Make use of your rights. You can find the right counselling centre for information and support here.

People have many rights in Germany. There are professional counselling centres which are free of charge to support you in obtaining all the necessary information and asserting your rights. There are counselling centres which are not connected to the government, but are independent organisations. These work in your interest, and will not forward any information without first consulting with you.
Here we go!
Counselling

Find a counselling centre near you that can support you with the services you need.

Here you can find different issues for which there are special, expert counselling centres. By clicking on a link, you will find suggestions for different associations, organisations and authorities. On their websites, there are databanks or lists of counselling centres throughout Germany.

Information about the counselling centres are based on the information provided by the organisations. The AWO National Association cannot comment on the various service offerings provided by the counselling centres.

Migration counselling

Migration services offer information, advice and support you in all areas of life, tailored to your situation and free of charge. Among the many services, you can obtain information on learning German, school and work, housing, health, marriage, family and raising children. The services are aimed at people who have recently arrived in Germany or have been here for a longer time and are seeking advice or support.

Migration counselling for adult immigrants (MBE)

There are migration counselling centres which are free of charge in many towns in Germany. Find out about the services offered by the Labour Welfare Association [AWO] and many other welfare organisations in your area using the following link:

Youth migration services (JMD)

Youth migration services counsel and accompany immigrant youth and young adults up to the age of 27. Youth migration services exist all across Germany at over 420 locations. Find a local counselling centre here:

Health

If you are ill and need treatment, you should seek out a general practitioner in your area without delay. If you have questions about treatment, care, immunisations or on many other issues, the following counselling centres among others can help.

Migration counselling for adult immigrants (MBE)

There are migration counselling centres which are free of charge in many towns in Germany. Find out about the services offered by the Labour Welfare Association [AWO] and many other welfare organisations in your area using the following link:

Finding a doctor

If you are ill, you should go to a general practitioner in your area. They can help you and if necessary, refer you to a specialist. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Germany has the most current information with addresses and qualifications of all licensed doctors and psychotherapists.

Malteser Medizin

Malteser Medizin offers health counselling for people who do not have medical insurance. You can find the nationwide counselling centres here:

The Federal Centre for Health Education

The Federal Centre for Health Education website offers an overview of all service contact points and health care services for refugees:

https://www.infodienst.bzga.de/?uid=d4da7f30bb8a67cff7804690ed42c035&id=Seite3332

Also, on their website they offer an overview of health information for refugees in many languages here:

https://www.infodienst.bzga.de/?uid=ee4310fe7ddbe01d4da0236475934f38&id=Seite3333

Independent Patient Counselling

Independent Patient Counselling of Germany (UPD) is available to all interested persons and patients in Germany for questions on health and patients’ rights. The UPD gives thorough, comprehensible and neutral information free of charge. They advise on medical issues as well as on questions of health and social law, such as: counselling on illnesses, examinations and treatments, medical insurance benefit payments, payers and meeting the costs of treatment, on problems with your health insurance company or the doctor, and on patients’ rights such as advance health care directives, medical records, etc.

Love Life (Liebesleben)

On the “Love Life” campaign website there is a databank with counselling centres that offer advice on issues related to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

German AIDS Service Organisation (Deutsche Aidshilfe)

The German AIDS Service Organisation [Deutsche Aidshilfe] represents the interests of persons with HIV/AIDS in the public domain. One of its activities includes education on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. On its website there is a databank with the addresses of nationwide counselling centres.

pro familia – pregnancy counselling

The organisation pro familia has on its website a list of addresses of counselling centres that counsel on the topic of pregnancy in many different languages.

State Association of Midwives of North Rhine-Westphalia

On its homepage, the non-profit State Association of Midwives of North Rhine-Westphalia offers a search engine to facilitate a nationwide search for “Midwife services for refugees” [“Hebammenhilfe für Geflüchtete”].

Disability

If you have questions about all aspects of life for persons with disabilities and their relatives, you can find support here.

AWO Department of Migration and Disability

The Department of Migration and Disability takes its guidelines from the standards of the Convention on Disability Rights of the United Nations (UN) and aims to break down the barriers facing persons with disabilities and migration backgrounds within the social services systems, especially within disability services themselves.

Advice for families at Aktion Mensch

On this site, you can access comprehensive information and counselling centres for persons with disabilities. You can search for specific services in your area here.

Education and work

If you have questions on issues of education, studying and work, the following counselling centres among others can help you.

Migration counselling for adult immigrants (MBE)

There are migration counselling centres which are free of charge in many towns in Germany. Find out about the services offered by the Labour Welfare Association [AWO] and many other welfare organisations in your area using the following link:

Youth migration services (JMD)

Youth migration services counsel and accompany immigrant young people and young adults up to the age of 27. Youth migration services exist all across Germany at over 420 locations. Find a counselling centre in your area here:

Contact services for the support programme “Integration through Qualification” (IQ)

The counselling services offer information on the process for having your profession recognised and guide those interested in gaining recognition to the contacts responsible. Furthermore, certain contact points offer the option of taking steps to get qualified within the framework of their qualification counselling. Many services are free of charge to the participants.

Education planning and funding in accordance with the guidelines of Guarantee Fund Higher Education (RL-GF-H)

The Educational Counselling Service at the Guarantee Fund Higher Education, together with those seeking advice, develops an individual educational plan and supports young immigrants in carrying out this plan. The core themes of the Educational Counselling Service at the Guarantee Fund Higher Education are language learning (determining language levels and appropriate language courses), assessment of previous education in other countries, measures to gain and/or complete preparation for higher education, study opportunities in Germany, accreditation of studies undertaken abroad, scholarships and funding, grants and much more.

Student counselling in higher education

Almost every higher education institution has a student advisory service centre that can answer your questions about higher-level studies.

Families

Many issues can come up as part of family life. Here, you can get support on questions about parenting and your children’s development, on partnerships, sexuality or pregnancy.

Parenting and Family Counselling at AWO

The counselling is aimed at mothers or fathers, step-parents or foster parents, parents with and without child custody. The goal of the counselling is to talk about a good solution for you and your children and to give you support in everyday life. The counsellors are subject to confidentiality – nobody will find out about your issues or about the counselling.

Counselling for children, young people and parents

Support for children, young people and parents is offered by counselling centres for parenting and families throughout Germany. The counselling is strictly confidential and free of charge. Many counselling centres are especially focussed on advising migrant families or on counselling for families with infants and young children.

pro familia

The organisation pro familia offers nationwide counselling on sexuality, pregnancy and partnership.

This counselling can be offered online: https://www.profamilia.de/publikation-forum-onlineberatung/online-beratung.html

Or online at the counselling centres here: https://www.profamilia.de/angebote-vor-ort.html

pro familia also lists on its website addresses of counselling centres that counsel on the topic of pregnancy in many different languages.

https://www.profamilia.de/fachpersonal/beraterinnen/beratung-von-fluechtlingen.html

State Association of Midwives of North Rhine-Westphalia

On its homepage, the non-profit State Association of Midwives of North Rhine-Westphalia offers a search engine to facilitate a nationwide search for “Midwife services for refugees” [“Hebammenhilfe für Geflüchtete”].

Care

The need for care can affect anyone. There are many reasons why a previously independent person can develop a need for care. Relatives, friends and acquaintances become caregiving assistants. For questions related to caring, you can contact the following specialist services.

Counselling on Care and Seniors

AWO Counselling on Care and Seniors would be happy to advise you by email or telephone about benefit claims, services, options for creating an active life and about specialised topics or questions related to care.

AWO Caregivers Associations

Anyone, whether affected personally or as a relative, friend or neighbour, can experience an accident, an illness or a psychiatric, mental or physical disability that puts them in the position of no longer being able to manage important life matters for themselves, either on a permanent or temporary basis. In this event, this requires someone to represent the interests of the affected person, for example with officials and authorities, banks and doctors. The counselling on this topic is anonymous and free of charge, regardless as to whether you are an affected person, a relative or a friend.

Residence

Many questions arise regarding the issue of residence in Germany. Can I come to Germany without a valid visa and stay there? What requirements must I meet in order to stay in Germany permanently? Can I get German citizenship? For all matters related to residence, you can contact the following specialised services.

Migration counselling for adult immigrants (MBE)

There are migration counselling centres which are free of charge in many towns in Germany. Find out about the services offered by the Labour Welfare Association [AWO] and many other welfare organisations in your area using the following link:

Youth migration services (JMD)

Youth migration services counsel and accompany immigrant youth and young adults up to the age of 27. Youth migration services exist all across Germany at over 420 locations. Find a local counselling centre here:

Counselling centre databank at asyl.net

The information network “Asylum and Migration” has put together a databank with different counselling services on numerous issues related to the asylum process and questions on residence rights. You can search for specific services in your area here. Also, you can look for counselling centres that can offer advice in different languages.

Local counselling centres – Pro Asyl

The human rights organisation PRO ASYL has compiled information about local counselling centres categorised by German federal state. These counselling centres can help you on matters relating to your asylum application procedure and your residence situation.

Asylum procedure, application hearing

There are many questions about the asylum application process and the application hearing in Germany. When do I get protection? How will the protection I get be decided? What are the differences between the different possibilities for protection? What differences are there? How can I prepare myself for my application hearing? For all matters relating to your stay, you can contact the following specialised services.

Counselling centre databank at asyl.net

The information network “Asylum and Migration” has put together a databank with different counselling services on numerous issues related to the asylum process and questions on residence rights. You can search for specific services in your area here. Also, you can look for counselling centres that can offer advice in different languages.

Counselling centres on site – Pro Asyl

The human rights organisation PRO ASYL has information, organised by German federal state, on local counselling centres. These counselling centres can help you on matters on your asylum application process and your residence situation.

International Society for Human Rights

This organisation provides an overview of counselling centres for refugees throughout Germany on its website.

Addiction

If you are looking for information on addictive substances and addiction, if you want to reduce or stop consuming addictive substances, if you have questions or problems with non-substance-related addictions (such as gambling addiction or eating disorders) or you are concerned about relatives or friends, the following counselling centres can help you.

AWO Addiction Recovery Services

The counsellors can offer you help by email at short notice, or on site in person at the AWO counselling centre. You will receive advice via email from professional counsellors within 48 hours in an expert and confidential way free of charge. Basic information on addictive substances as well as answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the homepage of each counselling centre.

Index of addiction counselling centres

Here you can find the contact information for counselling centres for addiction to drugs, alcohol, prescription medications and gambling, located across Germany, on the site of the Federal Centre for Health Education.

Debt

The reasons why a person gets into debt are diverse. The consequences are often serious: debt with rent, energy bills, telephone bills or loan obligations that can no longer be managed. There is however always a way out. The counsellors at the debtors and insolvency services can show you the first steps for taking action and advise you how to regain control of your finances.

AWO Debt and Insolvency Counselling Services

If indebtedness leads to over-indebtedness and becomes a problem, advice from the AWO Debtors’ Counselling Services can help – online or on site. Counselling can be kept anonymous if desired, has no long waiting period and is open to anyone seeking advice.

Debtors’ counselling centres

The Debt Counselling forum manages the official address index of all debt counselling centres in Germany, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Young People.

Pregnancy

Do you have questions about pregnancy, conflicts about pregnancy, sexuality, partnerships or family planning? Are you looking for information as well as support about a planned or an unwanted pregnancy and birth? You can contact the following counselling centres on these matters:

AWO Pregnancy Counselling

Everyone is welcome at AWO Pregnancy Counselling – regardless of ethnic background, nationality, personal beliefs, gender, age or sexual orientation, with and without disability. People of any age and social background seeking advice can make use of the counselling services. The counsellors at AWO will advise you in a professional, anonymous and secure way free of charge. In its counselling approach, the AWO believes that men and women seeking advice have the right to self-determination and self-responsibility in accordance with its basic values.

Counselling centre databank of the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA)

With more than 1,600 entries, the counselling centre databank at the BZgA includes nearly all German pregnancy counselling centres. So you can make a targeted search for services in your area.

pro familia

The organisation pro familia offers nationwide counselling on sexuality, pregnancy and partnership.

This counselling can be offered online: https://www.profamilia.de/publikation-forum-onlineberatung/online-beratung.html

Or online at the counselling centres here: https://www.profamilia.de/angebote-vor-ort.html

pro familia also lists on its website addresses of counselling centres that counsel on the topic of pregnancy in many different languages.

https://www.profamilia.de/fachpersonal/beraterinnen/beratung-von-fluechtlingen.html

State Association of Midwives of North Rhine-Westphalia

On its homepage, the non-profit State Association of Midwives of North Rhine-Westphalia offers a search engine to facilitate a nationwide search for “Midwife services for refugees” [“Hebammenhilfe für Geflüchtete”].

Protection for Women

In each federal state in Germany, women’s counselling centres offer psycho-social counselling for dealing with life crises. Counselling focus areas are on violence in relationships, separation/divorce, crisis intervention and general life counselling, among others. You can contact the following counselling centres about these issues:

Women against Violence e.V.

On this page, you can find a databank of women’s counselling centres and women’s crisis lines, offering you support with comprehensive advice. Counselling is free of charge and anonymous if desired. The staff are subject to confidentiality. You can search for specific services in your area here. You can also search for counselling centres that can advise you in different languages.

The “Violence against women” support line

The “Violence against women” support telephone line is directed at all women affected or threatened by violence – regardless as to whether the experience with violence was in the past or is happening now. With the help of interpreters, telephone counselling over the support line can take place at any hour of the day or night in 17 languages.

German Network and Coordination Office Against Trafficking In Human Beings

On the website of this association, there is a databank of counselling centres that help people affected by human trafficking and every form of exploitation.

Discrimination

If you feel you are being discriminated against based on your ethnic origin, religion or personal beliefs, your age, gender, sexual identity or a disability, you can contact specialised counselling centres to support you. You can find them here.

Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency

The counselling team of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, together with legal counsel, can tell you about your rights in a discrimination case and highlight options regarding and how to assert your rights.

http://www.antidiskriminierungsstelle.de/EN/Home/home_node.html

Besides this, there is also a databank of counselling centres that offer help in cases of discrimination.

http://www.antidiskriminierungsstelle.de/SiteGlobals/Forms/Suche/Beratungsstellensuche/Beratungsstellensuche_formular.html?nn=6580148

Federal Association of Counselling Centres for Persons Affected by Right-Wing, Racist and Anti-Semitic Violence

On this association’s website there is a databank of counselling centres that support people affected by right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence.

Support for those affected by violence

In each German federal state, there are support services for women and girls affected by violence and for persons in their social environments in the form of women’s counselling centres and women’s crisis lines. You can find them here.

Women against Violence e.V.

On this page, you can find a databank of women’s counselling centres and women’s crisis lines, offering you support with comprehensive advice. Counselling is free of charge and anonymous if desired. The staff are subject to confidentiality. You can search for specific services in your area here. You can also search for counselling centres that can advise you in different languages.

Support with violence in the home

If you are experiencing violence, you can find options for help and protection in your area. The AWO sponsors diverse projects for women and girls, from women’s shelters and facilities for enforcement of the Protection against Violence Act [Gewaltschutzgesetz (GewSchG)], such as coordination centres and intervention services against domestic violence, as well as professional counselling centres. You can find the right option for you here.

The “Violence against women” support line

The “Violence against women” support telephone line is directed at all women affected or threatened by violence – regardless as to whether the experience with violence was in the past or is happening now. With the help of interpreters, telephone counselling over the support line can take place at any hour of the day or night in 17 languages.

Portal for support with sexual abuse

Professional help and counselling services can influence how those affected, their relatives, or those in their social environments deal with sexual abuse. You can find counselling centres and options for support, including those specialised for refugees here.

Federal Association of Counselling Centres for Persons Affected by Right-Wing, Racist and Anti-Semitic Violence

On this association’s website there is a databank of counselling centres that support people affected by right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence.

German Network and Coordination Office Against Trafficking In Human Beings

On the website of this association, there is a databank of counselling centres that help people affected by human trafficking and every form of exploitation.

Psychosocial support and therapy

In each federal state, counselling centres, treatment centres and individual psychotherapists offer counselling, support and therapy for persons who are emotionally or psychologically unwell. You can find them here.

Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres for Victims of Torture and Human Rights Violations

This network association offers a databank of psychological counselling centres, treatment centres and individual psychotherapists.

http://www.baff-zentren.org/mitgliedszentren-und-foerdermitglieder/

http://www.baff-zentren.org/behandlungszentren/ermaechtigte-psychotherapeutinnen/

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychoanalyse, Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Tiefenpsychologie (DGPT) e.V

On its homepage, this non-profit association offers a nationwide databank of addresses and psychoanalysts.

Sexuality, Partnerships and Contraception

For questions about the issues of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexuality, partnerships and contraception, you can contact a counselling centre.

Love Life (Liebesleben)

On the “Love Life” campaign website there is a databank with counselling centres that offer advice on issues related to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

German AIDS Service Organisation

The German AIDS Service Organisation [Deutsche Aidshilfe] represents the interests of persons with HIV/AIDS in public spaces, as well as in politics, the sciences and medical research.

One of its most important activities includes education on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

On its website there is a databank with the addresses of nationwide counselling centres.

Zanzu

The multilingual, online service of the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) offers clear information on sexual health and facilitates communication on sensitive issues.

Lesbian and Gay Association in Germany (LSVD)

On the website of this association you can find a nationwide counselling centre databank for LGBTI*Q persons. The website is available for you in 7 languages.

Social support

If you have any questions on provision of basic medical treatment, benefits and many other issues, the following counselling centres and others are here to help you. They can advise you on unemployment and social welfare rights, with a focus on unemployment benefits type II [ALG II], social welfare, unemployment rights in accordance with the German Social Code, Book III, or generally securing your livelihood.

Tacheles address index

You can find attorneys, counselling centres, unemployment and social initiatives and organisations or individuals that can accompany you with support and protection when going to the authorities.

LGBTI*Q

If you have questions about sexual identity and gender diversity, you can find counselling centres that can help you here.

Lesbian and Gay Association in Germany (LSVD)

On the website of this association you can find a nationwide counselling centre databank for LGBTI*Q persons. The website is available for you in 7 languages.