Parental counseling

Parent advice centers help you with problems and conflicts

Text last updated: 2024-06-04

Parental counseling - in person, by phone or online

Are you worried about your child's age-appropriate development, do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with parenting or do you have frequent arguments with your child with behavioral problems? Then don't be afraid to contact a parenting advice center. If you are stuck in a situation where you are looking for advice or would like someone to talk to who can share your concerns, you will find understanding ears at the parent counseling service. All of the advice and counseling services are easily accessible and free of charge.

Image

What are parent counseling centers for?

Raising children can sometimes be difficult and demand a lot from you. For example, breaking away from parents during puberty can provide plenty of fuel for discussions and arguments. Would you like someone to talk to in order to get rid of your own fears and worries? Or are you looking for specific advice because you are going through a crisis in the family?

The staff at the parent advice centers are qualified professionals who will work with you to find solutions to overcome your problems. If necessary, the experienced counselors can also recommend further points of contact and support services.

What issues can I contact an advice center about?

It often helps just to be able to pour your heart out and have someone to talk to. Worried or overwhelmed parents can turn to the parent advice centers with any questions they may have about raising and educating their children. Don't be shy: every question is justified and your concerns will be taken seriously. The range of counseling topics is wide. You can contact a parent advice center for general questions or for very specific topics. For example, when it comes to these or similar topics:

  • I feel overwhelmed.
  • I just can't get close to my child anymore.
  • Our child is displaying conspicuous behavior. What can we do?
  • My child has difficulties at school.
  • Our child is being bullied by other children in the class.
  • In puberty, there are always arguments between us. How can we defuse the situation?
  • We are in the middle of a family crisis and don't know what to do.
  • Our child is taking drugs.
  • Our child has eating disorders.
  • My child is constantly on the internet.
  • and much more.

The experienced professionals at the parent counseling centers primarily provide help for self-help and work with you to find a way out - competently, understandingly and on an equal footing. Every conversation is confidential. All counselors are bound by professional confidentiality.

Where can we find help and advice?

There are many support and advice services for families in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Family Guide of Familienportal.NRW makes it easier to search and find your way around. It helps you to quickly and easily find the right offer near your home.

You can reach the online advice service of bke-Elternberatung via the internet platform of the Bundeskonferenz für Erziehungsberatung e. V. Here you can get 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.

The "Nummer gegen Kummer" parent helpline can be reached 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 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: