One of the most important tasks of the Church is to help those in need. This includes people who need someone to talk to. If you are – or someone you know – is facing a difficult situation or have a problem that you would like to discuss, you are welcome to make use of one of the options mentioned below.
Not all counsellors are used to speaking English or another foreign language and some may take a little time to feel comfortable doing so. Others may want to direct you to a colleague whose language skills they consider to be better.
Pastors
Pastors are trained in counselling (in Danish: sjælesorg). Also, they are required to respect confidentiality, which means that they must not tell anyone else about the conversations that they have with the people who come to them. You may contact your local parish pastor or a pastor from one of the migrant churches, or you may attend a night service where the possibility to talk with a pastor or another person is part of the service. Night services are held in some churches in the cities, e.g. in Copenhagen and Aarhus.
University chaplains
Part of the work of university chaplains is to be available for students who need someone to talk to, whether they face difficult situations related to their studies, struggle with spiritual questions, or just want to chat or to pray with another person. You can find more information about the university chaplains here: Student work. To access a list of available university chaplains in Copenhagen, click here, and in Aarhus, click here.
If you would like to meet with a person face to face, a third option, in addition to pastors and university chaplains, may be to contact one of the national organisations that do social work. You can find a list of organisations on the page Social work.
Online counselling
Sjaelesorg.nu – or “Pastoral Care Online” (in Danish: Sjælesorg på Nettet) is a free chat service the Danish church, where you can have a confidential conversation with a pastoral carer about the things that lay heavy on your mind.
Everyone can get a pastoral care conversation online regardless of gender, age, or religion, and you don’t have to be a member of the Lutheran Church. The address is: https://www.sjaelesorg.nu
Telephone counselling
Saint Luke's Foundation has a counselling service that is open on weekdays. Qualified therapists offer their help, care and counselling. If you want to book a time to talk, call the service between noon and 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday or send an e-mail. Telephone: 39 455 200, e-mail raadgivningskontoret@sanktlukas.dk.
Sct. Nicolai Tjenesten also provides telephone counselling. The counselling service offers anonymity and the counsellors are required to respect confidentiality. Telephone: 70 120 110.
