Are there English-speaking therapists in Austria?
Yes, and more than many people expect. A large number of psychotherapists in Austria work in English, many of them in Vienna, but also in Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck, as well as through online therapy across the whole country. For expats, international students, professionals and anyone who opens up more easily in English, this is often the deciding factor for therapy that actually works.
The key question first: does insurance pay for therapy in English?
Yes. And this is the point that is most often misunderstood: the health-insurance subsidy does not depend on the language of the treatment. For the ÖGK subsidy of 33.70 euros per session, only two things matter, that the therapist is entered in the psychotherapist register of the Ministry of Health, and that a medically warranted diagnosis is present. Whether the session is held in German, English or another language makes no difference to the subsidy.
In practice that means: if you choose a registered, English-speaking elective therapist (Wahltherapeut:in), you receive the same subsidy as with a German-speaking one. How the subsidy works in detail is in our guide to the ÖGK subsidy.
The three routes, briefly
In Austria there are three ways to finance therapy. For English-speaking options, the second one matters most:
- Insured slot (Kassenplatz): the therapist bills the health fund directly and you pay nothing. These slots are scarce, waiting times are long, and English-speaking insured slots are especially rare
- Elective therapy with a subsidy (Wahltherapie): you pay the therapist yourself and get 33.70 euros per session back from the ÖGK. Most English-speaking options work this way
- Self-payer: entirely without health-insurance involvement, for example for coaching or without a diagnosis
- An elective therapy session in Austria typically costs 80 to 170 euros. What remains after the subsidy and any private supplementary insurance, you can work out in a minute with our therapy cost calculator. The full overview is in the cost guide for psychotherapy in Austria. And your own share can often be deducted from your taxes.
Online therapy in English
If no suitable English-speaking therapist has a free slot where you live, online therapy is a good option. It takes place by video, works all across Austria regardless of location, and is subsidised under the same conditions as an in-person session. Especially for people outside the big cities, this widens the choice considerably.
How to find a suitable English-speaking therapist
The fastest way is a targeted search by language. On matchyourtherapy.at you filter for free by language (English), location, focus and availability, and see the hourly rates directly in the profile. So you immediately see who works in English, currently has free slots and what a session costs, before you book a first appointment.
If it is acute right now
Finding therapy takes a little time. But if you are in an acute crisis right now, do not wait for an appointment. Telefonseelsorge on 142 is available around the clock, free and anonymous, and you can speak in English. We have collected all the important emergency numbers and crisis services on our crisis page.
