Mental Health Counseling
There is no service during the academic christmas break (December 27, 2023 - January 5, 2024)!
When your studies become a burden – the Mental Health Counseling Service of the University of Potsdam can help you.
Students can sometimes lose their mental equilibrium, too: pressure in Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs is increasing through frequent tests and exams, funding your studies independently can become more and more burdensome due to the limited time resources, and job prospects are often lacking.
That is why the Mental Health Counseling Service was created at the University of Potsdam. Here, you will find somebody to talk to about your concerns relating to your university studies, such as:
- work- and learning difficulties,
- motivation problems,
- exam anxiety and fear of public speaking,
- writer’s block,
- or social anxiety
but also in case of difficulties and worries that have a more indirect effect on your performance and contentment in your studies, such as:
- relationship problems,
- conflicts in partnerships or with the family,
- problems with your self-worth,
- personal crises,
- or various addiction problems (media, substances, gambling, etc.).
You can make appointments for counseling sessions via e-mail (psychologische-beratunguuni-potsdampde) or telephone during the drop-in office hours.
You can find further helpful information as well as contact and advice offers in our Knowledge Base: Get Ready for Digital Studying.
Above all, the drop-in office hours are an opportunity to address your issues in a short conversation. After that, we can decide on the next steps to be taken together. As demand for counseling is often high, please allow for some waiting time in your schedule.
Individual counseling sessions (up to 45 minutes) will be arranged with you via e-mail or during the drop-in office hours and will be scheduled to take place outside drop-in office hours. In our initial first session, we will try to decide together how things will proceed. Further counseling appointments can follow or we might help you find a therapist or a suitable group to help you. Counseling is confidential and free of charge.
For urgent crises and emergencies, we would like to point out the existing contacts for crisis management (e.g. Berliner Krisendienst), the respective social-psychiatric services or the emergency departments of the local psychiatric hospitals.
Dear students,
Due to high demand and a strained staffing situation, unfortunately, no more available counseling appointments are bookable in the Psychological Counseling service until the end of the year. However, feel free to reach out at the beginning of the new year, and we are optimistic about being able to schedule appointments again. You can still take advantage of our open consultation hours.
We would like to inform you about possible alternative counseling and discussion offerings:
- One University for Everyone” – Counseling on Inclusive Studies
You can contact Lukas Mielke on Mondays from 10 am to 12 pm (Phone: +49 331 977-153087) and Ulrike Sträßner on Thursdays from 1 pm to 3 pm (Phone: +49 331 977-153087). - All counseling and service facilities at the University of Potsdam
- Berliner Krisendienst | Ways out of Crisis: The assistance offered by the Berliner Krisendienst
- Nightline Potsdam
You can also find a very good overview of psychosocial emergency support services here:
In addition, there are the following contact points in Potsdam:
Here you can find the offerings of the "Feel Good Campus," the student health management of the University of Potsdam.
Please note that during our drop-in office hours per telephone, we can only be reached via telephone and have to limit each individual session to a maximum of 20 minutes. Since we cannot put you on hold, please make sure to call several times if the line is busy. During our drop-in office hours in-peron, please note that we cannot be reached via telephone. Please take a seat in the waiting area. The consultations have a maximum duration of 20 minutes.
Monday | 10 - 12 AM | Tatjana Brand In-person consultation: Am Neuen Palais, Building 8, Room 0.84 (Campus Map) E-Mail: tatjana.branduuni-potsdampde |
Tuesday Please note: No service on November 28 & December 5, 2023! | 2 - 4 PM | Birgit Klöhn Consultation over the phone: +49 331 977-1830 E-Mail: birgit.kloehnuuni-potsdampde |
Friday Please note: No service on November 24, December 1 & December 8, 2023! | 10 - 12 AM | Birgit Klöhn Consultation over the phone: +49 331 977-1830 E-Mail: birgit.kloehnuuni-potsdampde |
Hotline for First-Semester Students
If you feel uncomfortable after taking your first steps as a university student, if you feel overwhelmed by the online semester, if you feel homesick or if studying alone at home is a burden, we are always ready to listen.
Monday Please note: No service on November 27 & December 4, 2023! | 2 - 3 PM | Birgit Klöhn Consultation over the phone: +49 331 977-1830 |
Mental Health Counseling for International Students
Studying abroad can be both a rewarding experience and an enormous challenge. Dealing with a new culture and everyday life in Germany without the support of your social network at home can, in some cases, lead to adjustment difficulties. Psychological and physical symptoms are often the result. If you feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or irritable, if you suffer from physical pain or insomnia our Mental Health Counseling Service might be able to help you.
You can make appointments via e-mail (psychologische-beratunguuni-potsdampde) or in person during our drop-in office hours for international students. In one or more conversations, we will try to identify problems and find possible solutions. Counseling is confidential and free of charge and is available in German and English.
Wednesday | 10 AM - 12 noon | Tatjana Brand In-person consultation: Am Neuen Palais, Building 8, Room 0.84 (Campus Map) E-Mail: tatjana.branduuni-potsdampde |
Contact
Dipl.-Psych. Birgit Klöhn | Dipl. Psych. Tatjana Brand
Universität Potsdam | Central Student Advisory Service | Mental Health Counseling
Campus Am Neuen Palais
Am Neuen Palais 10
Building 8, Rooms 0.82 - 0.84
14469 Potsdam
Substance abuse counseling from the Workers Welfare Federal Association (AWO) at the University of Potsdam
The counseling takes place under the sole responsibility of the Workers Welfare Federal Association (AWO)!
Do you want to help a fellow student or roommate with consumption problems? Or do you need support yourself? Then come to our office hours!
Information about the counseling
Friday (every last one of the month) | 9 - 12 AM | Room 0.83 | Tel.: +49 331-73040740 |