🧭 Wegweiser Crisis of meaning

When your previous goals, values or way of life come into question: recognise the signs, find people to talk to and know when professional help makes sense – from the TelefonSeelsorge (telephone counselling service) to having psychotherapy paid for.

These pages explicitly distinguish between a crisis of meaning (a non-clinical, existential phase) and depression as an illness requiring treatment, for which this portal has its own topic area. Where there is no statutory deadline, this is stated explicitly instead of inventing one. Where information is uncertain (e.g. the lack of reliable studies on the "midlife crisis"), this is stated openly on the relevant page and in the Sources and methodology. As of September 2026.

Frequently searched

🚦 When professional help is needed 📞 TelefonSeelsorge and church pastoral care 🩺 Psychotherapy for a crisis of meaning: cost coverage 🏢 Psychosocial advice centres 🌤️ Sabbatical and time out from your job 📚 Educational leave for orientation ⏳ Crisis of meaning in midlife 🔎 Advice and contact points for a crisis of meaning

All topic areas

🧭Understanding and placing a crisis of meaningWhat a crisis of meaning is, how it differs from depression and in which phases of life it often occurs.3 topics 🚦Judging what help you needHow to tell whether self-help is enough or professional support is needed – and how having psychotherapy paid for works.2 topics 📞Talking and pastoral careFree, low-threshold places to talk: TelefonSeelsorge, psychosocial advice centres and self-help groups.3 topics 💼Reorienting your careerCareer reorientation, retraining, sabbaticals and educational leave (Bildungsurlaub) as ways to give yourself time and space for change.3 topics 🕯️Retreat, silence and the search for meaningMonastery stays, faith, worldview and philosophical life counselling as options outside the healthcare system.3 topics 🔎Finding adviceOverview and decision aid: which service suits which situation.1 topic

🧭 Understanding and placing a crisis of meaning

What a crisis of meaning is, how it differs from depression and in which phases of life it often occurs.

🧭Recognising a crisis of meaning: an overviewHow a crisis of meaning differs from passing doubts – and where the line to depression requiring treatment lies. ⏳Crisis of meaning in midlifeLooking back, reassessing and the question "Is this still my life?" – often between the mid-40s and mid-50s, but on no fixed timetable. 🔄Crisis of meaning after an upheaval in lifeJob loss, separation, children leaving home, retirement or a serious diagnosis can trigger questions of meaning – with no fixed timetable for processing them.

🚦 Judging what help you need

How to tell whether self-help is enough or professional support is needed – and how having psychotherapy paid for works.

🚦When professional help is neededSigns that self-help and conversations alone are no longer enough – and what to do in an acute emergency. 🩺Psychotherapy for a crisis of meaning: cost coverageStatutory health insurance pays for psychotherapy only where there is a medical condition – a crisis of meaning alone is generally not enough.

📞 Talking and pastoral care

Free, low-threshold places to talk: TelefonSeelsorge, psychosocial advice centres and self-help groups.

📞TelefonSeelsorge and church pastoral careFree, anonymous and available around the clock – regardless of religion or worldview. 🏢Psychosocial advice centresShort-term, mostly free advice without a diagnosis – run by municipalities, Diakonie, Caritas, AWO and other independent providers. 🤝Self-help groups and discussion circlesExchange with people in a similar situation – free, without a diagnosis, organised via NAKOS and local contact points.

💼 Reorienting your career

Career reorientation, retraining, sabbaticals and educational leave (Bildungsurlaub) as ways to give yourself time and space for change.

🧭Career reorientation and retrainingThe free career counselling of the Agentur für Arbeit (employment agency) is also open to people in work – regardless of unemployment. 🌤️Sabbatical and time out from your jobThere is no general statutory right to a sabbatical – time out depends on an agreement with your employer. 📚Educational leave for orientationUp to 5 paid days a year for recognised further education – but not in all federal states, and only with an application made in good time.

🕯️ Retreat, silence and the search for meaning

Monastery stays, faith, worldview and philosophical life counselling as options outside the healthcare system.

📖Philosophical life counsellingA conversation about questions of meaning and life using philosophical tools – not a medical service and not funded by health insurance. 🕯️Monastery stay and retreat daysSilence, structure and distance from daily life – a paid, low-threshold offer, open to people without a religion too. 🕊️Faith, spirituality and worldviewReligious, spiritual and secular-humanist contact points as one possible, but by no means the only, answer to questions of meaning.

🔎 Finding advice

Overview and decision aid: which service suits which situation.

🔎Advice and contact points for a crisis of meaningAn overview of which service suits which situation – and what to look out for when choosing an adviser.

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.