Wegweiser Crisis of meaning · Orientation & support Deutsch

📞 TelefonSeelsorge and church pastoral care

Free, anonymous and available around the clock – regardless of religion or worldview.

TelefonSeelsorge 116123 Pastoral care Emergency pastoral care Crisis service

In brief

The TelefonSeelsorge (telephone counselling service) can be reached free of charge, anonymously and around the clock on 0800 111 0 111 (Protestant-run), 0800 111 0 222 (Catholic-run) or the nationwide single number 116 123 – 365 days a year, whether or not you belong to a church. More than 7,500 trained volunteers listen, do not judge and, where needed, point you to further help. The TelefonSeelsorge also offers e-mail and chat counselling – unlike the telephone, however, these are not staffed continuously but only at the times published on telefonseelsorge.de.

Separately, many local parishes offer regular pastoral conversations – usually free of charge or on a donation basis, and as a rule open to people who are not church members too.

Step by step

  1. Call or chatDial one of the three numbers or use the chat service on telefonseelsorge.de. You do not have to give your name.
  2. Speak openlyThere is no "wrong" concern – loneliness, questions of meaning, acute despair or even "just" the need to talk are all equally welcome.
  3. Be referred on if neededThe staff can point you to regional advice centres and to medical or pastoral services nearby.
  4. Approach local pastoral careFor a personal, recurring conversation you can also turn to a local parish.

Deadlines

Watch out – common mistakes
  • Church <strong>emergency pastoral care (Notfallseelsorge)</strong> is for acute emergencies such as accidents or sudden deaths and is called out via the emergency dispatch centre – it is not the right channel for an ongoing crisis of meaning without an acute event. The TelefonSeelsorge or regular pastoral conversations are more suitable here.
  • Chat and e-mail counselling are not staffed around the clock – in an acute situation the telephone is the more reliable option.
  • The TelefonSeelsorge does not replace psychotherapy; if there are persistent symptoms of possible depression, you should also seek medical or psychotherapeutic help.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Sponsorship and reach

The TelefonSeelsorge is jointly run by the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD, Protestant Church in Germany) and the Deutsche Bischofskonferenz (German Bishops' Conference) and is organised at around 100 locations with more than 7,500 volunteers. Its approach to counselling is non-directive: listening and clarifying together come first, not giving advice.

Distinguishing pastoral care – emergency pastoral care – psychotherapy

Pastoral care in the strict sense is an open, usually recurring conversation without a diagnosis. Emergency pastoral care focuses on the immediate acute phase after distressing events and is closely linked with emergency services. Neither replaces psychotherapy for a diagnosed mental illness.

Who is responsible
  • TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland (nationwide phone numbers)
  • Local parish for regular pastoral conversations
Further reading
When professional help is neededPsychosocial advice centresFaith, spirituality and worldview

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „TelefonSeelsorge and church pastoral care“?
Free, anonymous and available around the clock – regardless of religion or worldview.
What should I do first?
  • Call or chat: Dial one of the three numbers or use the chat service on telefonseelsorge.de. You do not have to give your name.
  • Speak openly: There is no "wrong" concern – loneliness, questions of meaning, acute despair or even "just" the need to talk are all equally welcome.
  • Be referred on if needed: The staff can point you to regional advice centres and to medical or pastoral services nearby.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Church emergency pastoral care (Notfallseelsorge) is for acute emergencies such as accidents or sudden deaths and is called out via the emergency dispatch centre – it is not the right channel for an ongoing crisis of meaning without an acute event. The TelefonSeelsorge or regular pastoral conversations are more suitable here.
  • Chat and e-mail counselling are not staffed around the clock – in an acute situation the telephone is the more reliable option.
  • The TelefonSeelsorge does not replace psychotherapy; if there are persistent symptoms of possible depression, you should also seek medical or psychotherapeutic help.
Evidence
  • TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland, telefonseelsorge.de – availability, sponsorship, chat/e-mail times (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.