English
Life Coaching (Lebens- und Sozialberatung)
GewO §94 Z.41 Verified: April 2026
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade
- Qualification: Diploma course (min. 5 semesters, ~750 hours) OR exam
- Cost: Free registration, exam fees covered
- Online consulting: Yes, possible via video call
- ⚠️ NOT psychotherapy! LSB is a trade, not a health profession
Critical: LSB is NOT Psychotherapy
- LSB (§94 Z.41 GewO) = regulated trade. May counsel, NOT treat.
- Psychotherapy = health profession (Psychotherapiegesetz). May diagnose and treat.
- If you suspect a client has a mental health condition, you MUST refer to a psychologist/psychiatrist/psychotherapist.
What You Can Do as LSB
- Life counseling and personal development
- Relationship counseling
- Career counseling and work-life balance
- Stress management and burnout prevention
- Nutritional counseling (non-medical)
What You CANNOT Do
- Diagnose mental health conditions
- Treat psychological disorders
- Prescribe or recommend medication
- Call yourself a psychotherapist or psychologist
Translation Status: UNOFFICIAL
Legally binding: German text of GewO 1994.