Institute for Behavioural Addictions and Addiction Research

• Prevention and awareness-raising on addiction issues
• Organisation of events; conferences, lectures, expert discussions, further training, etc.
• Therapy research; further development of diagnostic and intervention strategies;
• Psychotherapeutic schools and addiction therapy
• National and international research co-operations
• Research and teaching; supervision of research projects, bachelor’s theses, dissertations, doctoral theses; addiction-specific working groups
• Cooperation with addiction-related institutions in the development and promotion of research and treatment options for non-substance-related addictions
• Contact and counselling centre for those affected and their relatives
• Coordination and support of family and self-help groups
• Psychotherapy for those affected
• Information platform on non-substance-related forms of addiction, state of research, national and international experts, support and counselling facilities, event information, etc.

Psychotherapy and science

The Institute for Behavioural Addictions and Addiction Research acts as a coordinating interface between the scientific and therapeutic services on forms of non-substance-based addiction (internet, sex, shopping, gambling, sports, work addiction, etc.) at the Sigmund Freund Private University of Vienna Paris.

Evaluation and research

Intensive exchange with research institutions, scientific co-operation with national and international institutions in order to gain new insights and implement them in therapeutic practice.

Further training and education programmes

Coordination and implementation of further education and awareness-raising events for multipliers from the fields of health, social affairs and education.

Further information & contact: Dr Dominik Batthyány, e-mail

The Institute for Behavioural Addictions and Addiction Research offers:

• Counselling for those affected by behavioural addictions and their relatives, partners or friends
• Therapy for those affected → individual/couple/family or group therapy
• Therapy-led groups for those affected → Motivational groups
• Discussion groups for relatives → Expert-supported groups for those affected or relatives of people suffering from behavioural addiction meet to exchange ideas, gain self-awareness and support each other. The group offers relief and encouragement through dialogue with other sufferers or relatives.
• Experiential educational activities
• Information events → On request, the institute organises lectures and seminars for professionals, schools and interested parties.

Initial counselling | information meeting
As part of a personal initial contact, the current situation is clarified with the affected person and/or relatives, an initial consultation is carried out and necessary further steps are worked out together.

The counselling and treatment concept includes

• Initial and motivational interview
• Psychosocial counselling and support for those affected and their relatives
• Provision of information
• Individual analysis of addictive behaviour
• Survey of the influencing and triggering factors
• Short and long-term consequences of addictive behaviour
• Strengthening the self-esteem and resources of the person affected
• Learning alternative behaviours and problem-solving strategies
• Assessment and treatment of accompanying mental illnesses
• Crisis intervention
• Relapse prevention

Therapy and counselling centres
Therapy and counselling centre for behavioural addiction → media addiction, gambling addiction, shopping addiction, sex addiction, etc.
Therapy and counselling centre for media addiction → Internet, computer games, mobile phones, etc.

Information available soon…

Past events

“Resource activation”
Online lecture with Tina Gruber, on 12 December 2023, 18:30 – approx. 19:30 via ZOOM

“The economy of the internet. Understanding & shaping your own media use.”
Online lecture with Matthias Jax, on 07.12.2023, 19:00 – approx. 20:30 via ZOOM

“Behavioural addictions – special counselling and treatment approaches”
Online lecture with Kristin Schneider on 28 November 2023, 18:30 – approx. 19:45 via ZOOM

“Learning to understand the autopilot – How mindfulness practice can support addiction prevention”
Online lecture with Klaus Kirchmayr on 14 November 2023, 18:30 – approx. 19:45 via ZOOM

“Attention regulation and emotion regulation – How mindfulness practice sharpens perception.”
Online lecture with Klaus Kirchmayr on 13.10.2023, 18:30 – approx. 19:45 via ZOOM

“Digital school and digital competence”
Online lecture with Martin Bauer, MSc on 12 Sept. 2023, 6.30 p.m. to approx. 7.30 p.m.

“Strengthening resilience – utilising boredom”
Online lecture with Prof. Dr. Sabrina Krauss on 24 May 2023, 6.30 pm – approx. 7.30 pm

“Gaming and gender” (online & in presence)
Lecture with Markus Meschik, PhD on 18 April 2023, 7 p.m. to approx. 8.30 p.m.

Events-2014-2022 (PDF, in German)

For press enquiries, please contact Dr Dominik Batthyány at dominik.batthyany@sfu.ac.at

Institute for Behavioural Addictions and Addiction Research

Faculty of Psychotherapy Science
Sigmund Freud Private University
Freudplatz 1, 1020 Vienna

Web: https://sfu.ac.at/verhaltenssucht