Help area

Instahelp is a platform for online psychological counselling, which connects those seeking help with psychologists. Those who seek help can send their questions online to experienced psychologists, in order to find a solution through chat-based, individual counselling. Counselling is carried out via computer, smartphone or tablet directly in the Instahelp app, and is thus always at hand. Furthermore, we ensure full anonymity, fast response and flexibility regarding location and time.

Instahelp represents a service offering additional to the existing counselling system in classical counselling and does not replace therapy programmes. Instahelp is focussed on psychological help. Due to legal conditions, a diagnosis followed by therapy is not offered.

Instahelp offers the following advantages compared with counselling in person:

Full anonymity: You can freely choose your display name and also use an anonymous email address. In this way you’ll be able to have completely anonymous counselling.
Chat-based: Sometimes it’s easier to write about a problem than speaking about it. Additionally you can avoid awkward situations in the waiting room.
Geographical flexibility: By means of our apps, you’ll be able to benefit from counselling anywhere. Our Instahelp apps are available for desktop, tablet and smartphone.
Temporal flexibility: Contact your psychologist as soon as you would like to write about your problem. Waiting times and appointments are obsolete. Your psychologist will contact you immediately.

Psychological counselling at Instahelp does not replace medical or psychological counselling or treatment on-site and is not suitable for the diagnosis or treatment of psychological conditions. In cases of psychological diseases and psychoses, severe trauma, suicidal thoughts or severe addiction conditions, Instahelp should not be used.

In case of need please contact your doctor immediately or contact the following institutions (free of charge):
Deutschland

• Europäische Notrufnummer: 112
• Telefonseelsorge: 0800 111 0 111 oder 0800 111 0 222
  telefonseelsorge.de
• Beratung für Kinder und Jugendliche: 116 111
  nummergegenkummer.de


• Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst: 116 117
• Elterntelefon: 0800 110550
  nummergegenkummer.de
• Krisenchat für Personen unter 25: krisenchat.de

Use of Instahelp is allowed from age 16.

1. Choosing your psychologist
As a first step, you select a psychologist who specializes in your field of concern and who meets your needs in terms of e.g. availability of time and form of communication (text, video, audio). Selection and registration are free of charge.

2. Non-binding initial session
After selecting your psychologist, you can activate the individual counselling. Your psychologist will contact you within 24 hours. In the initial session you get to know each other and discuss the further course of the counselling.

3. Starting the individual counselling
Your selected psychologist will be at your disposal for the entire consultation. The intensity and frequency of the counselling varies according to your topic and is agreed individually between you and the psychologist.

Our Instahelp team of psychologists consists of experienced clinical and health psychologists, who are available to respond to your personal requests (counselling is fee-based). Due to the fact that each psychologist is specialised in certain psychological areas, the Welcome Assistant will choose the psychologist best suited to you after the first talk. Get an overview of our Instahelp team of psychologists here.

Instahelp online counselling is guided by your individual needs and is subdivided into the following three steps:

Choosing an Instahelp psychologist
Complimentary Welcome Assistant
Your initial contact with our digital Welcome Assistant serves to clarify any questions regarding online counselling at Instahelp and to choose an appropriate Instahelp psychologist. On the basis of this conversation, psychologists specialised in the area that suits your needs will be proposed. After you’ve chosen one psychologist, we’ll connect you with them.

initial session with your Instahelp psychologist
Getting to know each other and continued problem analysis
In the initial session it’s all about getting to know your Instahelp psychologist and becoming generally familiar with Instahelp online counselling. You’ll examine your problem together, define objectives for the counselling as well as how it should continue (for instance, the frequency with which counselling will take place).

Online psychological counselling
Counselling & help for self-help
From the second counselling it’s all about the solution to the problem. The psychologist will establish a counselling plan and will discuss with you how best to work on your problem by means of various different counselling methods. Counselling objectives are jointly assessed and adapted if necessary. You’ll receive individual tasks and exercises that you’ll apply in your everyday life and you’ll discuss together how things are going. The Instahelp approach is solution-oriented, creating a good structure.

At Instahelp you’ll be given clinical-psychological counselling taking into account the scientific and professional-ethical framework, which covers the following areas:

• Problem analysis
• Elaboration of objectives and approaches for solving problems, taking private and professional circumstances into account
• Continuous assessment and adaptation of objectives
• Psycho-education and information relating to various different aspects of health impairments, their implications and possibilities of change
• Information regarding the psychosocial care system and referral to other specialists if applicable
• Identification of health-related risk behaviour
• Promotion and preservation of health
• Identification and support regarding the avoidance of health risks
• Health-related framework conditions and measures for health promotion, healthcare provision and rehabilitation
• Preservation or improvement of competences and resources in the management of risk conditions (prevention)
• Reinforcement of health-promoting conditions in order to avoid recurrence of psychological distress (relapse prevention, rehabilitation)
• Activation of resources: reinforcement of the client’s own initiative and help for self-help

In the context of a concluding talk, a review of the course of counselling and an outlook for the future will be offered.

• The initial session takes place in the Instahelp app. You can arrange a video, audio or text chat with your psychologist. The conversation is anonymous and secure thanks to end-to-end encryption.
• In this conversation, explain what brought you to Instahelp and feel free to talk about any questions you have about counselling.
• Together you will then set a counselling goal or define a focus for the next few weeks and discuss how regularly you will see each other.
• Counselling is a process that can take you through ups and downs. Your psychologist will be at your side so that you can work actively to bring about change.
• Preparation: For your first appointment, think about how you can create a pleasant atmosphere for your first conversation. We have put together some tips and tricks here.

Once you’ve chosen your psychologist, you can expect a first answer within 24 hours. After that, you agree the frequency of counselling with your psychologist.

Yes, in the first step you will choose your psychologist with the help of the Welcome Assistant. This psychologist will be available to you for the entire period of counselling for your individual support. In exceptional cases (holidays, dissatisfaction etc.) you can let the Instahelp team know that you would like to change your psychologist.

When you register, you and the Instahelp Welcome Assistant select a psychologist who specializes in your field. If you want to change the psychologist, go to “Manage counselling” in your settings and click on “More info” and “Change psychologist”.

Take some time for yourself before and after your counselling session. Plan a time buffer for this when you make your appointment.

10 to 15 minutes before and after the counselling session are sufficient to

• get away from your everyday activities before the counselling session begins, to calm down and make yourself comfortable.
• reflect on what has been discussed or complete your notes after the session.

This way you can take as much as possible from each session, maintain your feeling of relaxation for as long as possible and integrate your insights into your everyday life.

Relaxed on your couch or focused at your desk, with a cappuccino or a cup of tea: The following points will help you to create the right setting for your counselling session.

• Choose a place in which you won’t be disturbed and make yourself comfortable.
• You will probably talk or write with your psychologist about issues that you do not want to share with everyone. This open exchange should not be disturbed by noise or other people.
• Also turn off sources of digital interference. For example, if you are working on a laptop, put your smartphone away and close browser tabs that you don’t need.
• For a video or audio call, consider using headphones. This can lead to even more confidentiality and better mutual understanding.
• In any case, have a pen and paper ready in case you want to make a note of something important.

Video & audio call
Most counselling sessions at Instahelp take place via video call. Video calls are the closest thing to a face-to-face exchange. Your psychologist and you can understand each other even better thanks to body language and facial expressions when the picture is turned on. Of course, you can also switch it off if you feel more comfortable with it. Then it’s just like a conversation over the phone.

Text chat
For some people it is easier to put experiences, thoughts or feelings into words in a written exchange. It can help to think in a structured way without getting stuck in thought loops. Writing down your feelings can be a relieving act on its own and you can also document and read your messages at any time, just like in a diary. The prerequisite for successful counselling via text chat is that you enjoy writing messages and take the necessary time for it.

A prerequisite for couples counselling at Instahelp is that both of you can attend the session in front of the same screen via video chat.

1. First, you will choose a psychologist from our team together.
2. One of you will take care of the registration and payment (unfortunately it is not possible to switch between different accounts).
3. Then you’ll start with a regular Instahelp initial session, in which you get to know your psychologist. You’ll discuss what brings you to Instahelp and what you expect from the counselling. Together, you define goals and agree on the further course of the counselling process.

You can find information about the rate for couples counselling on our price overview.

Registration with Instahelp is free of charge. As soon as you have chosen an Instahelp psychologist, you can unlock your psychological counselling by entering your payment data. The Instahelp psychologist will come back to you within 24 hours. You can try out Instahelp for a session in order to get to know your psychologist.

Payment is possible via direct SEPA debiting, credit card or PayPal and will be prolonged automatically so that counselling can be continued smoothly. This prolongation can be ended at any time, whilst you can continue to make use of the counselling for the period of time for which you’ve already paid. Please note that the amount paid for the chosen period is cannot be refunded.

Here you will find an overview of current prices and scope of services.

In the settings you will find the menu item “Manage counselling”. Click on “Manage counselling”, in order to open the display for your current payment settings.

In the payment settings, you can see your current counselling model (30 min.) or (50 min.) and until when it is valid. Below, you are also shown the date of the next planned prolongation of your counselling, including the next counselling model. If you would like to change the counselling model for the future extension, please click on the button “Change” next to it.

Counselling model
Here the chosen counselling model will be displayed (50 min., 30 min). You’ll see your selected tariff and the amount you’ve paid. Here you’ll find an overview of current prices and scope of services.

Change counselling model
You can switch between the two counselling models at any time. The change will become effective from the point in time of the next payment. In order to select a new counselling model, please click on “change counselling model”. The payment page will open up with the selection of the counselling model. If you select a different counselling model, you’ll be able to see the current as well as the next chosen counselling model in the payment overview.

You can decide how and when you want to communicate with your psychologist. The counselling can be used either with appointments in live text chat, via video or audio call or without an appointment in text chat. The mutual keeping of dates and responsible handling of changing arrangements are essential for appreciative cooperation. If you have not discussed an individual cancellation policy with your psychologist, the 24-hour cancellation policy applies.

If you are unable to attend an appointment, please inform your psychologist directly in the Instahelp App at least 24 hours in advance. Please note that the counselling fee cannot be refunded in case of later cancellations. Psychologists reserve counselling time for appointments and experience has shown that they are not able to reschedule appointments at short notice in case of cancellations under 24 hours. If you are late for your appointment, the time missed at the beginning of the appointment can usually not be added on or compensated. This cancellation policy (at least 24 hours before the agreed appointment) also applies to your psychologist, of course. You will be offered the next possible alternative dates.

Payment for counselling units is made in advance. Instahelp Support reviews all refund requests on a case-by-case basis and always in cooperation with the psychologists. If a refund is not possible, credits for future services can be given in justified cases.

If you have any suggestions that would improve your experience at Instahelp, please feel free to share them by email to support@instahelp.me .

In the settings (vertical dots) you will find the menu item “Manage counselling”. Click on “Manage counselling” to open the display of current payment settings.

To end counselling, please click on the button “End counselling” and confirm your selection in the next view. The termination can be made at any time until immediately before the next payment. You can continue to communicate with your psychologist and take advantage of any outstanding counselling sessions. After that, no more debits will be made, and your counselling place will be available for other people. The termination can be made at any time until immediately before the next payment. You also have the possibility to pause your counselling for up to four weeks. We reserve your counselling place for you during this period.

Yes, you can pause your counselling and payment for up to 4 weeks without losing your counselling place. In the settings (vertical dots on the top right) you will find the menu item “Manage counselling”. Click on “Manage Counselling” to open the display of your current payment settings. Under “Active counselling” > “Status” click on “change” and define the duration of your counselling pause by defining the date of your next payment.

Some private insurance companies and other partners cover the costs of psychological online counselling at Instahelp. Unfortunately, public health insurance companies currently do not offer cost coverage for online counselling. If you have any questions, please contact us at support@instahelp.me.

After selecting a psychologist with our welcome assistant, you can create an Instahelp account to log in to your private counselling room.

Choose an anonymous display name and enter your email address. The email address is not available to the Instahelp team during counselling. It’s only used in the event that you forget your password or wish to receive further information via email.

Once you’ve entered these data you’re inside your personal counselling room. With the email address and your Instahelp password you’ll be able to log into all Instahelp apps (computer, smartphone, tablet). Your psychologist does not see your email address.

During registration you choose an anonymous display name and enter your email address. Here you can also use an address that does not relate to your name. The email address will not be accessible for the Instahelp team during the period of counselling. It would only be used should you have forgotten your password or would like to receive more information via email.

Instahelp uses modern encryption (cryptography) to encode your messages and the messages of your psychologist. Encryption is carried out via a secret key inside your counselling room, which is only available to you and your psychologist. You do not have to remember your key because Instahelp generates it automatically for you with every new login by means of an intelligent function. This so-called end-to-end encryption enables top security, because messages are only decoded locally on the sending/receiving devices”. For security reasons, the secret room key will only be saved on your device whilst you are logged in. In this way, even in the event of a hacker attack on the Instahelp server, there won’t be any possibility to decode the messages and make them readable.

To use the Instahelp app, all you need is a common browser – whether on a computer, tablet or smartphone:

– Google Chrome (recommended)
– Apple Safari
– Mozilla Firefox
– Microsoft Edge
– Opera

Please always use the latest version. It is not necessary to install additional software programmes.

However, for use on a smartphone or tablet, we recommend downloading the app from the store instead of using it via the browser.

– Google Play Store
– Apple App Store


Browser: Google Chrome
Browser versions: 80+
Operating systems:
– OS X 10.13 and higher
– Windows 7+
– Android 5.0+
– iOS 15.0

Browser: Firefox
Browser versions: 78+
Operating systems:
– OS X 10.13 and higher
– Windows 7+
– Android 5.0+
– iOS 15.0+

Browser: Edge
Browser versions: 81+
Operating systems:
– Windows 10 and higher
– Android 5.0+
– iOS 15.0+

Browser: Safari
Browser versions: 11+
Operating systems:
– OS X 10.13 and higher
– iOS 11+

Browser: Opera
Browser versions: 69+
Operating systems:
– OS X 10.13 and higher
– Windows 7+
– Android 5.0+

Instahelp Communications GmbH is the developer of the Instahelp app for Android, iOS and web browsers.

A call via the Instahelp app can only be started by your psychologist. For this purpose you will make an appointment together. At the agreed time you will be called by your psychologist. Please log in to your Instahelp app in time. A window will appear directly in the Instahelp app to answer the call.

When you are called by your psychologist, a window with the incoming call appears in the Instahelp app. By clicking on “Accept” the call to your psychologist will be connected. The first time you accept a call via Instahelp on your computer, tablet or smartphone, you first have to allow access to your microphone and camera. Afterwards a direct connection between you and your psychologist will be established. A call always starts as an audio call – the video feature is deactivated by default and can be manually activated during the call.

If the authorisation for microphone and camera is blocked, the call cannot take place and all further calls will be rejected as well. If you have blocked the authorization, you need to manually authorize access, for example by clicking on the lock icon in the URL bar in your browser (left next to “https://web.instahelp.me”).

If the call does not work, please check the following criteria:
1) Computer: Please check if you have the latest version of your browser installed. We recommend Google Chrome.
2) Smartphones: Please use the latest version of the Instahelp app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
3) Networks: Some Wi-Fi connections may limit audio/video calls (e.g. public networks or Internet connections in hotels). Try disabling your wireless connection and switching to your mobile data connection.
4) VPN connection: If you use a VPN connection, e.g. for professional reasons, please deactivate it.
5) Ask your psychologist via chat message to try calling again.
6) Restart your used device (computer, tablet or smartphone).

If the problem persists after using the assistance described above, please contact Instahelp Support at support@instahelp.me.

1) Computer: Please check if you have the latest version of your browser installed. We recommend Google Chrome.
2) Smartphones: Please use the latest version of the Instahelp app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
3) Please try to test your video and audio function via the following website: Test website
After allowing access to your camera and microphone, you can start a test recording. Record for about 10 seconds, stop the recording and play it back.

Can you hear and see it?
If not:
– Is the volume of your speaker set high enough?
– Did you use a headset? If possible, try with/without a headset to check if you can hear a sound.

4) If you are using Windows 10 and you are having problems with the sound, please refer to the following page for further assistance: Help web site
5) If your camera does not work, please check the camera access authorization in your operating system and uninstall and reinstall the webcam drivers. You can find detailed instructions, e.g. for Windows 10, here: Instructions

If the problem persists after using the assistance described above, please contact Instahelp Support at support@instahelp.me.

1) Computer: Please check if you have the latest version of your browser installed. We recommend Google Chrome.
2) Smartphones: Please use the latest version of the Instahelp app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
3) Please try to test your video and audio function via the following website: Test website
After allowing access to your camera and microphone, you can start a test recording. Record for about 10 seconds, stop the recording and play it back.

Can you hear and see it?
If not:
– Please check in your settings on your computer or smartphone that the correct microphone is selected.
– Is the volume of your speaker set high enough?
– Did you use a headset? If possible, try with/without a headset to check if you can hear a sound.

4) If you are using Windows 10 and you are having problems with the sound, please refer to the following page for further assistance: Help web site
5) If your camera does not work, please check the camera access authorization in your operating system and uninstall and reinstall the webcam drivers. You can find detailed instructions, e.g. for Windows 10, here: Instructions

If the problem persists after using the assistance described above, please contact Instahelp Support at support@instahelp.me.

1) Computer: Please check if you have the latest version of your browser installed. We recommend Google Chrome.
2) Smartphones: Please use the latest version of the Instahelp app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
3) At least 1 Mbit/s is required for download and upload to ensure stable data transmission. You can test the speed of your Internet connection on the following page: Test website
4) If you are using Windows 10 and you are having problems with the sound, please refer to the following page for further assistance: Help web site
5)If possible, use a different Internet access (e.g. Wi-Fi or mobile data connection on/via your smartphone).

If the problem persists after using the assistance described above, please contact Instahelp Support at support@instahelp.me.

If you receive this error message, Instahelp is trying to establish a connection with the server. With a weak Internet connection this can take a few seconds – please be patient for a moment. The message vanishes as soon as connection is achieved. No new messages can be displayed without connection to the server.

Should the message show up continuously, please go through the following options:

1) Check your Internet connection is active and working.
2) Download the Instahelp Web app in your browser again (F5 or “refresh”) or shut down and restart the Instahelp app on the smartphone or tablet in order to check whether it was just a temporary problem.
3) Should the error message continue to be shown, try to download the latest version of your Internet browser. The most popular browsers are Google Chrome and Firefox.
4) Should the problem continue, you might be inside a network (e.g. company network), in which the Web-socket connections necessary to use Instahelp are blocked by a firewall. Should this be the case, please contact our Instahelp support support@instahelp.me.

Instahelp psychologists are subject to strict quality criteria and are chosen carefully. Should you be interested you may apply directly to us. For more information click here.

Yes, Instahelp offers ideal support for the psychological wellbeing of your employees. Here too, counselling is anonymous, keeping the psychological barrier as low as possible. Here you’ll find more information.