Welcome to the winter term 2026/27…
…and the psychological counselling service for students is still here for you.
If you need individual psychological support due to your current emotional or social situation, you can request a counselling appointment with Pia Weigelt-Lindemann (certified psychologist) via email.
Counseling sessions take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays both in German and English - in person, online or by phone. Please expect wait times of up to 4 weeks for an appointment.
In addition, we regularly offer workshops and small-group sessions led by art therapist and cultural psychologist (M.A.) Stefanie Dennstedt. If you are interested, please feel free to contact her by email.
Typical study-related topics covered in counselling sessions and workshops include, for example: feelings of being overwhelmed, difficulty making decisions, and problems with motivation, attention or concentration, as well as self-doubt or depressive moods, exam anxiety, anxiety about the future or other fears, and tension and stress in general. Topics such as family or relationship problems, feelings of loneliness, difficulties in social situations, and problems with addiction, eating or sleeping habits can also be discussed.
Important for you to know:
psychological counselling is not and does not substitute for psychotherapy!
As well as one-on-one counselling sessions, the Psychological Counselling Service for Students offers interactive workshops and small-group sessions on a variety of topics. Here you can find information about our current term programme and event days.
In our psychoeducational sessions, we combine scientifically grounded content with practical methods drawn from counselling, art therapy and yoga. These sessions not only provide you with helpful strategies for self-organisation, emotional stabilisation and strengthening your personal resources, but also offer a space for discussion, reflection and developing individual solutions.
The aim is to promote your mental health and support you in shaping your studies with confidence and success.
These programmes are aimed at students at Rhine-Waal University. During the courses, participants often share experiences that are personally significant to them. This private information is, of course, treated in strict confidence. We expect the same approach from you. Our psychoeducational programmes are led and facilitated by art therapist and cultural psychologist Stefanie Dennstedt.
If you have any further questions about our programmes or events, please feel free to contact her by email.
Would you like to book a counselling session with the Psychological Counselling Service for Students?
Send an email to >psych-contact@hochschule-rhein-waal.de<. You will then receive a reply with detailed information on how to book your sessions from Pia Weigelt-Lindemann (certified psychologist). Please use your university email address for all correspondence.
During the first appointment (lasting approx. 50 minutes), you can describe your concerns and ask any questions that are important to you. Together, we will gain an overview of your study and personal circumstances, the issues you’re facing, and your wishes and goals. You decide what and how much you wish to share.
Important to note:
The counselling sessions are free of charge.
The content of the sessions is confidential and subject to professional (psychological/medical) confidentiality – including vis-à-vis other university staff.
If you wish, you can book follow-up appointments. Typically, a total of 1 to 6 sessions are required. You can end the counselling at any time or resume it later.
The aim of the counselling process is to help you recognise or develop your own resources, your scope for action and suitable strategies for finding solutions – often just a few counselling sessions are enough to achieve this.
Psychological counselling is not a substitute for psychotherapy!
If you would like (longer-term) therapeutic support, we will inform you about the options available and help you find outpatient psychotherapists, organisations or self-help groups.
You are looking for outpatient psychotherapy?
To start outpatient psychotherapy, you first have to attend a “psychotherapy consultation” ("psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde"). Those with public (or private) health insurance can contact a psychotherapist of their choice directly – by phone or email and without a referral, ideally with their health insurance card. You will then receive advice on how to proceed. If you want to find a psychotherapist close to your home or the university, try to arrange an appointment directly with your preferred practice first.
To help you find psychotherapists, here you can find some reputable websites, run by German healthcare institutions, that offer free assistance with finding therapists and provide information on psychotherapy.
If you are unable to secure an appointment for an initial “psychotherapy consultation” yourself, you can get assistance by calling 116 117.
This is the patient service line of the "Appointment Service Centre of the North Rhine Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians". They will arrange an appointment for a “psychotherapy consultation” for you within four weeks. In that case, you cannot choose either the practitioner or the appointment time. Ask them if a psychotherapist who speaks English or even your native language is available.
You are experiencing an acute mental health crisis or a psychiatric emergency? Seek help immediately!
This is particularly important when you feel trapped in an unbearable situation, when you are depressed or you experience an overwhelming anxiety - like you are losing control of your life - or when you have trouble recognising what is real and what isn’t. Talk with someone you know well and trust about your feelings and thoughts and seek professional help.
You can contact:
- Your general practitioner / Hausarzt: call them or go there in person
- Medical (psychiatric) out-of-hours service: 116 117
- Telephone counselling: 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222
- Nightlines (hotline / chat by students for students):
nightlines.eu/erreichbarkeit/ - Krisenchat (psychosocial first aid):
krisenchat.de/?chatOverlay=true
These support services are also there for friends or family, and all those who see signs of a mental crisis in someone they know and feel insecure about what to do or how to help. Note: Counselling is available in German and often in English, too (depending on the service). Just ask for an English-speaking counsellor.
If you are experiencing acute suicidal thoughts or intentions to act on them – or if there is an immediate danger to yourself or others – call 112 (ambulance service) or 110 (police) straight away. You can also call the nearest specialist psychiatric clinic:
- Kleve district:
LVR Klinik Bedburg-Hau,
Bahnstraße 6,
47551 Bedburg-Hau,
Tel.: 02821-81-0
St. Nikolaus Hospital,
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics,
Grabenstraße 86–88,
47546 Kalkar,
Tel.: 02824-17-0
- Wesel District (Kamp-Lintfort, Moers, Rheinberg, Neukirchen, Alpen):
St. Nikolaus Hospital Rheinberg,
Orsoyer Straße 55,
47495 Rheinberg,
Tel.: 02843-179-0
Here’s what to do: Call the hospital switchboard, ask to be put through to the doctor on duty, explain your situation and follow the doctor’s instructions.
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis can affect anyone. It is caused by intense stress over a short period of time or by persistent, mounting stress. Common triggers include, for example, traumatic experiences, major life changes, isolation, loss, disappointment, conflict or mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders. During an acute crisis, one’s inner equilibrium is thrown off balance. Usual coping strategies fail to work; thoughts go round in circles or become scattered; and emotions such as fear, hopelessness, loneliness, grief or anger feel overwhelming or are difficult to recognise.
Many crises can be overcome with the support of trusted individuals – even without professional help. What is important is support that conveys a sense of calm and security, encourages helpful activities and reduces stress (as far as possible). If it is difficult to accept help, trusted individuals should offer encouragement and support in making contact with professional services.
In the event of a breakdown or an acute risk to oneself or others, swift action is required: dial the emergency number 112 or go to the A&E department of a hospital specialising in psychiatry and psychotherapy. There, a decision will be made during an emergency assessment regarding possible admission and further steps. Once the immediate crisis has been resolved, follow-up options such as an outpatient psychiatric clinic, a day centre or inpatient therapy can be discussed.
Source and further information: www.neurologen-und-psychiater-im-netz.org
You are looking for a suitable support service to fit your current circumstances?
You can find an overview of all the information, advice and support services available at Rhein-Waal University here → ‘Advice and Services’.
Alternatively, contact University’s Student Advisory Service for up-to-date or more detailed information.
Ask Rhine-Waal’s service chatbot, ‘Ellie’ – not available just yet, but we’re working flat out on it…
For general information on support services outside the University: further details to follow… :)
Further psychological information and tips for students
Some of the websites or helpline services are, unfortunately, in German only. Please use your knowledge of German or be witty and make use of AI or any translation tool. ;)
Finding outpatient psychotherapy
- Nationwide directory of psychological psychotherapists: https://www.psychotherapeutensuche.de
- Pro Psychotherapie e. V.:
https://www.therapie.de - Pathways to Psychotherapy (BPtK): https://www.wege-zur-psychotherapie.org/wie-finde-ich-einen-psychotherapeuten
• Information leaflet (in English): https://www.wege-zur-psychotherapie.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2019-09-BPtK-Info-for-International-Patients.pdf - Professional Association of German Psychologists (search): https://www.psychotherapiesuche.de/pid/therapie
- German Psychotherapists’ Association (DPtV): https://www.deutschepsychotherapeutenvereinigung.de/nc/patienten/psychotherapiesuche/
- It´s complicated - therapist-run search plattform: https://complicated.life/
- North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Psychotherapists: https://www.ptk-nrw.de/patientenschaft/psychotherapeutensuche
- Appointment Service Centre, North Rhine-Westphalia Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (arranging initial appointments): https://www.ptk-nrw.de/patientenschaft/terminservicestellen
Podcasts and blogs
- HOW TO UNIVERSITY – your audio guide to studying at Rhine-Waal: https://hsrw.info/howtohochschule
- ‘Psychisches Wohlbefinden/Mental Well-Being’ blog (OpenUp): https://openup.com/blog/
Studying and health
- Studying healthily:
https://www.studylife-balance.de/ - Basics of mental health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
- Studying whilst maintaining mental wellbeing (irrsinnig menschlich e. V.): https://www.irrsinnig-menschlich.de/psychisch-fit-studieren/service-studierende/
- AUTINOM – Living with autism, studying with AUTINOM: https://autinom.de/
Depression and support services
- Depression Info line (German Depression Aid and Suicide Prevention Foundation): https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/depression-infos-und-hilfe/wo-finde-ich-hilfe/info-telefon
- AOK online course ‘Preventing symptoms of depression’ (moodgym): https://www.moodgym.de
Queer-friendly support services
- Queermed Germany – Directory of queer-friendly practices: https://queermed-deutschland.de/en/faq/
- LGBTQ+ information hub: https://www.buchstaben.com/wissen/ressourcen-und-unterstuetzung-fuer-lgbtq-studierende-in-deutschland
- TransInterQueer e.V. – TrIQ:
https://www.transinterqueer.org/en/
Crisis, listening, emergency support
- Crisis chat (young people): https://www.krisenchat.de/uber-uns/wer-wir-sind?chatOverlay=true
- Nightlines – student helpline and chat service: https://nightlines.eu/erreichbarkeit/
- Student Telephone Counselling Service: https://www.esg-hamburg.de/studentischetelefonseelsorge/
- OBEON - online counselling for emotional stress situations: https://www.obeon.de/
Safe digital use and protection
- HateAid – Help with digital violence: https://hateaid.org/en/consultation/
- Internet safety guide: https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Themen/Verbraucherinnen-und-Verbraucher/Informationen-und-Empfehlungen/Onlinekommunikation/onlinekommunikation_node.html
Stress, resilience, self-management
- Scientifically proven ways to reduce stress:
- Brochure ‘Rückenwind. What students can do to combat stress’ (KIT/Techniker Krankenkasse): https://www.tk.de/resource/blob/2073114/8ba5bc6588176cb334aa74879da36b86/rueckenwind-data.pdf
- Resilience - brief information and exercises:
- Have you had a smile today? https://www.studienscheiss.de/erfolgreiche-studenten-fluchen
