Free psychological help in Vienna — Where and how?
You need support for your mental health but can't afford a private practice? In Vienna, there are more options than most people think. This guide shows you all the paths — from insurance-covered therapy to free services.
1. Insurance-covered psychotherapy
In Austria, you're entitled to psychotherapy covered by health insurance. The ÖGK (and other insurers) cover the full cost if you get an insurance-funded spot. The problem: waiting times are often 3-6 months, sometimes longer.
Alternatively, you can apply for a 'cost subsidy': You go to a therapist of your choice and get about €33 per session back from insurance. You pay the rest yourself.
→ For you if: you're willing to wait and need long-term therapy.
2. Psychosocial Services Vienna (PSD)
The PSD are Vienna's most important public contact point for mental health. There's a center in every district. You don't need a referral, insurance, or appointment — you can just walk in. Services include psychiatric counseling, crisis intervention, social work support, and therapy placement.
Especially important: The PSD also operates the psychiatric emergency service at 01 31330, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
→ For you if: you want to talk to someone quickly and easily — without a waiting list.
3. University clinics and training institutes
Psychotherapists in training need practice hours — and therefore offer therapy at significantly reduced prices. The SFU Ambulanz (Sigmund Freud University) offers psychotherapy in over 20 languages from about €10 per session. Similar offerings exist at the University of Vienna and various training associations.
The quality is often very good — the therapists are closely supervised. The disadvantage: waiting times can also be several weeks here.
→ For you if: you want regular therapy but can't pay the full price.
4. Crisis intervention — immediate help
If you're in an acute crisis right now, immediate help is available. The Crisis Intervention Center (KIZ) at Lazarettgasse 14 offers walk-in help (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm). The telephone helpline is available 24/7 at 142. For children and young people, Rat auf Draht is available at 147.
For multilingual crisis counseling: The AMIKE phone (01 343 0101) offers support in 8 languages — German, English, Farsi, Arabic, Kurdish, Russian, BCS, and Turkish.
→ For you if: you need help right now. Not tomorrow.
5. Self-help groups and online services
Self-help groups for depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, borderline, and many other topics meet regularly in Vienna — free of charge, no registration. The site selbsthilfe.at lists all groups by topic.
Online, there are moderated forums like the Depression Discussion Forum and chat counseling. For young people, FIDEO offers a specialized chat for depression and anxiety.
→ For you if: you want to connect with others — no cost, no waiting time.
What's the best first step?
That depends on how urgent it is. In a crisis: Call now (142 or 01 31330). If it's not acute but you need help: Visit the PSD in your district — they can also refer you to the right place. If you want long-term therapy: Expect a waiting period and apply for the insurance subsidy in parallel.
Last updated: May 2026. This article does not replace professional counseling. In an emergency: 142 (crisis hotline), 01 31330 (psychiatric emergency service).