About addiction
Addictions to substances or behaviours such as gambling, gaming or the internet involve loss of control and continuing despite harm. Treatment usually combines psychological therapy, relapse prevention and, in some cases, medical care. Professionals with experience in addictions can coordinate with specialised services.
Therapist is the everyday word for a professional who offers talking therapy: depending on the country it can be a psychologist, a psychotherapist, a licensed counsellor, a marriage and family therapist or a clinical social worker. Profiles show each therapist’s actual title, training and registration.
Getting mental health care in Bosnia & Herzegovina
Public health system · Entity public health systems (Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska, Brčko District)
Public mental health care is delivered through a network of community mental health centres (centri za mentalno zdravlje), usually attached to primary health care centres, together with family medicine teams. Teams typically include a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a nurse and a social worker. Services are paid for by the mandatory health insurance funds, which are organised separately in each entity.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Medical chambers (Ljekarska komora in the Federation of BiH; Komora doktora medicine in Republika Srpska). In the Federation of BiH, doctors must register with the competent medical chamber and may practise independently only within the specialty named on their chamber licence. In Republika Srpska, the Komora doktora medicine keeps a record of its members.
- No statutory regulator yet (Federation of BiH draft law on psychologists). A law to regulate the work of psychologists in the Federation of BiH was still a draft in public consultation in mid-2025. Ask about the psychologist's degree and supervised clinical training.
Urgent help in Bosnia & Herzegovina
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 124 · Ambulancia (Hitna pomoć)
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, mz.ks.gov.ba, paragraf.ba, paragraf.ba
Signs to look out for
An addiction may be developing when you find it hard to control how much or how often you use a substance or engage in a behaviour such as gambling, gaming, shopping or online use; when you keep going despite problems with health, money, work or relationships; when you need more to get the same effect; or when you feel restless or unwell when you stop.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Effective approaches include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, relapse-prevention programmes, contingency management and, for young people, family-based therapy. Psychologists and clinical psychologists with addiction experience, psychiatrists and specialised addiction services usually work together. For some substances, medically supervised treatment is needed. Mutual-help groups can complement professional care for many people.
When to seek urgent help
Contact your local emergency services immediately in case of a suspected overdose, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, seizures, chest pain or confusion. Seek urgent help too if there are thoughts of suicide or harming others. Stopping some substances suddenly after heavy use can be dangerous, so talk to a doctor before quitting.
What you can do in the meantime
Be honest with yourself about how often and why you use, and notice the situations, emotions and people that trigger it. Tell someone you trust and consider removing easy access, such as blocking betting apps or limiting cash. Fill your time with activities that do not involve the substance or behaviour. Lapses can happen; they are a signal to seek support, not a failure.
What does a therapist do?
A therapist helps you talk through what is worrying you and find practical ways to feel and cope better. In sessions they listen, ask questions, help you notice patterns in your thoughts, emotions and relationships, and agree goals with you. Depending on their training they may use cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, systemic, psychodynamic or other evidence-based approaches, with individuals, couples, families or groups.
When to see a therapist
It makes sense to look for a therapist when stress, anxiety, low mood, grief, relationship problems, a difficult change or the effects of past experiences start to weigh on your daily life, or when you simply want space to understand yourself better. If symptoms are severe, you may need medication or there are signs of a medical cause, involve your doctor or a psychiatrist as well.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Bosnia & Herzegovina cover psychological care?
Public mental health care is delivered through a network of community mental health centres (centri za mentalno zdravlje), usually attached to primary health care centres, together with family medicine teams. Teams typically include a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a nurse and a social worker. Services are paid for by the mandatory health insurance funds, which are organised separately in each entity.
How do I check that a therapist is licensed in Bosnia & Herzegovina?
Medical chambers (Ljekarska komora in the Federation of BiH; Komora doktora medicine in Republika Srpska): In the Federation of BiH, doctors must register with the competent medical chamber and may practise independently only within the specialty named on their chamber licence. In Republika Srpska, the Komora doktora medicine keeps a record of its members.