Do I need a referral?

No. You can contact the family counselling clinic yourself by phone, chat or online form. A child health clinic, early childhood education or school can also direct the family there, but that is not required.

Does it cost anything?

No. Family counselling is one of the social services that are free under section 4 of the Client Fees Act. Private couples or family therapy, on the other hand, is paid by the client.

Can we come as a couple without the child?

Parents in a family with children can also come as a couple, because the clinic supports the parents' relationship and cooperation for the child's wellbeing. Couples without children under 18 look for help from private couples therapists.

Yes. According to the wellbeing services counties, family counselling is voluntary and confidential. Cooperation with others, such as the school, happens only as agreed with the family.

Family counselling clinic (perheneuvola): what it is and how to get there

Updated 11 November 2026 · Editorial principles and sources

In brief

A family counselling clinic (perheneuvola, officially kasvatus- ja perheneuvonta) is a free social service of your wellbeing services county for families with children. You can contact it yourself without a referral when you are worried about a child's development, behaviour or emotions, parenting, family conflict or separation. The service is based on section 26 of the Social Welfare Act, and the Client Fees Act makes it free of charge.

What does a family counselling clinic do?

Under section 26 of the Social Welfare Act, family counselling covers assessment, guidance, expert advice and other support related to children's growth and development, family life, relationships and social skills. The work is multidisciplinary, with social work, psychology and medical experts. According to the wellbeing services counties' own descriptions, you can get for example:

support for parenting and raising children
help when you are worried about a child's behaviour, mood or psychological development
couple and family meetings for communication problems and conflicts
support for separation and co-parenting, and family mediation
psychological assessments of children and supportive treatment visits (for example in Kanta-Häme)

Who is it for?

Family counselling clinics serve families with children under 18, and for example in Vantaa and Satakunta also expectant parents. Age limits vary: for example in Vantaa and Kerava the clinics serve families with children under 13, and 13 to 21-year-olds and their parents have a separate youth psychosocial support service. The service is voluntary and confidential, and a minor's client relationship usually requires the guardians' consent.

The clinic is for families with children. Couples without children look for couples therapy from private therapists. Kela reimburses couples and family therapy only when rehabilitative psychotherapy has been granted. Couples therapy guide

How do you get there?

Contact the service yourself
Call your wellbeing services county's family counselling clinic or family centre advice line, use the chat or fill in the online contact form. No referral is needed. A child health clinic, early childhood education or school can also direct the family to the service.
Initial assessment
A worker maps out the situation and agrees on the first meeting. In Satakunta and Kanta-Häme, for example, a contact left with the online form is answered within 1 to 3 working days.
Meetings
Meetings can be with the parents, the child or the whole family, and some areas also offer remote meetings. The work is planned together with the family.

Family counselling is free of charge (Act on Client Fees in Social Welfare and Health Care, section 4). Waiting times vary by area, so ask when you get in touch.

Family counselling by city

The table shows how to contact the family counselling clinic or the equivalent service in the cities that have a Mintera therapy guide. A phone number is shown only where the county's own page states it; otherwise the link leads to the service page with current contact details.

City	Wellbeing services county	Contact
Helsinki	Helsingin kaupunki	Service page
Espoo	Länsi-Uudenmaan hyvinvointialue	Service page
Vantaa	Vantaan ja Keravan hyvinvointialue	09 4191 5200 Service page
Tampere	Pirkanmaan hyvinvointialue	Service page
Turku	Varsinais-Suomen hyvinvointialue	Service page
Oulu	Pohjois-Pohjanmaan hyvinvointialue	Service page
Jyväskylä	Keski-Suomen hyvinvointialue	Service page
Kuopio	Pohjois-Savon hyvinvointialue	Service page
Lahti	Päijät-Hämeen hyvinvointialue	Service page
Pori	Satakunnan hyvinvointialue	044 707 8452 Service page
Kouvola	Kymenlaakson hyvinvointialue	05 220 6000 Service page
Kotka	Kymenlaakson hyvinvointialue	05 220 6000 Service page
Joensuu	Pohjois-Karjalan hyvinvointialue	Service page
Lappeenranta	Etelä-Karjalan hyvinvointialue	05 352 2360 Service page
Hämeenlinna	Kanta-Hämeen hyvinvointialue	Service page
Mikkeli	Etelä-Savon hyvinvointialue	Service page
Vaasa	Pohjanmaan hyvinvointialue	Service page
Seinäjoki	Etelä-Pohjanmaan hyvinvointialue	040 636 7992 Service page
Rovaniemi	Lapin hyvinvointialue	Service page

Checked on the wellbeing services counties' pages on 11 November 2026.

If the situation is urgent

Family counselling is not an emergency service. If a child or family member is in immediate danger, call 112. In a sudden family crisis or a domestic violence situation, contact your area's social and crisis emergency service, which is open around the clock; the numbers are in the city guides. Crisis help

Sources: Social Welfare Act 1301/2014 section 26 and Act on Client Fees in Social Welfare and Health Care 734/1992 section 4 (finlex.fi); wellbeing services counties' family counselling pages (links in the table), read 11 November 2026.