Parenting & Family Counseling

As parents, you have a legal right to parenting support if your child’s well-being or development is at risk or if support becomes necessary (Section 27(1) of SGB VIII). In Germany, there are more than 1,000 counseling centers available to you that offer free consultations on a wide range of parenting topics. These include, among other things, separation and divorce, difficulties in school, concentration problems, conflicts between siblings, or problematic social behavior.

Counseling is provided in person, confidentially, and anonymously upon request. It is aimed at parents as well as children and teenagers. If you need assistance, please contact a counseling center near you through the Federal Conference for Educational Counseling (Professional Association for Educational, Family, and Youth Counseling). You can also find information and contact details on the websites of your city, county, or municipality. Parenting and family counseling is offered by various organizations and is easily accessible.

Life Counseling

Life coaching is, above all, about helping people help themselves. It is usually funded by churches or charitable organizations. You can contact a life counseling center if you find a situation stressful and would like help sorting it out.

There are many reasons to seek counseling. These include questions about one’s own experiences and behavior, relationship problems, separation and divorce, bullying, exhaustion or burnout, as well as dealing with addiction issues, such as gambling, alcohol, or medication addiction. Life counseling centers can also be a helpful temporary solution if there are no psychotherapy slots available in your area in the short term, but you still need to talk to someone soon.

Nutrition Counseling

It’s often difficult to maintain a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle in everyday life. At the same time, obesity, type 2 diabetes, other diet-related diseases, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are on the rise. For children, being overweight can lead not only to health risks but also to psychological distress, such as teasing or bullying at school.

Short-term diets rarely achieve their goals and are not recommended, especially for children. Lasting changes are achieved primarily through long-term adjustments to eating habits, physical activity, and daily routines. A qualified nutritionist can support you in this process with in-depth knowledge of nutritional and allergological factors, as well as eating behaviors, body image, and physical activity.

Statutory health insurance plans subsidize nutritional counseling in accordance with Section 20 of SGB V. You can recognize reputable services by the fact that no products are sold and the counseling is manufacturer-neutral and free of advertising.

You can find a nutritionist near you here through the German Nutrition Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung e.V.).

Family Centers

Family centers are usually daycare centers that offer a wider range of services. In addition to regular daycare operations, the center hosts lectures, classes, and discussion groups for parents, grandparents, and other interested members of the community. The goal is to provide low-threshold support, guidance, and empowerment to families.

Family centers—often referred to as child-parent centers—support children and their families in various life situations. They help make it easier to balance family and work, provide guidance to parents, actively support educational processes, and offer targeted support to children in special situations, such as when parents separate or in families with a history of migration.

Typical services offered by family centers include:

• Language Development
• Promotion of Physical Activity
• healthy eating
• intercultural activities

These programs take the form of, for example, lectures and discussion groups, parent cafés and open meeting places, individual counseling on parenting, relationship, or family issues, as well as language courses. Each family center sets its own priorities, tailored to local needs.

Here you will find the locations of the family centers that are members of the Federal Association of Family Centers.

Family Education Centers

Family education centers offer a wide range of programs for families, parents, and children. These programs are often closely linked to adult education centers, church-affiliated educational institutions, or regional organizations. It’s also worth taking a look at the programs offered by the adult education center (VHS) or local church congregations.

Typical programs offered by family education centers include:

• Childbirth and Family Preparation Classes
• Parent-Child Activities
• Events and Classes for Grandparents
• Creative and Recreational Activities
• Health and Nutrition Classes
• Self-Help Groups
• Training programs, especially for women
• Educational events on social and cultural topics

Responsibility for family education lies with the states and local governments. Accordingly, family education centers are operated either by public or private organizations and are tailored to regional needs.