Family counseling and parenting support

Nerves are frayed, conversations are going round in circles and working together is becoming a burden: many families are familiar with these moments. However, if problems within the family become more frequent or you feel that you no longer know what to do, you should not be afraid to seek professional help. Read here who can help with which problem and where you can find free advice services.

Disputes about different points of view between the generations are completely normal. They are even part of a healthy process of young people cutting the cord.

Sometimes, however, the situation gets out of hand and problems start to pile up at home, at school, during the transition to education or in their free time. As a parent and guardian, you may be very worried about these developments. You are responsible for your child who is not yet of age, but it is difficult to argue with them.

An outside perspective often helps. The qualified specialists at the family counseling centers can provide you with professional support and guide you through crisis situations with your family. You will receive

• advice on general issues relating to the upbringing and development of young people
• assistance in solving specific parenting problems and improving the parent-child relationship
• support in coping with difficult life situations in your family
• advice on issues relating to relationships, separation and divorce.

The family counseling services are confidential and free of charge and can be used by children, young people, adolescents and their guardians.

You have a legal right to counseling. Have the courage to take the first step! It's absolutely fine to seek counseling, it doesn't make you a bad parent. On the contrary: the earlier you seek support, the sooner you can develop solutions for a more harmonious family life together with professional help.

You can find links and telephone numbers to counseling services here.

Parents and other legal guardians have a legal right to educational assistance for themselves and their child if an upbringing that is in the child's best interests cannot be guaranteed and the assistance is suitable and necessary for the child's development. This means that if you require more intensive support in order to meet the child's educational needs, you are entitled to a suitable offer from the youth welfare office. Together with specialists, a decision is then made as to which type of help is appropriate in each individual case and a help plan is drawn up.

Types of educational assistance can be:

• Educational counseling: This is professional counseling for parents or guardians who need support in raising and caring for their child.
• Family therapy: This measure supports the educational process and helps to improve relationships within the family or make them possible again in the first place.
• Outpatient help: involves the social environment and takes place in the family as educational support or socio-educational family assistance.
• Partial inpatient help: the child or young person receives several hours a day, e.g. in a day group.
• Full inpatient help: is provided outside the parental home in residential care or residential groups. It can also be provided temporarily or permanently in full-time foster families.

Children, adolescents or young adults can also seek help from the youth welfare office independently. The parents do not need to know about this if the children and young people do not want it.

You can find more information on help with upbringing and an FAQ on the website of the youth welfare office responsible for you.

• Scholastic and vocational support: These are measures aimed at supporting children and young people in acquiring education and qualifications.
• Therapeutic measures: These measures include, for example, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and music therapy, which are designed to promote the development and well-being of the child or young person.
• Support with integration into society: These measures support young people as they enter adult life, for example by helping them to find accommodation, employment or apprenticeships.

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