Psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy have existed as a separate specialist area since 2003. Acute clinics with this focus that are not part of a psychiatric facility only gradually established themselves in the period that followed. So far, there are hardly any detailed descriptions of the specific procedure and the resulting processes in such a clinic. Wolfgang Hagemann provides a remedy here. He introduces the concept of "encounter medicine" that has been used successfully for twenty years in the psychosomatic clinic he founded. The therapeutic community is the focus of the integrative treatment concept: the development of encounters with all people within the community that increase self-esteem and promote autonomy. Encounters with patients are conducted in such a way that relationships become emotionally sustaining again, that intimate dialogue succeeds again in the primarily meaningful inner-family and close friendship relationships, primary needs are satisfied and individual zest for life increases. A systemic attitude in the clinic management as well as a systemic understanding of illness are essential for this. Numerous case studies illustrate the concept presented.
