Counseling Working Group
General Information
The information and café area – and with it the Counselling Working Group – is the first port of call for many users of the Mann-O-Meter. Almost every visitor or caller is directed by one of its staff members to the information they need and the right person to speak to.
The volunteers in the Counselling Group are trained lay counsellors and ensure that the Mann-O-Meter can make its low-threshold services available to those interested and seeking advice. They provide information on all aspects of gay life in Berlin. This includes questions about sexual health and social services, as well as the gay scene and tourist highlights. The staff issue STI test results and provide information on accessing appropriate treatment, but they are also there to listen if anyone has problems. Where necessary, they refer visitors and callers to other services within or outside the Mann-O-Meter.
The AG's remit also includes the sale of condoms, lubricant and Pride merchandise, as well as organising the café’s operations.
Service
The services offered in the Mann-O-Meter information and café area are divided into the following sections:
- Free information and café: A wide range of leaflets, postcards, brochures and magazines are available in the Mann-O-Meter information area. You are welcome to take them away, or browse through them at your leisure in the café area. Mann-O-Meter thus offers easy access to a wide variety of information. If required, staff from the Counselling Working Group are on hand to provide information.
- In addition to a wide range of free information, guests can obtain various branded condoms and a range of lubricants at the information desk at affordable prices.
- Staff from the Counselling Group can be contacted by telephone, in person and via the Deutsche Aidshilfe Gay Health Chat. They are trained lay counsellors who support those seeking advice in deciding whether professional counselling (e.g. with a psychologist or one of the Mann-O-Meter’s psychological counsellors) might be helpful, and refer guests accordingly. They assist with questions regarding sexual health and have further free information material to hand. Those seeking advice are referred to the appropriate services according to their needs.
Internal placement
- Appointments for psychological counselling or advice on chemsex
- HIV/STI testing
- Legal advice
- Group activities organised by Mann-O-Meter (e.g. youth groups, CHEX groups or Café Doppelherz)
- Self-help groups (e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous or support for people with compulsive sexual behaviour)
- Leisure groups run by external organisations at Mann-O-Meter (e.g. Geezers, Bergfest or Akademiker)
External Placement
- Counselling services and self-help groups
- Medical, legal and psychological support
- Youth and leisure groups
Collaboration
Staff members of the Counselling Working Group meet once a month for a plenary session. The plenary session serves as a forum for the exchange of information, peer supervision, and staff training and professional development. The focus is on topics relating to the sexual health of gay and bisexual men, counselling approaches and psychological issues. In addition, the Counselling Working Group holds retreat days to explore individual topics in greater depth.