A reason to celebrate: For three decades, the pro familia counselling centre in Bremen-Nord has been a reliable point of contact for people with all questions about love, sexuality, partnership, family planning and pregnancy.
Continuous development
It has continuously developed and today offers a wide range of professional counseling, sex education projects, and training courses for professionals. A celebratory event was held on May 15th to mark its 30th anniversary. Claudia Bernhard, Senator for Health, Women, and Consumer Protection, welcomed the approximately 80 invited guests from politics and professional circles, as well as cooperation partners, and thanked the staff of the pro familia counseling center.
In order to provide women in distress with a local counselling service, the counselling centre opened on 11 May 1995 after a tough struggle for funding and support.
Sensitive and taboo topics from the very beginning
Over the past 30 years, the staff have accomplished a great deal: In addition to pregnancy conflict counseling, they dedicated themselves early on to sensitive and taboo topics, such as problems in partnership and sexuality.
In addition, pro familia serves two other major areas:
- Prevention and sexual education, including with young people/students
- Pregnancy counselling, for example on childbirth and pregnancy
Important work for an open, respectful and informed society
“With pro familia, we have a very good support network for women, young people, and students in Bremen. The work of the counseling center is more important than ever in promoting an open, respectful, and informed society. Therefore, I extend my sincere thanks to all the staff who are there for the people of Bremen every day as reliable contacts in these sensitive areas,” said Claudia Bernhard, Senator for Health, Women, and Consumer Protection
Joint leadership in part-time positions
For almost 18 years, the counseling center has been jointly managed: Elma Blank, Maren Kick, and Ingrid Budde-Weber work there part-time. They are supported by a colleague who handles initial contact. This dedicated and multi-professional team ensures consistently high-quality counseling and empathetic support for clients.
Over 110,000 people have used the services since 1995
“Our work is just as important today as it was 30 years ago,” emphasizes the team at the counseling center. “Societal changes, new family structures, and digitalization present us with new challenges – at the same time, the positive feedback we receive shows us how much our work is valued.” Over 110,000 people have used the services of pro familia Bremen-Nord in the past 30 years.
Current location: Aumund train station
In December 2023, the counselling center moved to Aumund train station. A new, barrier-free building with bright and welcoming rooms on the second floor offers more space for the diverse tasks of pro familia.
Source: Press Office of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Senator for Health, Women and Consumer Protection / pro familia Bremen-North Counseling Center, Press Release , May 15, 2025