Which counseling center fits my problem?

116117, consultation hour & therapy place

In short

What this page is about

Understand different counseling services in Germany: psychosocial counseling, SpDi, addiction, family, migration, debt, queer, and violence counseling.

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you do not know which counseling service fits which problem.

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If it is about medical help or appointments, family doctor or 116117 may fit better.

If you do just one thing

Name the main concern in one sentence.

Psychosocial counseling and SpDi

Psychosocial counseling may help with overwhelm, crises, loneliness, family problems, or social strain. In many towns and districts, the Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst (A local German social psychiatric service that can help sort mental strain, crisis support, and further local help.) (SpDi) can also be a contact point, especially when mental strain, daily life, housing, contacts, or further support need to be sorted together.

Addiction counseling

Addiction counseling covers alcohol, drugs, medication, gambling, media, or other dependencies. You do not need to be sure whether it is “addiction”. It is enough if control, health, money, relationships, school, or work are affected.

Family and parenting counseling

Family and parenting counseling supports parents, children, young people, and families with conflict, strain, separation, school, or parenting. This is its own counseling area and is not automatically linked to addiction or migration.

Migration counseling and social counseling

Migration counseling or social counseling may help when language, official letters, residence status, money, housing, applications, or the help system add extra strain. For refugees, psychosocial centers and BAfF directories may also help.

Debt counseling

If debts, reminders, rent, electricity bills, collection letters, or money fear increase the pressure, debt counseling can be an important first step. Search terms can be: “debt counseling + city” or “social counseling + city”.

Counseling on sexual orientation and gender identity

If coming out, sexual orientation, gender identity, discrimination, or family pressure are stressful, queer counseling services may fit. Search terms can be: “queer counseling + city”, “LGBTIQ counseling + city”, or “trans counseling + city”.

Counseling for violence or control

Specialist services advise on violence, threats, stalking, or control and can help plan safety. Call 112 in immediate danger. Use a safe device if someone monitors your internet use.

Is counseling free or anonymous?

Many publicly or charitably funded services are free or low-cost. Anonymity, appointments, waiting times, and funding differ. Ask the specific service.

What can I ask during first contact?

You can say: “I am not sure whether I am in the right place. Can you tell me whether you handle my concern?” Also ask about costs, appointments, language, accessibility, anonymity, and documents.

Search terms if you cannot find an address

A local address database can become outdated quickly. Search combinations of topic and place often help, for example “Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst + city”, “psychosocial counseling + city”, “addiction counseling + city”, “family counseling + city”, “migration counseling + city”, “debt counseling + city”, or “queer counseling + city”.

Sources and notes

• Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung: Beratungsstellensuche
• DigiSucht: Digitale Suchtberatung
• gesund.bund.de: German national health portal
• Gesundheitsinformation.de / IQWiG: mental health problems – where to get help
• psychNAVi Rhineland-Palatinate: find regional support services

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