What is Psychological Counseling?

Psychological counseling is aimed at people who face everyday difficulties, such as stress, relationship conflicts, professional or social challenges, among others. It offers a support foundation for facing challenges and developing appropriate tools to overcome them.

According to German law (Psychotherapeutengesetz – PsychThG), psychological counseling focuses on overcoming conflicts and challenges outside the medical field. Psychotherapy, on the other hand, focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Therefore, psychological counseling does not replace psychotherapy and is not recommended for those seeking treatment for a mental health diagnosis.

The goal of counseling is to help mentally healthy people deal with everyday problems, preventing them from worsening and escalating into a psychological disorder.

Generally, one of the main differences between counseling and therapy is how you access them: while therapy usually requires a doctor's referral and can be covered by health insurance (when there's a diagnosis), counseling is something you choose to do on your own and pay for privately.

An important distinction of psychological counseling is its flexibility and direct focus on your current issues. In my work, which is specifically geared toward helping immigrants adapt, we can meet either in person, on the streets of Berlin, or online. Always in a welcoming, practical manner that is connected to your reality.