Services & Support
Counseling
If you have experienced sexualized harassment, discrimination, or violence, you can get confidential support from the counseling services listed here. They are also available to people who have witnessed sexualized harassment, discrimination, or violence, as well as people seeking information on how to prevent it. The counselors are all sworn to professional secrecy and will not share any information with other parties without the explicit permission of the person seeking counseling. At certain service offices, you can seek advice or counseling anonymously.
If you are looking to be referred to specialized external service offices that are not listed on this website, please get in touch with the Office of the Standing Working Group on Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination and Violence. Among others, these may include service offices for queer people who have experienced discrimination and violence, for people who experienced sexualized violence in their childhood, for people in various critical situations, and also service offices counseling perpetrators.
University Offices
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Office of the Standing Working Group on Sexualized Harassment, Discrimination and Violence
What?
Confidential advice and counseling in cases of sexualized harassment, discrimination, and violence (including stalking), anonymous upon request. They also offer step-by-step support when going through a grievance procedure
For whom?
All who work or study at Freie Universität Berlin or who are guests
Languages?
German, English
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Chief Gender Equality Officer of Freie Universität Berlin
What?
Confidential advice and counseling in cases of sexualized harassment, discrimination, and violence (including stalking), anonymous upon request. They also offer step-by-step support when going through a grievance procedure
For whom?
All women at Freie Universität Berlin and other individuals who have experienced discrimination due to their sexual identity
Languages?
German, English
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Local Gender Equality Officers
What?
Confidential advice and counseling in cases of sexualized harassment, discrimination, and violence (including stalking), anonymous upon request. They also offer support when going through a grievance procedure
For whom?
All women in their respective departments, institutes, or units
Languages?
German and a mix of others depending on the department, institute, etc.
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Center for Academic Advising and Psychological Counseling
What?
Psychological counseling related to experiences with sexualized harassment, discrimination, or violence (including stalking)
For whom?
Members of Freie Universität Berlin, students and employees
Languages?
German, English
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Women’s Counseling at AStA (General Students’ Committee)
What?
Support with problems and questions concerning sexism, discrimination on campus, sexualized violence, family violence, stalking, multiple discrimination, and finding therapy. Help in cases of heterosexist incidents, assault and/or sexualized assaults or violence; help with finding legal, social, or psychological support
For whom?
Students and employees who do not identify as cis-men
Languages?
German, English, Spanish, and others upon request
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Queer-feminist Peer Support at AStA (General Students’ Committee)
What?
Support and counseling on topics like coming out, transitioning, finding a therapist, lawyer, or doctor
For whom?
Students and employees who do not identify as cis-men
Languages?
German, English
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
What?
Confidential preliminary consultation in cases of sexualized harassment, discrimination, or violence (including stalking). Help finding additional support or expert counseling if necessary
For whom?
All employees at Freie Universität Berlin who have experienced discrimination due to their sexual identity
Languages?
German, English, French, Spanish
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Office of Social Counseling and Support
What?
Psychological and social counseling, step-by-step support, referrals to other support or counseling services
For whom?
All Freie Universität Berlin employees
Languages?
German, English, Croatian
Confidentiality?
Confidential
Staff Council of Student Employees
What?
Help with finding services and support
For whom?
All student employees of Freie Universität Berlin
Languages?
German
Confidentiality?
Confidential
Youth and Apprentices Representatives
What?
Counseling related to experiences with sexualized harassment, discrimination, or violence (including stalking)
For whom?
All young people and apprentices at Freie Universität Berlin
Languages?
German
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Representative Body for Disabled Employees
What?
Help in finding suitable counseling and support offices
For whom?
All Freie Universität Berlin employees
Languages?
German
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
What?
Outpatient psychotherapy for young people who are under sustained stress due to traumatic experiences (for example, sexualized assault); focus on behavioral therapy; initial consultation to clarify needs and get general advice; consultations adhere to the professional code of psychological psychotherapists and children and youth psychotherapists
For whom?
Young people 14 years and older who are under sustained stress due to traumatic experiences
Languages?
German, English
Confidentiality?
Confidential
What?
Help for women who have been raped, sexually abused, sexually assaulted, and/or sexually harassed; counseling available by phone or in person; legal advice from female lawyers; mobile counseling for refugee women
For whom?
Women, girls, and transgender people 14 years and older
Confidentiality?
Confidential
Languages?
German, English, Polish, Arabic, for other languages an interpreter can be provided
Wildwasser - Arbeitsgemeinschaft gegen sexuellen Missbrauch an Mädchen e.V.
What?
Wildwasser - Arbeitsgemeinschaft gegen sexuelle Missbrauch an Mädchen e.V. - is a registered non-profit association of women. In Berlin, it runs a counselling centre for girls in Friedrichshain.
For whom?
Girls and young women who have experienced sexual violence or feel threatened by it, mothers and other support persons, professional helpers
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Languages?
German
What?
Counseling in cases of sexualized violence, violence in relationships, but also violence experienced through government offices or on the streets; (multiple) discrimination, bullying, stalking, help finding therapists, doctors, and lawyers
For whom?
(Refugee) LGBT*I*Q (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter*, queer) individuals with immigration history, people of color and black people, people who are affected by multiple discrimination due to disability, age, religion, beliefs, social background, etc., (elected) family members and friends of victims, professionals, advocates
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Languages?
Urdu, Punjabi, Turkish, Hebrew, Persian, German, English. Interpreters can be arranged for the following languages: German Sign Language, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Georgian, and Russian
FRIEDA Counseling Center for Women
What?
Support in cases of stalking, including cyberstalking
For whom?
Girls and women who have been affected by stalking
Confidentiality?
Confidential
Languages?
German; English and French available upon request
Outpatient Clinic for the Protection against Violence
What?
Forensic medical assessment and documentation of visible injuries, for example, following domestic violence or injuries following sexualized violent crimes (treatment given in Charité’s rescue centers), experiences of violence on the job/at work; child abuse; optional counseling also available through Operhilfe e.V. (victim support association)
For whom?
Victims of (sexualized) violence
Confidentiality?
Confidential
Languages?
German, English
Hilfetelefon Gewalt Gegen Frauen - Helpline Violence against Women
What?
The nationwide helpline offers anonymous and free of charge counseling for women who have experienced violence and for individuals wanting to help someone who is experiencing violence. 24/7 support via online chat or by calling: 116 016. For people from all nationalities and with our without disabilities.
For whom?
Women who have experienced violence; individuals who want to help someone who is experiencing violence; staff and employees working with issues of violence
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous
Languages?
German, English, Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Italian, Kurdish, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, German sign language
What?
Initial consultation by phone in cases of domestic violence, as well as counseling in person, personal accompaniment to court dates, help understanding bureaucratic questions
For whom?
Women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence; individuals who want to help someone who is experiencing domestic violence; staff and employees working with issues of domestic violence in their work at government offices and social institutions
Confidentiality?
Confidential
Languages?
German. Interpreters can be arranged for a large number of languages
What?
Information on legal steps, psychological counseling, help finding an apartment or referral to a women’s shelter
For whom?
Women affected by domestic violence
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Languages?
Persian, English, Hungarian, Romanian, and German. Interpreters can be arranged for other languages
bff: Federal Association of Rape Crisis Centers and Women’s Counseling Centers in Germany
What?
Counseling in person or by phone when dealing with any and all forms of (sexualized) violence, for example, violence in relationships or close social surroundings (“domestic violence”); rape, including rape in the context of war; trafficking in women and forced prostitution; sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence; sexual abuse in a therapeutic and counseling context; (sexual) harassment at work; bullying; stalking; digital violence; psychological violence; counseling in cases of pregnancy conflicts; referrals to other support services
For whom?
All women who are experiencing or have experienced sexualized, physical, and/or psychological violence
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Languages?
Depending on the individual counseling center, interpreters can be arranged for certain languages
Federal Antidiscrimination Agency
What?
Counseling in cases of discrimination or sexualized harassment, examining legal claims related to the General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG), referrals to other support services, arbitration services if necessary
For whom?
Anyone who feels that they have been discriminated against (for example, due to their gender or sexual identity) and anyone who has questions about the General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG)
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Languages?
German, English, Arabic
Berliner Krisendienst - Help during a Crisis
What?
Help when experiencing psychosocial crises or acute mental and psychiatric emergency situations. 24/7. 9 Berlin offices. Support by phone, in the office and in acute situations in situ.
For whom?
People experiencing a crisis, their relatives or people otherwise involved and people dealing with others in crises
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous upon request
Languages?
German, English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Polish, Russian, Romanian, Spanish, Turkish
What?
Support and personal care, accompanying to appointments with authorities and at the court. Providing legal security and financial support in crime-afflicted emergency situations. Helpline from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. under the number: 116 006
For whom?
People affected by criminal acts, like, e.g., rape, domestic violence or cyberbullying
Confidentiality?
Confidential, anonymous
Languages?
German, English
AnDi - Berlin Antidiscrimination App
What?
AnDi is the Antidiscrimination App of the state of Berlin. It helps finding suitable antidiscrimination counselling services in Berlin. You can also report incidents of discriminination via this AnDi.
For whom?
Anyone in Berlin who feels that they have been discriminated against (for example, due to their gender or sexual identity) and anyone who has observed discrimination against others
Confidentiality?
Confidential and anonymous
Languages?
German, English, Arabic, Farsi, French, Russisch, Turkish