How can I start psychotherapy?
Here is a rough overview of available options to start therapy.
Option 0: You just want to talk about it
You can call the Nightline. Your anonymous phone line from students for students. No counseling takes place.
You can use our Coaching. Please note the difference between therapy and coaching.
Option 1: Call the Helpline of the ÖH, you will be placed within a week
If possible, free public health insurance slots will be arranged. If you need other things like a confirmation for study grant, a neurologist, etc., they can also help you with that.
Option 2: Short-term therapy, usually 3 sessions, help with finding long-term care
This is where you usually start and get an appointment really quickly. There is an initial consultation in which the situation is clarified and it’s discussed what could help you. Then there are some follow-up consultations. For many, this is enough to be able to study again!
Make an appointment by email with our TU-internal Psychosocial Student Counseling (If you have difficulty reaching Ms. Springer, send us an email to sozial@htu.at).
Or make an appointment with the Psychological Student Counseling. There are also group offers available on the topic of learning and study organization.
Option 3: Immediate help
Either our TU-internal Psychosocial Student Counseling and explain your emergency situation to get an appointment faster or call the Psychosocial Emergency Service. The focus of the Psychosocial Emergency Service is on psychiatric emergencies. There are psychiatrists on site who can make a diagnosis and prescribe medication.
Option 4: Find a psychologist yourself and pay yourself or apply for a health insurance subsidy
You can find a psychologist/psychotherapist yourself, e.g. at the Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists or at the Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy. They will tell you their hourly rate and you pay yourself. You can apply for a cost subsidy from your health insurance company via the therapist. You will always receive a cost subsidy for the first 10 sessions, for all further sessions you have to submit a very detailed application. Nevertheless, you still bear the costs predominantly yourself.
Option 5: Wait for a fully funded public health insurance slot
You have to ask the psychologist/psychotherapist of your choice (see option 3) whether a fully funded public health insurance slot is available. A search with free public health insurance slots for Vienna can be found, for example, at the Vienna Society for Psychotherapeutic Care (select free ÖGK slots). At the family doctor you either get information material on how to get a public health insurance slot or he/she is well connected and recommends someone who has a slot available. It may take longer to get a place.
Option 6: An association or counseling center offers free or discounted therapy slots
It depends on finding the right association here. Some places feel responsible, for example, for women, women with a migration background, others for men with aggression problems. There are often waiting lists and you will be informed as soon as a place becomes available.
FEM Frauenberatung (couselling for women) up to 10 consultations, cheap
MEN Männerberatung (counselling for men) up to 10 consultations, cheap
Männerberatung Wien staggered costs according to income
Option 7: Specialized facilities
You can also be referred to specialized facilities by your family doctor. This is an option for burnout, for example, to be able to rest. If a diagnosis has already been made, a therapy/cure stay may also be possible. Such voluntary stays last several weeks.
List of further contact points from the ÖH Federal Representation.
If you lack the financial means for therapy, you can also apply for hardship funds (Härtefond).