Background: There is an increasing demand for intercultural competence of psychotherapists. So far this skill is not an obligatory element of the postgraduate training and further education and training. Objectives: Which approaches to intercultural competence of psychotherapists are currently available and how are they evaluated? Material and methods: The different approaches of the intercultural further education of psychotherapists are introduced, empirically assessed and discussed when possible. Results: The term intercultural competence combines a multitude of approaches. Guidelines have been developed which try to establish a systematic quality control. In addition to training, culturally sensitive supervision as well as accompanying Cultural Consultation Services are also effective tools to increase the intercultural competence of therapists. Testing of the evidence shows good results. Conclusion: The enhancement of intercultural competence of therapists is necessary in order to reduce uncertainties of psychotherapists when facing the “unknown”. It could also enable more treatment capacity to be achieved and better treatment outcomes. Which approach is selected in a specific case should be decided based on personal or institutional resources. © 2017, Springer Medizin Verlag Berlin.

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