About family therapy
Family therapy works with several members together to improve communication, resolve conflicts and support everyone through changes such as separations, illness or adolescence.
Social workers support people and families in difficult situations: access to social and health resources, dependency, family conflicts, addictions or social exclusion. They coordinate with public services and other professionals.
Getting mental health care in Benin
Public health system · Public health system - CNHU de Psychiatrie de Cotonou (Jacquot) and CNHU Hubert Koutoukou Maga
The national psychiatric hospital in Cotonou (formerly Centre de Jacquot) is the main public psychiatric facility, and the CNHU Hubert Koutoukou Maga hosts a university mental health centre. Specialist services are concentrated in Cotonou.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ordre National des Médecins du Bénin. The Order was created by Ordinance No. 73-38 of 1973, and Law No. 97-020 requires a Beninese state diploma or recognised equivalent to practise medicine. Ask the doctor about their registration with the Order.
Urgent help in Benin
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 117 · Police secours
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: lanouvelletribune.info, prph4.expertisefrance.fr, extranet.who.int, sgg.gouv.bj
Signs to look out for
Every family goes through tension. Family therapy may help when conflict is constant or very intense, communication has broken down, a child’s difficulties are straining everyone, members feel stuck in the same patterns, or the family is struggling to adapt to a change such as a separation, a new partner, illness, migration, a loss or a child leaving home.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Systemic family therapy looks at relationships and patterns rather than blaming one person. Approaches with evidence include structural and strategic family therapy, family-based treatment for adolescent eating disorders, multisystemic and functional family therapy for behaviour problems, and parent training. Family therapists, psychologists and social workers with systemic training usually lead the work, sometimes alongside individual therapy.
When to seek urgent help
If there is violence at home, a child or adult is being harmed, or someone is afraid for their safety, contact your local emergency services or specialised protection services. Safety comes before family therapy. Seek urgent help too if any family member talks about suicide, has harmed themselves seriously, or is at risk of harming others.
What you can do in the meantime
Set aside calm times to talk, and try to listen to understand rather than to reply. Agree on a few household rules together and keep them consistent. Avoid involving children in adult conflicts. Make room for enjoyable shared moments, even short ones. If tensions run high, take breaks before continuing a discussion. Each person looking after their own well-being also helps the family.
What does a social worker do?
A social worker supports individuals, families and communities facing social, economic or relational difficulties. Day to day they assess needs, inform people about their rights and available resources, help with applications, coordinate with health, education, housing and legal services, and accompany people through crises. Some offer counselling or family intervention, especially in mental health, child protection, ageing and disability settings.
When to see a social worker
A social worker can help when practical problems add to emotional strain: caring for a dependent relative, financial or housing difficulties, isolation, a separation affecting children, a disability, or navigating services after a diagnosis. They are also key when there is risk of abuse or neglect. For psychological therapy itself, a psychologist or psychotherapist is usually more appropriate.
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 Benin cover psychological care?
The national psychiatric hospital in Cotonou (formerly Centre de Jacquot) is the main public psychiatric facility, and the CNHU Hubert Koutoukou Maga hosts a university mental health centre. Specialist services are concentrated in Cotonou.
How do I check that a social worker is licensed in Benin?
Ordre National des Médecins du Bénin: The Order was created by Ordinance No. 73-38 of 1973, and Law No. 97-020 requires a Beninese state diploma or recognised equivalent to practise medicine. Ask the doctor about their registration with the Order.