Guide from erstmalreden.de

I am waiting for therapy - what now?

Looking for a therapy place is often already a big step. If waiting follows, it can feel frustrating, empty, or frightening.

Young person speaking with a therapist

116117, consultation hour & therapy place

In short

What this page is about
What you can do if you are waiting for therapy and the waiting time is hard to bear.
This may fit if
you have to wait and the time in between is hard to bear.
Looking for something else?
If no first contact has been tried yet, start with preparing the first contact.
If you do just one thing
Note waiting lists and rejections.

Waiting time is not doing nothing

During the search you may use other support: family doctor, counseling center, 116117 (Germany’s medical on-call and appointment service. It is not an emergency number; call 112 in immediate danger.), crisis service, social counseling, self-help, or reliable digital health offers.

Write down rejections and waiting lists

Note which practices you contacted, whether you are on a waiting list, and what they said. This can help later with health insurance, 116117, or further search.

Ask for interim support

Ask directly: What can I do until a therapy place is available? Is there counseling, a group, a consultation hour (A first assessment appointment in a psychotherapeutic practice in Germany. It does not automatically mean a therapy place is available.), medical support, or another place? One sentence is enough.

If things escalate

If you are not sure you can get through the waiting time, this is no longer ordinary waiting. Use urgent help, a doctor, crisis service, or 112 in acute danger.

Updated: July 4, 2026 · Sources checked: July 4, 2026

Sources and notes

What you can do now

If you only wanted information

This guide may fit as a next step: What if I cannot get an appointment?

Open article

If you want to try first contact

Use the sentence helper or copy one short sentence. First contact does not have to be perfect.

Prepare a sentence

If it has become urgent

Then reading more is not the priority. Open urgent help or call 112 in Germany if there is immediate danger.

Open urgent help
  1. Note waiting lists and rejections.
  2. Ask for interim support.
  3. Use urgent help if things escalate.

This page offers orientation and words for first contact. If you need counseling, therapy, or emergency help, real contact points matter.