Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Psychological Counselling

Psychological Counselling

Learning is an extremely vulnerable process. Personal problems may have negative effects on motivation, concentration and performance. They can be linked directly to the academic work, e.g. fear of speaking in public when a presentation has to be made, or exam nerves. But they may as well be much more general and even more fundamental, relating to everyday difficulties and problems, e.g. with the partner or parents and, as a result, the successful completion of studies can be in danger. Psychological counselling addresses these problems appropriately, thus enabling the student to continue studies successfully.

With effect of March 20, Humboldt-Universität, like any other science and research institution of the city of Berlin, changes into the so-called emergency presence mode. All university buildings remain locked. Access is restricted to those employees who are responsible for securing systemic relevant areas. All other members of the university are fulfilling their official duties in the home office as far as possible. All consultation hours (in person or by phone), events and guided tours are cancelled. You can reach us by e-mail, we are working on a phone service. We ask you to assume that answers will be delayed. We hope that we are able to provide you with a full service again soon. Please inform yourself regularly at https://hu.berlin/corona.

Current information

Enquiries or requests for appointments can be made outside office hours: Please schedule appointments on Campus Nord or Campus Adlershof online by using our new system "Doctena".
Psychological Advice in English and some other languages is also offered by two other Counselling Services: the Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Counselling of the Studierendenwerk Berlin or the University Outpatient Department of Psychotherapy and Psychodiagnosis at the Institute for Psychology. In case of need, psycho-therapeutic treatment is available there. Help is also offered in finding psychotherapists or other counselors, therapeutic institutions and self-help groups.
What to do in acute crisis

Our Services

Arrange a personal consultation

Enquiries or requests for appointments

Humboldt University students (except those who study medicine) can schedule appointments online.

Medical students should contact the MediCoach, phone (030) 450 529 189 or e-mail: medicoach@charite.de, Dieter-Scheffner-Fachzentrum, Virchowweg 23.

Staff members of HU can contact our inhouse doctors at the medical center.

Office hours

Personal consultations take place outside our office hours between Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at the Campus Nord and on Tuesday and Friday at Campus Adlershof. All personal consultations require a prior appointment found with our digital system "Doctena". You also can arrange an appointment personally during our office hours:

Campus Nord: Humboldt-University of Berlin, Invalidenstr. 110, Room 326, phone: +49 30 2093 70272. For arranging appointments and making enquiries: Wednesday between 1 to 2 p.m.
Campus Adlershof: Humboldt-University of Berlin, Emil Fischer-house, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, entrance C, first floor, Room 1'302, phone: +49 30 2093 5585. For arranging appointments and making enquiries: Tuesday between 11 a.m. to twelve noon.

Psychological counselling at university – why?

In previous years students approached the Psychological Counselling Service particularly with the following enquiries and the problems:

• What can I do against exam nerves?
• I’m not sure if I’m on the right course.
• Is psychotherapy suitable for me, and how can I find a place?
• I cannot concentrate; again and again I’m distracted from work.
• Which learning and working techniques do you recommend?
I don’t think I can cope with the piles of work.
• I have eating problems (e.g. anorexia). Can you help?
• I’m often sick, and I think it’s psychosomatic.
• My parents have high expectations of me. How can I cope?

In what way can psychological counselling help?

Our Service offers two options: a personal consultation, or participation in one of the groups. Both services are free of charge.

The personal consultation
In a personal consultation your current situation can be talked about freely in strict confidence. Together we can analyse the situation and try to find ideas that might finally lead to a solution of your problems. They could be first steps on the way to change, or to making a decision. We may give you a recommendation for other advisory services, or for self-help groups, or refer you to a psychotherapist.

Group training
There is a multitude of groups on study-related problems where participants learn how to cope with learning difficulties and how to change their attitude, for example, to examinations. A limited number of participants guarantees a fairly intimate environment and enables individuals to analyse and discuss their problems on a personal level. All groups are held in German.

Who does the counselling?

Two Psychologists are holding the personal consultations. Both are experienced psychotherapists and have been working for Humboldt-University for many years. They are also in charge of all of the group trainings and a number of relevant lectures and events.