Life Crisis: What Counseling Can Offer and When an Assessment Is Also Called For

Whether counseling is enough depends on the symptoms and the level of stress; the situation alone says little about it. Whether it’s a layoff, a loss, the diagnosis of a family member, or the end of a life stage: An upheaval like this can suddenly call into question what comes next, who you are now, and what you can still rely on. Suddenly, what came before no longer provides a foundation, and something new is only beginning to take shape.

When Counseling Is Enough and When More Is Needed

Counseling is appropriate when, at such a moment, you need someone who will listen and help you make sense of things without making decisions for you. The fact that you’re still able to make decisions and manage daily life says little about whether more help is needed: If your sleep, eating, or work is significantly affected, your symptoms are worsening, or the thought of no longer wanting to be here comes up, a prompt medical or psychotherapeutic assessment is also called for; counseling does not replace it and does not delay it. In case of immediate danger, the emergency number in Germany is 112, and abroad it is the local emergency number. The Telephone Counseling Service (TelefonSeelsorge) offers a confidential conversation at 0800 1110111 or 116 123, day and night; in Germany, 116117 arranges medical help outside practice hours. This is not an overreaction.

If You're Unsure

If you are unsure, a medical consultation or a psychotherapy consultation clarifies which kind of help is right. Counseling in a time of upheaval provides a place where you can sort through the confusion before a decision has to be made.