Counselling for separation and divorce
Often free, always anonymous and whenever it suits you.
A separation turns a lot upside down: feelings, home, money and often everyday life with the children too. Here you will find professionals who support you through this time, whether you are leaving or have been left. You can come alone or together as parents. A pseudonym is all you need.
In danger right now? Emergency number 112. Telefonseelsorge (German crisis line), day and night: 0800 111 0 111.
Does this sound familiar?
- You ended the relationship and still don't feel free.
- You were left and can't get past the question why.
- Every handover of the children ends in an argument.
- You don't know how to tell the children.
- Maintenance, housing and contact arrangements: you can't keep track any more.
- You want to stay a good father or a good mother, even if you are no longer a couple.
A separation is one of the biggest changes in life. Getting support helps you and your children too. Step by step, you find a new way of doing things.
What happens in counselling
A professional helps you keep feelings and tasks apart. You look at what you need, what the children need and how you can keep talking as parents. You clarify legal questions with a lawyer, and counselling helps you go there well prepared. You decide the topic and the pace.
How it works
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Choose a centre or counsellor
You can see who offers counselling: training, focus areas, languages and how the person works. Many centres serve your town, some serve all of Germany.
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Book an appointment or write first
Book a first session by video. In the form, you briefly say what it is about. Or write a message first.
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Your own room
Messages, appointments and the link to the video session are all in one place. You can get back in at any time, from your phone too.
Who is counselling right now
Frequently asked questions
Is there legal advice here?
No. Counselling helps you with feelings, conversations and everyday life with the children. For questions about maintenance, custody or divorce, you need a lawyer.
Can we come together as separated parents?
Yes, if you both want to and the centre offers it. Many parents sort out contact and handovers this way, without a row every time.
What do the children need now?
Above all, parents who treat each other fairly and tell them that it is not their fault. Counselling helps you with this, even if things are hard between you right now.
What does counselling cost?
At most counselling centres, nothing. You can give them money voluntarily, and it makes no difference to your counselling. Independent counsellors charge a sliding-scale fee: the first session is free, after that you pay 60, 90 or 120 euros after each session and choose the amount yourself. Each counsellor profile shows what applies.
How anonymous am I really?
On the platform, people only know you by your pseudonym. An email address for reminders is optional. During a video session, the video service sees technical data such as your IP address. If you give the centre money, it sees the name on your card. The platform always tells you about this beforehand.
Who will counsel me?
Professionals from counselling centres or in private practice. They come from social work, education, psychology or a similar profession. Their qualifications are checked before approval. Each counsellor profile shows how the person works.
How quickly will I get a reply?
There is no fixed response time. Your counsellor replies as soon as they can. You book a fixed appointment directly on the counsellor profile. The platform is not an emergency service. If you are in acute distress, call the Telefonseelsorge (German crisis line) or, in an emergency, 112.
Which languages can I get counselling in?
That depends on the counsellors. Right now counselling is available in German. In the directory you can filter by language.
Do I have to start with a video session?
No. You can also write first. Messages go back and forth in your room, without a fixed appointment. What else a counsellor offers is shown on their counsellor profile.
Separation and divorce is your field?
Counselling centres and professionals in private practice get their own page here, appointment booking and a separate room with video and whiteboard for each client. All for €15 per counsellor per month.
If things are too much right now
This platform is not an emergency service. If you don't know what to do any more or are thinking about suicide, call now. Telefonseelsorge (German crisis line), free and day and night: 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222. In an emergency: 112.