Wegweiser Crisis of meaning · Orientation & support Deutsch

🔎 Advice and contact points for a crisis of meaning

An overview of which service suits which situation – and what to look out for when choosing an adviser.

Finding advice Contact points Life counsellor Quality assurance

In brief

This page summarises which service in this topic area suits which situation:

  • Acute despair or suicidal thoughts: call the emergency number 112 straight away, go to a psychiatric emergency department or contact the TelefonSeelsorge.
  • Persistent symptoms, possibly depression: family doctor (Hausärztin/Hausarzt), psychotherapeutic consultation hour.
  • Distressing question of meaning without medical significance: psychosocial advice centre, pastoral care, self-help group or – self-funded – life counselling/philosophical practice.
  • Career reorientation: career counselling at the Agentur für Arbeit, if applicable educational leave (Bildungsurlaub) or a sabbatical.
  • Wish for retreat and silence: monastery stay, retreat days, spiritual exercises (Exerzitien).

Step by step

  1. Place your situationUse the overview above to roughly match your own situation.
  2. Choose a suitable serviceFollow the linked topic pages to clarify details, costs and procedure.
  3. Check qualificationsWith non-medical counselling services (life counselling, coaching), actively ask about the person's training and experience, as these titles are not protected in Germany.

Deadlines

Watch out – common mistakes
  • "Life counsellor", "coach" or "philosophical practitioner" are not protected professional titles in Germany – unlike, for example, Austria, where "Lebens- und Sozialberatung" (life and social counselling) is a regulated trade with prescribed training. Anyone using such a service should ask the adviser about their qualifications themselves.
  • Self-funded counselling or coaching services are generally not reimbursed by the health insurance fund, even if they have "counselling" or "therapy" in their name.
  • Waiting for a completely free and immediately available service may needlessly delay the first step – the TelefonSeelsorge and many psychosocial advice centres are free of charge and usually reachable promptly.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Quality orientation without state regulation

There is no uniform statutory licensing for non-medical counselling in Germany. Voluntary guidance is offered by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Beratung (DGfB, German Counselling Society) as an umbrella organisation of several professional associations, whose membership requires certain quality standards – membership is, however, no guarantee of suitability in an individual case and no precondition for being allowed to offer counselling at all.

Reference to the individual pages

All legal details, deadlines and cost questions on the individual services are on the respective topic pages of this area; this page serves solely for orientation between the services.

Who is responsible
  • See the respective individual pages
Further reading
When professional help is neededPsychosocial advice centresTelefonSeelsorge and church pastoral carePhilosophical life counselling

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Advice and contact points for a crisis of meaning“?
An overview of which service suits which situation – and what to look out for when choosing an adviser.
What should I do first?
  • Place your situation: Use the overview above to roughly match your own situation.
  • Choose a suitable service: Follow the linked topic pages to clarify details, costs and procedure.
  • Check qualifications: With non-medical counselling services (life counselling, coaching), actively ask about the person's training and experience, as these titles are not protected in Germany.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • "Life counsellor", "coach" or "philosophical practitioner" are not protected professional titles in Germany – unlike, for example, Austria, where "Lebens- und Sozialberatung" (life and social counselling) is a regulated trade with prescribed training. Anyone using such a service should ask the adviser about their qualifications themselves.
  • Self-funded counselling or coaching services are generally not reimbursed by the health insurance fund, even if they have "counselling" or "therapy" in their name.
  • Waiting for a completely free and immediately available service may needlessly delay the first step – the TelefonSeelsorge and many psychosocial advice centres are free of charge and usually reachable promptly.
Evidence
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Beratung (DGfB), dachverband-beratung.de, retrieved September 2026
As of

As of September 2026 · Sources and method

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.