Which Mental Health Service to Access in Berlin

Understanding what type of service is right for you at the moment can be confusing, especially if you are not in your home country. Here I offer an overview of some of your options and what your first steps could be in each case.

Counselor

Booking to see a counselor might be best for you if:
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• You would like support to work through problems in life

• You don’t believe you have a serious mental health condition, or you are seeking support for that elsewhere

• You don’t need someone who can diagnose you or prescribe medication but rather someone who can help you work through your problems and heal

• You’d like to be able to choose a practitioner you feel most comfortable with, or that speaks your language, or that practices a particular type of therapy

• You can’t deal with the whole health insurance / waiting lists / not hearing back from therapists thing right now and just want to see someone

In this case you can usually start with an initial consultation with a counselor of your choice and see if they are a good fit for you. You can book that here or through the website of any counselor you would like to see.

Book a session

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Psychotherapist / Psychologist

Booking to see a psychotherapist / psychologist might be best for you if:
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• You would like to see if you can get therapy covered by your insurance and don’t mind navigating the German system, dealing with waiting lists and seeing whichever therapist is available through your insurance

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In this case one first step would be to contact your health insurance and ask for a list of practitioners they would cover.

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Psychiatrist

Booking to see a psychiatrist or neurologist, or talking to your Hausarzt might be the best route for you if:

• You’d like to get a medical opinion about your struggles

• You need a sick note from work

• You would like to explore medication

• You are seeking a diagnosis

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In this case one first step would be to see your Hausarzt and ask for a referral.

If you're interested in a trial counseling session, feel free to book a free initial consultation