What We Offer
Orientational Appointment
The orientational appointment takes place in person or online and takes 50 minutes.
During the orientational appointment, we will get an overview of your concerns and your life situation and decide on the next steps. Outcomes of this orientation appointment may include:
- A recommendation and sign-up for one of our group services or workshops.
- Referral to another service within the University (e.g., Academic Office, Career Center, Writing Services, Studierendenwerk, Office for studying with impairments, etc.).
- Referral to another service outside the University (e.g., your primary care physician/specialist, other counseling service, etc.).
- Signing up for further counseling on the topic of finding a therapy placement.
- Signing up for further individual counseling at our counseling center.
The aim of the orientational appointment is to give you a quick initial assessment of your concerns in order to avoid long waiting times for further steps at other places, if necessary.
Telephone Consultation
The telephone consultation hour takes place on Mondays between 11 and 12 o'clock. During the consultation hour, we offer short counseling sessions (10 to 15 min). Together, we assess the situation and develop ideas for further action. You can reach us without prior appointment at the following telephone number: 040 42838 8916.
Group Counseling
Our groups are usually aimed at a specific target group (e.g. students with mental health issues, students who procrastinate, etc.). Besides the fact that participants are students at the university, they share a particular challenge or problem. In our groups it is important to us that participants get in touch with each other, share their experiences and benefit from others’ - according to the motto: You are not alone with this problem! The group leaders accompany and moderate the sessions. They contribute psychological knowledge and strategies on the respective topics. In between the group sessions, you have the opportunity to try out what you have learned.
Our groups usually comprise six to eight appointments and last between 90 and 120 minutes. The groups are closed, i.e. participants register before the first session and the group composition remains constant during the course. This facilitates an open and trustful exchange in the group. You can only participate in a group after prior registration at the Psychological Counseling Center and a short conversation to clarify preconditions and expectations.
Group Counseling for Students with Procrastination Issues
Our group counseling is geared toward students who suffer from procrastination and who find it difficult to progress in or complete their studies. The group sessions help students tackle the upcoming steps (e.g., attending classes, doing term papers or final theses, preparing for and taking examinations), stick at it, and—at the same time—overcome internal and external hurdles. The goal is for students to complete individual steps and, ultimately, whole projects. Self-observation and self-reflection are used to help students build up an understanding of their actions and to develop concrete strategies for change. Exchanging with other students is at least as important as the therapeutic counseling itself.
Group counseling is ongoing, and one round consists of 8 sessions. Students can be admitted to group counseling at certain times in consultation with the group leader. If necessary, you may have a preliminary discussion with the group leader. If you are interested in group counseling, contact us via ada.pv"AT"uni-hamburg.de.
Group Counseling on Stress Management for Doctoral Students/PhDs
Do you often feel stressed or worried about your dissertation? Is the situation at work stressing you out? Are there difficulties in supervising your work? Do you struggle with self-critical and perfectionistic thoughts about your work? Do you sometimes feel alone with these problems or feel like everyone else is doing better? Do you doubt whether you will ever be able to complete your project? Do you lack the motivation to move forward? Or are there so many tasks that you don't know where to start? Can you hardly switch off, do you feel physical stress symptoms?
Would you like to exchange views and thoughts about these issues with other PhD students outside your research group?
On June 19 2023 the new round of the group for PhD students will start!
The group will take place on the following dates:
19.6., 26.6., 3.7., 10.7., 17.7., 24.7., 28.8., 4.9.23
Location: Alsterterrasse 1, 4th floor, room 415, 5 pm – 6.30 pm
Beyond discussing strategies to overcome problems, we would also like to offer a platform for personal exchange among doctoral students from different disciplines. To ensure accessibility for all, the group will be held in English. To maintain a personal atmosphere, we limit the number of participants to about 12 to 14. The sessions are a mix of professional input, practical exercises, discussion and exchange in small groups.
The group will be facilitated by Annette Juchems-Brohl and Janina Blohm-Sievers.
The new run starting June 19 is fully booked. We are happy to accept waitlist entries for later runs via our mail portal. Please mention the group as a concern.
Anti-Stigma Workshop: be True to Yourself
The psychological counselling centre of the University of Hamburg in cooperation with the association Irre menschlich Hamburg e.V. offer a 5-day workshop for young adults who have (been) affected by mental crises or have relatives who experience mental crises.
Especially after contact with a psychiatry, it can be difficult to find the right words for one's own experiences or those of friends and relatives.
Afterwards, many questions often arise: How do I feel about having a diagnosis, how do I deal with it myself? And how do I talk about it with other people? What do I say to whom and in what words? Which words suit myself? To whom do I prefer to say nothing? How do I deal with it on social media?
In the 5x2 hour workshop, the focus is on how to stand by oneself in difficult times, how and with whom one wants to talk about one's own experiences, for example in one's studies, with friends or online on social media.
The workshops are offered by a team of 2 facilitators who have themselves experienced mental health crises and are willing to talk about them. The team includes both roles, the experience from work and the experience of those affected in the psychiatric system.
The appointments take place in presence and are from 14:00 to 16:00 on these days:
Wednesday 09.08.2023
Wednesday 16.08.2023
Wednesday 23.08.2023
Thursday 07.09.2023
Wednesday 20.09.2023 (final date)
The workshop will take place in Alsterterrasse 1, Room 416
The contents of the individual workshop days build on each other. Therefore, it is important to us that you can participate in all days.
If you find the topic suitable for you, please register bindingly via our mail portal. Please understand that the number of places is limited. The registration deadline is Wednesday, 02.08.2023 at 14:00.
Group Counseling on "ADHD?"
Are you easily distracted and erratic? Do you often lose or forget things? Do you have trouble concentrating? Do you often feel nervous and restless? Do you have problems organizing your daily life and studies? Do you often put off difficult tasks that require concentration or avoid them altogether? Do you find it difficult to listen quietly to others without interrupting them?
Do you suffer from these limitations, and do they cause you problems or disadvantages in your studies or personal life? Do you often criticize yourself for these behaviors, feel angry or disappointed with yourself? Did you have these problems already in your school days?
In other words: Have you ever wondered if you might have ADHD? Or do you already have an AD(H)S diagnosis and suffer from the problems described?
The group offer "ADHD?" is aimed at students who experience ADHD-specific difficulties and restrictions in their studies and private life, such as strong distractibility, concentration problems, difficulties in self-organization, restlessness. Participation in the group does not (yet) require an ADD or ADHD diagnosis. The group is intended to help students cope with their studies and the difficulties in their private lives that arise from the above-mentioned limitations and behaviors. The exchange with other affected students is at least as important as the therapeutic support by the moderators.
Topics include: What is ADHD (for me), diagnostics and treatment options, self-organization, structuring one's own learning process, learning strategies, discovering and activating resources and strengths, overcoming social difficulties, dealing with strong feelings and impulsivity.
The group comprises 8 meetings, always on Mondays 15 - 16.30. It will be held in person and in German, therefore sufficient German knowledge is required. We offer one individual meeting before to clarify conditions and expectations. The current round has started and we cannot consider any further registrations. At the moment it is not yet decided whether there will be further courses. If you are interested in the group, please contact us via our mail portal. Please use the registration for individual counseling and mention the group as your reason for registering. We will add you to our list of interested persons and contact you as soon as we have further information.
Individual Counseling
Counseling is available for all difficulties regarding your studies and personal situations that affect your studies. Counseling can be carried out in German, English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
One counseling session lasts 50 minutes. We determine the number of sessions based on the needs of the person seeking counseling. We can help to resolve certain issues in a single session; others might require 3 or 4 sessions. We can offer a maximum of five counseling sessions. Where necessary, we can provide other forms of support—such as our workshops—and help you to find other services within or outside the University. We do not offer long-term psychotherapy; however, we are happy to help you find a therapist. Read the registration information.
Individual Counseling and Group Counseling to Support Students with Mental Illness (HOPES)
HOPES is a special support service for students at all Hamburg higher education institutions who need practical advice on coping with academic life after a serious psychological event or after in-patient psychological treatment. More information
Workshops and Coachings
In cooperation with the Center for Academic Advising, we offer a variety of workshops on study-related topics and on personal development. Read more about the workshops and registering.
Services for Employees
Difficult situations may arise in your daily encounters with students if:
- students act in a way that suggests they have a psychological disorder
- students constantly disrupt classes and do not respond to reprimand
- students behave aggressively toward other students or teaching staff
- fellow students, or you yourself, begin to worry about a student’s behavior
- open conflicts arise, for example, regarding exams or examination matters.
In such cases, contact:
- Ronald Hoffmann (head of Section 30: Advising and Administration, +49 40 42838-3646, ronald.hoffmann"AT"uni-hamburg.de)
- Annette Juchems-Brohl (head of Psychological Counseling Team, +49 40 42838-3303, annette.juchems-brohl@uni-hamburg.de).(annette.juchems-brohl"AT"uni-hamburg.de)
For personal matters requiring counseling, please use one of the counseling for University staff services in the Staff Service Portal.