment goals form the foundation of the therapeutic process. Treatment is delivered in three stages: Assessment and diagnosis, therapy and discharge planning.

This phase includes:

• Building a trusting relationship to better understand each child's strengths, resources and challenges
• Reviewing the child's developmental, medical and family history
• Identifying factors that may affect healthy development
• Clinical observation in a range of settings, including individual and group sessions
• Psychological and social educational assessments
• Medical examinations and assessments
• Assessment of family interactions

Therapeutic support includes:

• Individual therapy
• Parent consultations with therapeutic and pedagogical staff
• Individual and small-group social educational support
• A structured therapeutic daily environment (milieu therapy)
• Parent–child interaction support, including video intervention therapy
• Interdisciplinary home treatment
• Medication, where clinically appropriate
• Co-Therapy
• Parent–child morning sessions and parent groups
• An in-house educational programme to assess and support learning needs

Discharge planning focuses on preparing children and their families for life after day treatment, helping them return to everyday life with greater confidence and stability. This includes:

• Strengthening or clarifying the relationship between the child and their family
• Supporting the child's social reintegration
• Arranging outpatient therapy or family support where needed
• Clarifying and, where possible, organising the child's educational provision
• If an external placement is part of the treatment plan, ensuring that the child and parents are familiar with the relevant structures and key support persons

Flyer about our services can be read in German here
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