The gynecologist is confronted with many tasks for which she/he needs psychosocial competence: patient education and health promotion, counselling, and management of psychosocial problems during the various phases of a woman's life cycle, care for patients with chronic diseases. To obtain this competence, a curriculum is needed which comprises elements of psychology, psychosocial medicine, and psychiatry adapted to the specific needs in women's health care. Knowledge and skills derived from communications theory and practice include the semiotic and pragmatic model of communication, physician- and patient-centered communication, counselling for health behavior changes, breaking bad and sad news, coping, and supportive counselling.