Xenion
XENION e. V. has existed since 1986 as a psychosocial treatment center for traumatized refugees and victims of torture, war and other serious human rights violations. We also provide support for their families. As a politically and religiously independent, non-governmental human rights organization, we have set ourselves a clear goal: We offer refugees protection, professional psychotherapeutic help, social counseling and support.
Our work follows a holistic approach. As part of our initial consultations, we first discuss appropriate forms of psychotherapeutic treatment, which we then supplement with creative approaches and social counseling as required. With these building blocks, we support clients of all ages: children, adolescents and adults.
We also coordinate several volunteer programs in which committed Berliners help and support refugees.
Always check the organisation's website for possible updates before you visit a service.
Health
Migration
Services
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Couple counselling
DescriptionAs part of our psychological counseling for adults and families, we offer couples and family therapy/conversations. Together with specially trained interpreters and language mediators, we make this possible in over 35 languages.WeekdaysMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ThursdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Mediation to counselings
DescriptionAs part of psychological counseling for adults and families, we support and advise our clients on practical life issues and arrange and coordinate internal and external help (e.g. social counseling and support during the asylum process).WeekdaysMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ThursdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Psychosocial counseling
DescriptionPsychological counselling for children and young people. We have therefore made it our goal to strengthen and stabilise our clients - unaccompanied and accompanied underage refugees - so that they can overcome the difficult events of the past and develop a perspective for the future. To this end, we work specifically on their individual stresses and symptoms and support them in coping with everyday life. In our paediatric and youth department, we treat young clients up to the age of 21.WeekdaysMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ThursdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Common cooking
Description"Foosball & cooking - a piece of home in Berlin" It offers young people between the ages of 16-21 who have come to Germany as unaccompanied minor refugees (UMFs) from African countries of origin the opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen each other in a relaxed atmosphere.WeekdaysUnregularLocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Psychosocial counseling
DescriptionAt XENION, we also use artistic and innovative methods in our group and individual therapies. The specific programmes vary according to needs and possibilities: - The "Sign Language" studio group for young people - Art therapy group for traumatised women - Art therapy with toddlers, children and young people (individual therapy and in small groups) - Dance and movement therapy for adolescents and adults (small and very small groups) - Writing workshop for torture survivors as part of the "Contemporary Witnesses of Human Rights" projectWeekdaysUnregularLocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Music workshop
DescriptionMusic workshop "Make yourself strong through rap" After two successfully completed rap groups in the pilot project, there is now finally a new, permanent rap group at XENION with social and music education support. The young people deal intensively with their own biographical experiences and incorporate them creatively into their own lyrics and musical styles.WeekdaysUnregularLocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Art & literature
DescriptionCultural excursion group "Discover art and culture in Berlin" In this group programme, young refugees explore and discover their new place of residence, Berlin, and engage with the city's culture and history.WeekdaysUnregularLocations-
No (public) locations
LanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Self-help group / Empowerment
WeekdaysUnregularLocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Psychosocial counseling
WeekdaysWednesdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesGerman, Russian, UkrainianAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papers -
Feststellung besonderer Schutzbedürftigkeit (nach Art. 21 der EU-Aufnahmerichtlinie)
WeekdaysMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ThursdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Urban gardening
WeekdaysWednesdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized -
Support im Alltag und Bürokratie
Description‘Individual guardianship’ As a guardian, you will discuss issues relating to school, education, health and accommodation in youth welfare centres together with the young person and make appropriate decisions. Planning the young person's future prospects under residence law is also of particular importance. The 'akinda' project arranges voluntary individual guardianships for unaccompanied minor refugees. We provide training to prepare you for your time as a guardian and support and advise you during this work through one-to-one meetings and further training.WeekdaysUnregularLocations-
No (public) locations
LanguagesGerman, EnglishAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Unfunded, Critical of power -
Support im Alltag und Bürokratie
DescriptionMentoring XENION has been organising volunteer mentoring for refugees in Berlin in various projects since 2004. The volunteers are qualified and supervised. They support refugees as a trusted person who knows the area and helps them to arrive and find their way in a foreign city, culture and language.WeekdaysUnregularLocations-
No (public) locations
LanguagesGerman, EnglishAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Unfunded, Critical of power -
Support for finding a flat
WeekdaysUnregularLocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation -
Trainings / Education
DescriptionTraining courses for healthcare professionals As part of the annual curriculum for the treatment of psychologically reactive trauma consequences in traumatised refugees and victims of torture, we offer in cooperation with: Kammer für Psychologische Psychotherapeuten und Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeuten im Land Berlin Zentrum Überleben gGmbH BAfF Akademie – Flucht und psychosoziale Gesundheit Training courses on two weekends a year.WeekdaysUnregularLocations-
No (public) locations
LanguagesGermanAccessibilityWithout membershipClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Trainings / Education
DescriptionTraining for professionals For social workers, psychologists, youth welfare organisations, teachers and volunteers who work with refugees. Thematic fields: Psychosocial care for refugees/particularly vulnerable refugees/unaccompanied minor refugees Psychological effects of flight and trauma Work with traumatised refugee children, adolescents and adults Social work with traumatised refugees: Fields of action, mandates and limits of social work Introduction to asylum and residence law Crises and suicidal behaviour Suicide prevention in shared accommodation centres Transcultural work and culturally sensitive counselling Working with language mediators and interpretersWeekdaysUnregularLocations-
No (public) locations
LanguagesGermanAccessibilityWithout membershipClassificationsCritical of power -
Psychosocial counseling
DescriptionTherapies for adults & families XENION supports people who need targeted help with a team of psychologists and psychotherapists who are trained in various methods such as depth psychology-based, behavioral and systemic therapy. We offer this help in the form of holistic psychotherapy and with an intercultural approach. Together with specially trained interpreters and language mediators, we make this possible in over 35 languages.WeekdaysMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ThursdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Meeting place
DescriptionAfghanistan group for teenagers and young adults We have launched a new weekly group programme that brings together teenagers and young adults who are suffering from severe stress due to the situation in their country of origin and fear for their families. Many of them came to Germany as unaccompanied minors and have already had to cope with severe stress and trauma in recent years. The developments in Afghanistan are causing immense fear for their families, massive insecurity and re-traumatisation. The group is accompanied by a therapist, a social counsellor and an interpreter.WeekdaysUnregularLocationsLanguagesGermanAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power -
Self-help group / Empowerment
WeekdaysWednesdayThis service does not happen every week.LocationsLanguagesRussian, UkrainianAccessibilityFor free / donation, Without membership, Without papersClassificationsSelf-organized, Critical of power