Navigating Public Mental Health Services for Young Adults in Berlin

Written by

Pei-Yi & Noa Kanter

Published on

January 7, 2026

Accessing public mental health services in Berlin can feel confusing and frustrating for anyone, but even more so for a foreigner navigating a new system. Different types of care, insurance requirements, and language barriers can make it difficult to know where to begin.

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This article is designed to support university students and young adults living in Berlin by breaking down the options and guiding you through the process, so you can find the right support with more clarity and confidence.

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The first step in navigating mental health services is to identify your needs.

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Are you experiencing a mental health crisis and require immediate support?

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Do you need medical treatment, such as psychiatric medication?

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Or are you seeking ongoing therapy to process challenges in your personal or professional life?

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Secondly, understand what is available and how to access help. The terminology around mental health professionals can sometimes be confusing. Pathways for these services will also depend on the type of health insurance you hold, yet some services are offered to everyone (more on that later). Your best and most reliable source for guidance on these questions will typically be your insurance provider. Start by contacting them and asking what is covered within your policy and what additional payments may be needed to avoid later surprises. If you are unsure which type of support you need, another good first step is to consult your family doctor/general practitioner (GP) here in Germany, who can guide you in clarifying your needs and refer you to the appropriate specialist.

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If you are a student at a Berlin university, many schools will have some form of mental health counseling available to their students. Be sure to check with your dean or support services office to see what your institution has to offer for students in need.

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Let’s get started by clarifying some German terms:

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A psychiatrist (“Psychiater:in”) is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. They can prescribe medication for issues such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder and may also provide some basic psychotherapy, although their main focus is often on medical treatment and medication management. Psychiatric care is covered by public and private health insurance, and medication costs are typically fully or partially reimbursed.

→ If you need medical treatment, such as psychiatric medication, these are the doctors who can help - as well as your general practitioner.

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A psychotherapist (“Psychologische:r Psychotherapeut:in”) offers talk therapy using various evidence-based approaches to help you work through emotional and psychological difficulties, but cannot prescribe medication. In some cases, people may benefit from accessing both services. For instance, someone experiencing depression may benefit from medication prescribed by a psychiatrist alongside regular sessions with a psychotherapist. A mental health specialist (“Heilpraktiker:in für Psychotherapie”) is a non-medical practitioner licensed to provide certain forms of psychotherapy. They can offer counseling, talk therapy, or alternative therapeutic methods. While Helipraktikers can provide a diagnosis, they are not medical doctors and cannot prescribe medication or diagnose and treat some acute psychiatric illnesses .Their services are not covered by public health insurance, however most German private health insurance plans reimburse part of the cost.

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A psychological counselor (“Psychologische:r Berater:in”) provides support and guidance for life challenges, stress, relationships, and personal development. Unlike licensed psychotherapists, they are not authorized to diagnose or treat mental health disorders. Their work focuses on counseling and coaching for general well-being rather than clinical therapy. Services from psychological counselors are not covered by public or private health insurance and are typically paid out-of-pocket.

Many psychotherapists who have been trained abroad often choose to get certified as psychological counselors or mental health specialists as they open their practice in Berlin, as getting recognised by German authorities as clinical psychotherapist can take several years if one's training did not take place in Germany. This is why it is important to always be proactive and check what degrees, qualifications and certificates your therapist holds and which insurances they accept when making your decision for the right therapist for you.

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If you are seeking ongoing therapy to process challenges in your personal or professional life, a counselor, psychotherapist, or Heilpraktker is your best bet.

Here are a few private mental health providers: It’s Complicated, BetterHelp, and Expat Therapy 4 U.

Emergency Cases: When Immediate Help Is Needed

In situations of acute mental crisis—especially if you are experiencing self-harm, suicidal thoughts or attempts, or impulses to harm others—it is essential to reach out for emergency medical support immediately. Below are some key emergency contacts for mental health crises in Berlin:

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Berlin Crisis Service (Krisendienst) — 24/7 hotline available in German, English, and other languages.
TelefonSeelsorge — A nonprofit service with trained volunteers.
- English Helpline: 030 44 01 06 07 (available daily from 6:00 pm to midnight; offers psychological support, guidance to English-speaking doctors, and help with family or personal conflicts). German Helpline: 0800 111 0 222, available 24/7.
(TK-Ärztezentrum (for those insured with Techniker Krankenkasse) — 040 46 06 61 91 00, a 24/7 medical hotline with doctors available year-round.)
Sozial Psychiatrische Dienst - They provide crisis intervention, counseling, and referral services through their local offices. You can contact the office responsible for your residential district.
A list of the Emergency Rooms you can turn to based on your address can be found here.

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In addition to general crisis services, there are also specialized resources for the LGBTQ+ community in Berlin, offering tailored support and safe spaces for those who may face unique challenges.

LesMigraS — Offers anti-violence counseling for lesbians, bisexual women, trans*, inter*, non-binary, and queer people, as well as legal and psychosocial support in multiple languages.
L‑Support — Provides confidential counseling for queer individuals, assistance with incident documentation, and community outreach. Support is available via a confidential hotline and email.
Schwulenberatung Berlin— Offers counseling services specifically for the LGBTIQ community.

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Finding a Psychiatrist for Medication and Therapy

If you are looking for a psychiatrist in Berlin, they can provide both medication management and, in some cases, psychotherapy. You can search for psychiatrists through KV Berlin or the Psychiatrische Institutsambulanz (PIA), and for urgent needs, you can also contact 116117 for guidance. In some cases, your family doctor (Hausarzt) can prescribe certain psychiatric medications, particularly for common conditions like depression or anxiety. (If you don’t have one, feel free to check Doctolib or Jameda) This can be a useful first step while waiting for an appointment with a psychiatrist, which can sometimes take time. If you are already taking psychiatric medication prescribed in your home country, it is highly recommended to bring documentation such as an English or German version of your prescription, details about dosage, and any relevant medical history to help your new doctor continue your care safely and effectively.

You can also contact the Vivantes Transcultural Outpatient Clinic via email to request an appointment. Please be sure to mention the name of your health insurance and use one of the following email addresses:

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Public insurance (e.g., TK, DAK): transkulturelle-psychiatrie@vivantes.de
Private insurance: department-seelischegesundheit.huk@vivantes.de

Please also check out The Berlin Psychiatry Guide from the Berlin State Commissioner for Mental Health.

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Finding a Psychotherapist for long-term support

Finding a psychotherapist in Berlin is an important step if you are seeking long-term support to work through emotional or psychological challenges. Unlike psychiatrists, psychotherapists focus primarily on talk therapy, using a variety of approaches to help you understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to develop strategies for coping and personal growth.

For newcomers to Berlin, navigating the system can feel challenging and overwhelming. It’s important to bear in mind that several factors can influence your search for a psychotherapist as a foreigner, including language, location, type of insurance, and availability. Many psychotherapists require health insurance coverage, so it’s helpful to check whether they accept your insurance or offer private sessions. Keep in mind that waiting times for therapy that is paid by insurance can be several weeks to months, so it can be useful to reach out to multiple therapists or ask your family doctor or psychiatrist for recommendations.

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To help you navigate the process of finding a psychotherapist in Berlin, here are practical steps and resources you can follow:

Go to this website: https://www.116117-termine.de/.
Click on "Termine buchen" and then select "Psychotherapie Sprechstunde Erwachsene" for the question: "Wählen Sie die gewünschte Fachgruppe und Ihre Postleitzahl aus." This will help you find psychotherapists near your area who offer consultations for adults.
You will need to visit their websites or search for their names on other doctor platforms (such as Doctolib) to confirm if they speak English (or other language you prefer) and if they accept clients with public insurance (if you are with public insurance). You can also email or call them directly.
Attend the Sprechstunde (consultation) appointment to obtain a PTV-11 form.The PTV-11 form (“Individual Patient Information for the Psychotherapeutic Consultation”) outlines the preliminary assessment, diagnostic impressions, and recommendations for further treatment, and indicates whether therapy is urgently required (“zeitnah erforderlich”). The Sprechstunde is usually a one-off session to assess your needs for psychotherapy and to issue the PTV-11 form as proof.
It is quite rare that they accept new clients for long-term therapy in their clinic, as they are often fully booked, but you can still ask during the appointment.
With a referral and diagnostic confirmation indicated on the PTV-11 form, you can try the following websites: Therapie.de, KV Berlin, or Psychotherapiesuche.de.
Here, you can filter by area, language, and type of insurance, depending on the filters that are offered by the website.
You can then contact psychotherapists on the list and ask if they are currently accepting new clients. Please mention that you have a PTV-11 form.

Consider the Kostenerstattungsverfahren (Cost Reimbursement Process)

If you have already tried the steps above and are still unable to find a therapist in the near future, there is an alternative you can consider. If you have statutory health insurance and cannot secure a timely appointment with a therapist who has a Kassensitz (contract with public health insurance), you may be able to seek therapy from a private practice and have the costs reimbursed.

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This process requires demonstrating a “Systemversagen” (system failure). The steps typically involve:

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Arrange a psychotherapeutic consultation by calling 116 117 (KV Berlin hotline) to obtain the PTV-11 form.
Compile a list of therapists: Identify 6 to 10 therapists with a Kassensitz in your area who currently do not have available appointments.
Obtain supporting medical documentation: Get a Konsiliarbericht (consiliary report) and an Ärztliche Dringlichkeitsbescheinigung (medical certificate of urgency) for outpatient psychotherapy from a psychiatrist or your GP (psychiatrist recommended). Templates for these documents are often provided by the relevant sources.
Submit your application for cost reimbursement (Antrag auf Kostenerstattung) to your health insurance provider along with all required documentation.

Therapists who work under the Kostenerstattungsverfahren (reimbursement procedure) usually guide clients through the application process. While it can still be challenging to find a therapist offering this option, it is often somewhat easier than finding one with a Kassensitz (a therapist directly covered by public health insurance). This process allows you to access therapy more quickly while still using your statutory insurance, even when public slots are fully booked.

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Creative Solutions: Exploring University and Training Outpatient Clinics

Another valuable option to consider is trying the outpatient clinics run by universities or institutes that train psychotherapists. These clinics are often part of psychotherapy training programs, where qualified psychologists or advanced trainees provide therapy under professional supervision.

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While it can still take time to secure a place, these clinics sometimes have shorter waiting periods than private practices and are often covered by statutory health insurance (Krankenkasse). They also maintain high professional standards, as treatments are guided and supervised by experienced licensed psychotherapists.

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Below are some examples of such outpatient clinics in Berlin that may accept new patients:

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ZPHU – Zentrum für Psychotherapie (Humboldt University Berlin)
Offers therapy by psychotherapists in training under supervision. Services include individual and group therapy, often covered by health insurance. The service is in German only.
SFU Berlin – Psychotherapeutische Ambulanz (Sigmund Freud Private University)
A teaching and research clinic where psychotherapists in training work under supervision. They offer various therapy approaches and are authorized for health insurance coverage.
Freie Universität Berlin – Hochschulambulanz für Psychotherapie
Provides evidence-based treatments and group therapy programs (e.g. for social anxiety or chronic depression), often as part of research and training projects.
Medical School Berlin – Psychotherapeutische Hochschulambulanz
A training clinic offering psychological and psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment. Availability varies depending on semester and training schedules.
IPU Berlin – Psychotherapeutische Hochschulambulanz (International Psychoanalytic University)
Offers psychoanalytically oriented outpatient psychotherapy; some treatments may be covered by insurance.

Tip: When contacting these clinics, mention if you are open to seeing a psychotherapist in training (Psychotherapeut:in in Ausbildung). This can often increase your chances of finding an available therapy spot more quickly.

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Consider Group Therapy

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Many who find it difficult to start individual therapy, or struggle to find a spot, will benefit for getting support in a group.

Topic specific therapeutic groups: https://gruppenplatz.de/
Self Help groups in Berlin (filter by Language): https://www.sekis-berlin.de/

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Navigating mental health services in Berlin can be challenging, but understanding your options and knowing where to start can make the process much more manageable. Taking that first step—whether reaching out for therapy, medication, or crisis support—can set you on the path toward meaningful and lasting well-being.

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For further support for your mental well-being, explore the resources recommended below:

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Written by: Pei-Yu Lin (Pei) and Noa Kanter at Linden Global Learning and Support

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Pei provides counseling services in international schools and universities, striving to support individuals’ mental well-being with a solution-focused and client-centered approach.

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Noa is the Head of Counseling services at the Linden Global Learning, Safeguarding lead and Crisis support lead.
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Linden Global Learning Support is a Berlin-based agency providing learning and mental health support to students in Berlin and beyond. We offer specialized counseling services to university and study abroad students in 12 different languages from a diverse group of counselors poised to meet the broad range of needs of international students in Berlin.

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