Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg

What Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg does

Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg (meihei) is a private, founder-led professional continuing-education institute headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, founded in 1986 by Dr. Gunther Schmidt and Bernhard Trenkle. It delivers structured curricula and seminars in the "hypnosystemic" methodology — a proprietary integrative approach that combines Milton Erickson's hypnotherapy concepts with the systemic-constructivist models of the Heidelberg School and complementary modalities (Psychodrama, NLP, EMDR, body therapy, Brainspotting). Its core offerings are three multi-block curricula: KliHyp (Clinical Hypnosis, 8 blocks, MEG-certified and recognized by the Wissenschaftlicher Beirat für Psychotherapie since 2006), MedHyp (Medical Hypnosis, 9 blocks across 3 stages), and Orga (10 blocks, DBVC- and IOBC-certified hypnosystemic coaching and organizational development). These are supplemented by topic seminars in psychosocial and organizational/team/coaching themes, open supervision groups (per-session or per-2-day block pricing), a video-based online course (Lifelessons, 75 lessons, 42 CME credits), and recurring events including the MEG Jahrestagung, the MedHyp Kongress, the Metaforum Sommercamp, and a Hypnosystemischer Online-Tag.

The business sells directly to individual licensed professionals — psychotherapists, physicians, medical doctors, coaches, organizational consultants, and HR/team leaders — across the DACH region via a small core staff of 3-4 (Ursula Härle, Alexandra Landvogt, Angela Nassal) plus rotating interns. Curriculum and supervision pricing ranges from €360 per MedHyp block up to €10,800 (or €11,760 including two supervision units) for the full Orga program; multi-block curricula are billed on a staged-invoice basis across multi-year commitments, with M.E.G. member discounts of €40 per block available after the first module. Delivery formats are in-person at the institute's 340 sqm Heidelberg premises, simultaneously online via Zoom with breakout rooms, or fully online. Marketing is community-driven: a website, double opt-in newsletter, YouTube/Facebook/LinkedIn, Carl-Auer-Systeme-Verlag book publishing, podcast appearances ('Selten so gedacht,' 'Hotel Matze'), and direct participation in MEG/DBVC/DGSF/SG associations — with no evidence of paid advertising.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The institute operates without external funding or parent company; its principal intellectual asset, Dr. Gunther Schmidt, also serves as Medical Director of the separately incorporated sysTelios private clinic he co-founded in 2007 in Siedelsbrunn. Certification pathways (MEG clinical/medical hypnosis, DBVC/IOBC hypnosystemic coaching) anchor customer lock-in, and KliHyp has reportedly been sold out for many years with a formal waiting list, while Orga cohort numbering has reached 67-71 across simultaneously running cohorts — together the most concrete evidence of demand stability and limited but real growth.

Name

Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg

Legal name

Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg

Website

https://meihei.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg is a private German professional education institute offering certified multi-year training in hypnosystemic clinical hypnosis, medical hypnosis, and organizational coaching for licensed psychotherapists, physicians, and coaches across German-speaking countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Hypnotherapy and Hypnosystemic Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ), Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Hypnotherapy certification training
• Hypnosystemic coaching curricula
• Continuing medical education
• Clinical psychotherapy supervision
• Organizational consulting training

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Continuing Education Course Fees: The institute's primary revenue stream consists of course fees for its structured curricula (KliHyp, MedHyp, Orga) and individual topic seminars. Fees are charged per block or module. Supervision sessions are also charged per event. For curricula, payment is split: first block upon contract issuance; subsequent blocks invoiced 3–4 weeks before each session.
2. Seminar and Supervision Fees: Individual 2–5 day seminars and open supervision groups are priced per event. Supervision sessions (8 hours, 16 hours) are charged at fixed rates. M.E.G. member discounts (€40 per block) are available after completing the first module.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg delivers accredited continuing-education curricula in hypnosystemic methodology (KliHyp, MedHyp, Orga) for licensed psychotherapists, medical doctors, coaches, and organizational consultants. Offerings are delivered as multi-year hybrid curricula, short topic seminars, supervision, and an asynchronous online learning platform (Lifelessons), primarily targeting professionals in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Product overview

The Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg operates as a professional training and education institute offering a unified portfolio of hypnosystemic and hypnotherapy programs. The core offerings include three main curricula: KliHyp (Clinical Hypnosis, 8 blocks, M.E.G.-certified), MedHyp (Medical Hypnosis, 3 levels with 3 blocks each), and Orga (Organizational Development, 10 blocks, DBVC/IOBC-certified). These are complemented by topic-specific seminars in OE/TE/Coaching and psychosocial fields, open supervision groups for both therapy and organizational areas, and specialized products like the Lifelessons video platform with CME credits. Additional offerings include a podcast series ('Selten so gedacht'), access to the affiliated sysTelios private clinic for inpatient care, and annual events such as the MedHyp Congress and Metaforum Summercamp. The institute also provides hybrid seminar formats using Zoom video conferencing for flexible participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KliHyp Curriculum (Clinical Hypnotherapy)

Quantifiable outcome

• Ongoing clinical outcome research conducted at sysTelios Klinik since 2007, demonstrating that even individuals with longstanding suffering patterns achieve significant positive changes through hypnosystemic treatment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• sysTelios Privatklinik SiedelsbrunncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Founded in 2007 by Dr. Gunther Schmidt together with a colleague in Siedelsbrunn, the sysTelios private clinic serves as the clinical application site for hypnosystemic approaches. Schmidt serves as Ärztlicher Direktor (Medical Director). The clinic works with deep psychological foundations and hypnotherapeutically optimized short-term psychotherapy, operating as a unique self-organizing hospital with intensive staff participation in all decisions.
• Milton Erickson Gesellschaft (MEG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986MEI Heidelberg is a founding Regionalstelle of the Milton Erickson Gesellschaft (MEG), established in 1986. The partnership provides the institutional framework for KliHyp (Clinical Hypnosis) and MedHyp (Medical Hypnosis) curricula, with MEG awarding official certificates. MEG also provides therapist/supervisor listings and a community network. Gunther Schmidt served as 2nd Chairman of MEG from 1984–2004.
• Deutscher Bundesverband Coaching (DBVC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEI Heidelberg's Orga Curriculum is officially recognized by the DBVC (German Federal Association for Coaching). Graduates receive the 'Hypnosystemischer Coach MEIHei' certificate bearing the DBVC recognition mark. The DBVC also provides external recognition and credibility for coaching professionals trained at MEI Heidelberg.
• Carl-Auer-Systeme-VerlagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Gunther Schmidt along with other IGST founders, the Carl-Auer-Systeme-Verlag is the primary publishing house for books on hypnosystemic therapy, systemic therapy, and coaching in German. MEI Heidelberg publishes Schmidt's books and the institute's educational materials through this publisher.
• Helm Stierlin Institut für systemische Therapie, Beratung und Forschung (hsi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGunther Schmidt was a founding member of IGST (previously associated with Helm Stierlin's group). In 2002, Schmidt co-founded the Helm Stierlin Institut (hsi) after leaving IGST with most other founders. The hsi provides complementary systemic therapy training that aligns with MEI Heidelberg's hypnosystemic philosophy.
• Metaforum SommercampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetaforum is a summer camp format (3 weeks in Venetien, Italy) co-organized by Julia Andersch, Oliver Martin, and Gunther Schmidt. It offers cross-disciplinary learning in coaching, therapy, business, health, and spirituality. MEI Heidelberg leverages this for extended training and community building with international experts including Stephen Gilligan, Insa Sparrer, and Matthias Varga von Kibéd.
• IOBC (International Organisation for Business Coaching)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Orga Curriculum is IOBC certified (Certificate No. EDPRO-0119-2020-328). IOBC provides international recognition for the coaching certification, complementing DBVC's German-language certification.
• Systemische Gesellschaft (SG) / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Systemische Therapie, Beratung und Familientherapie (DGSF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGunther Schmidt holds credentials as a teaching therapist, supervisor, and coach with both the SG and DGSF. These professional associations provide additional credentialing and professional community integration for MEI Heidelberg graduates.
• Lifelessons GmbH, BerlinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLifelessons (co-founded by Joana Kluth and Ardilan Aram) is an independent Berlin-based company that produces structured video-based educational content featuring Gunther Schmidt. MEI Heidelberg distributes its advanced training content through this platform. The course comprises 75 lessons (32 hours), accredited for 42 CME points.
• Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Phoenix, ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe global representative of Milton Erickson's legacy, based in Phoenix. Bernhard Trenkle (MEI Rottweil) serves on its Directorium. MEI Heidelberg participates in the international hypnotherapy community anchored by this foundation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Helm Stierlin Institut für systemische Therapie, Beratung und Forschung (hsi): Founded in 2002 by Dr. Gunther Schmidt and other former IGST members, hsi provides systemic therapy training that closely aligns with MEI Heidelberg's hypnosystemic philosophy. It is a direct peer in German-language continuing education for psychotherapists and consultants.
• Milton Erickson Institut Rottweil (MEG Regionalstelle Rottweil): Founded by Bernhard Trenkle after he departed MEI Heidelberg in 1986, MEG Rottweil is a sibling MEG Regionalstelle offering Ericksonian hypnotherapy training with overlapping curricula (KliHyp, KomHyp, MedHyp). It is the most directly comparable competitor, sharing founder lineage and certification framework.
• IGST (Internationale Gesellschaft für Systemische Therapie): Heidelberg-based systemic therapy training institute where Dr. Schmidt was previously a teaching therapist. IGST offers structured systemic therapy curricula targeting overlapping psychotherapist and organizational consultant audiences in Germany.

Others

• Deutscher Bundesverband Coaching (DBVC): The German Federal Coaching Association provides official recognition for MEI Heidelberg's Orga Curriculum and 'Hypnosystemischer Coach MEIHei' certification. DBVC is simultaneously the institute's primary credibility signal in the coaching market and the umbrella under which competing certified coach-training institutes operate.
• Metaforum: Annual summer camp in Venet, Italy co-organized by Dr. Schmidt, offering cross-disciplinary training in coaching, therapy, and organizational development alongside international faculty (e.g., Stephen Gilligan, Insa Sparrer). Metaforum is both a co-marketing partner and a competing premium training event in the same practitioner audience.
• Carl-Auer-Systeme Verlag: Heidelberg-based academic publisher co-founded by Dr. Schmidt, and the primary publisher of hypnosystemic and systemic therapy books. It is both a strategic publishing partner for MEI Heidelberg's intellectual property and a broader content channel that shapes the methodology's dissemination.
• Systemische Gesellschaft (SG): German professional association for systemic practice. Schmidt holds credentials with SG, and SG-accredited institutes offer adjacent training; SG functions as both a credentialing channel for MEI Heidelberg graduates and a competing ecosystem.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Systemische Therapie, Beratung und Familientherapie (DGSF): National professional association for systemic therapy in Germany. MEI Heidelberg graduates use DGSF for credentialing, and DGSF-affiliated institutes offer competing continuing education — making it both an ecosystem partner and an indirect competitor for the same practitioner audience.
• Lifelessons GmbH: Berlin-based online CME platform that distributes MEI Heidelberg's digital Lifelessons course (75 lessons, 42 CME credits). Lifelessons is a channel partner for the institute's digital expansion and operates as a comparable CME/CE marketplace for German healthcare professionals.

Regional players

• Milton H. Erickson Foundation: Phoenix, Arizona-based international steward of Milton Erickson's legacy, where Dr. Schmidt originally trained. While operating in the English-speaking market with broader scope (congresses, publications, training), it anchors the global community that MEI Heidelberg's German-speaking programs plug into.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/meihei
• Facebookfacebook.com/meihei

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Milton-Erickson-Institut Heidelberg