Parental counseling

Parent advice centers help you with problems and conflicts

Text last updated: 2025-02-03

Parental counseling - in person, by phone or online

Would you like to support your child's development in the best possible way and are looking for helpful tips? Sometimes talking to staff at parent advice centers can offer new perspectives and valuable suggestions. Whether you are concerned about your child's age-appropriate development or simply want to exchange ideas - the parent advice service offers you understanding contacts. All discussion channels and advice services are easily accessible and free of charge for you.

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What are parent counseling centers for?

The development of a toddler is an exciting journey that brings with it many beautiful, but also challenging moments. Whether it's sleeping habits, emotional development or the first moments of separation - sometimes it's helpful to talk to someone about it. You want to talk to professionals or simply find a sympathetic ear for your thoughts?

The staff at the parent advice centers are experienced advisors who can help you find solutions to your individual concerns. They will give you valuable input and can recommend further points of contact and support services if required.

What issues can I contact an advice center about?

It often helps to simply share your worries and talk to an understanding person. Parents of young children can turn to a parenting advice center with any questions about development and upbringing. Every question is important and your concerns will be taken seriously. The topics that counseling can help with are diverse, for example:

  • I feel exhausted.
  • I have arguments with my partner.
  • My child is often defiant and I don't know how to deal with it.
  • How can I support my child's speech and movement development?
  • I am a single parent and feel left alone with my child.
  • My child is very shy or shows a great desire to explore - how can I encourage him/her?
  • and much more.

The experienced experts at the parent advice centers are there to support you. They will help you to find individual solutions for your everyday family life - competently, empathetically and at eye level. Every conversation is confidential. All advisors are bound by professional secrecy.

Where can we find help and advice?

  • Personal parent counseling on site

In North Rhine-Westphalia, there is a nationwide network of counseling centers. The parent counseling centers are operated by various providers. These include welfare organizations, denominational organizations and municipal organizations.
You can contact an advice centre of your choice in person at any time with your questions. The Ministry of Family Affairs supports this free service. You can find a contact point in your area with the Family Guide here on the family portal.

  • Online counseling

You can reach the online counseling of the bke-Elternberatung via the internet platform of the Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung e.V.
Here you will receive professional parenting advice and the opportunity to exchange ideas with other parents. The advice is provided by email and chat, is anonymous, free of charge and data secure.

  • Parent advice by phone

The "Nummer gegen Kummer" parent helpline is available on 0800 111 0 550 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays even until 7 pm. The call is free of charge. Callers do not have to give their name or leave any personal details. Everything that is discussed remains confidential.
The call, advice and information service is provided by specially trained experts who know exactly what challenges families are facing today. You can find detailed information about the parents' hotline online at www.nummergegenkummer.de.

You can visit a counseling center of your choice: You can find a contact point near you by searching the web, for example via the portal of the bke Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung e. V.

You can also use the search engine on the portal of the DAJEB Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Jugend- und Eheberatung e. V. (German Association for Youth and Marriage Counseling) to find suitable counseling centers.

Many local authorities in NRW bundle their services and contact addresses relating to family life (advice centers, parent-child courses, leisure activities and much more) on a special Internet portal. You can find the link to this service for your town or municipality here on our Familienportal.NRW: