Using the Public Insurance for Mental Healthcare
You can try to use your regular health insurance to see a therapist or psychiatrist, by asking your general practitioner or health insurance company for help making an appointment, or searching on your own with a site like Doctolib, Jameda, or Doctena.
If you have tried and cannot find a provider available who speaks your language and is taking new clients, you can apply to have your public insurance cover a private therapist by following this useful guide: How to get therapy covered by health insurance
This is the official website to look for therapists who accept public healthcare: KVBerlin
This is another good website which aggregates therapists: Therapie.de
Therapists in Berlin/Online (Paid)
If you do not have public insurance or cannot find a provider who speaks your language, here are some great places to find a private therapist in your language:
It's Complicated — find a private therapist in Berlin/online
Talkspace — connects you with therapists for live online sessions (with same-day start possible)
Betterhelp — online therapists for live online sessions, email, chat and phone (works via weekly/monthly subscription)
Free Hotlines and Emergency Resources
If you are thinking of hurting yourself or others, please do not wait to call the emergency number 112. Otherwise, these hotlines are also useful!
Krisendienst — Berlin Crisis Service (has a 24/7 hotline in English, German, etc.)
TelefonSeelsorge — nonprofit with trained volunteers
English Helpline 030-44 01 06 07 — daily from 6 pm until midnight for psychological or personal problems; recommend specialists for solving concrete problems, help find an English-speaking doctor, help solve family conflicts, etc.German Helpline 0800-111 0 222 and available 24/7
Russian Helpline 030-44 01 06 06 and available 24/7
7cups — online chat service with volunteers available 24/7 if you want to talk to someone, not a therapist but a good listener
soulspace — free advice in person/by phone for young people aged 15-35
TK-Ärztezentrum (if you have TK health insurance) — 040-46 06 61 91 00 to speak with doctors on call 24/7 365 days
Apps for Mental Health, Meditation, and More
Here’s a collection of the Expath team’s favorite apps for mental health:
Insight Timer — free app for meditation in multiple languages, premium version $9.99 per month
Headspace — free 14-day trial, then $12.99 per month or $57.99 per year
Moodfit — free version, premium version $29.99 per year (via website)
Happify — ten modules free, then $14.95 per month or $139.99 per year
Calm — free 14-day trial, then $38.99 per year
More FREE Resources and Websites
MHANational — quick and free check on anxiety, depression, etc.
Open Counseling — hotlines for various health topics/groups in Germany
Woebot — if you want to try out the limits of tech development, this is an artificial intelligence-driven app, which acts as a therapist. It’s not therapy but good for checking in with yourself
mental state in berlin — Facebook group
