Psychological counselling

A warm welcome!

We at the Psychological Counselling Service (PBS) are your point of contact for all personal and study-related difficulties. Whether study difficulties, exam anxiety or personal problems - studying is not just about experiencing success. Difficult phases are part of studying. It is not always possible to overcome such crises quickly and under your own steam. We support you in your search for solutions so that a crisis does not become an insurmountable problem.

Some examples of situations in which you can contact us

  • if you feel disorientated, ungrounded or lost
  • if you are afraid of the future (your personal future or that of the world)
  • if you want to focus and structure yourself better
  • if you want to deal more calmly with exam situations and other potentially stress-inducing challenges
  • if you want to improve your relationships or free yourself from unhealthy ones
  • if you want to detach yourself emotionally from your parental home and go your own way
  • if you feel overwhelmed and want to be more mindful of yourself
  • if you feel overwhelmed by others and would like to learn to set boundaries better
  • if you find it difficult to make contact with other people
  • if you are burdened by conflicts with your parents or other family members
  • if you want to work on your self-esteem and treat yourself more lovingly
  • if you are confronted with the loss of a loved one
  • if you have a problem with addictions

We offer free and confidential counselling

All PBS counsellors have a basic academic psychological or educational qualification and at least one additional psychotherapeutic/counselling qualification.

Our services are open to all students at the University of Oldenburg, Jade University of Applied Sciences and Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences. Counselling, workshops and courses are free of charge. Counselling sessions can be held in German or English. We are, of course, bound by confidentiality and treat everything you discuss with us in the strictest confidence. More about data protection

Another tip

Even if it may not be common practice in your circle of family or friends, don't be afraid to seek professional help from an organisation like the PBS. It is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of sovereignty to get the support you need to succeed in your own endeavours.

Topics in the PBS

zwei Personen in Beratungssituation

Your individual request

Work structuring

Zettel mit der Aufschrift: "to do List" - "Mainly procrastinate"

Procrastination

Mann vor Laptop, der verzweifelt wirkt

Stress management

Gruppe im Park mit Slackline

Study healthy

ein Smartphone neben einem altmodischen roten Telefonhörer

Search for psychotherapy

an unhappy-looking young woman

Studying with mental illness

Students with mental illnesses can also claim compensation for disadvantages, i.e. modifications to coursework and examinations.

more information

Help in acute crises

Here you will find a list of helpful addresses and contact persons who can help you in an emergency.

Oldenburg
Emden
Wilhelmshaven

Long-term students

If you are having difficulties completing your studies even though you have already completed the standard period of study, "Endspurt" is a helpful contact point for you. It is a programme offered by the University of Oldenburg.

to the "Final spurt" project

Who can come to the PBS?

The PBS is open to all students of the University of Oldenburg, the Jade University of Applied Sciences and the Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences. Doctoral students should contact this office: https://uol.de/beratung-und-coaching

What does the counselling cost?

All PBS services are completely free of charge for students.

My problem has nothing to do with my studies - can I still come?

Naturally. No matter whether you are struggling with exam nerves or have problems and worries in your private life: In the PBS, you can address not only study-related questions, but also any personal issue that is bothering you. No problem is too small or too big.

What exactly does the PBS offer?

We have developed various forms of work and counselling for the different problems that students come to us with: In individual counselling, a counsellor discusses your current situation with you and looks for the underlying causes in order to identify individual solutions. In workshops and seminars, you can learn specific techniques and methods for preventing stress and overcoming study and work problems.

Finally, participants in work structuring groups work with a counsellor over a longer period of time to achieve a self-imposed goal. In addition, there are group offers for working on personal issues or developing self-confident behaviour.

In Oldenburg, we also offer a variety of workshops, lectures and seminars every semester in the special "Starthilfen" programme, in which we teach strategies to combat common problems during studies (such as exam or speech anxiety, stress levels, learning difficulties). The programme also deals with personal development issues.

How do I make an appointment?

Oldenburg: For initial contact, please email us at pbs@sw-ol.de. We will then offer you an appointment for counselling as soon as possible.
In Emden and Wilhelmshaven you can use the open consultation hours. Alternatively, you can of course also contact the counsellors at PBS Emden or Wilhelmshaven by phone or email.

Do I have to show my student ID to access the counselling service?

No. We trust in your word that you are studying at one of the three universities for which we are responsible.

Will my visit to the PBS be reported to the health insurance company?

No. As we do not bill the health insurance companies, there is no need to do so.

Will I have problems if I become a civil servant later on if I use the PBS?

No, counselling is not a medical treatment, but a support service in the context of studies and therefore does not have to be mentioned in the recruitment examination for civil servants.

Can I also undergo psychotherapy at PBS?

No, psychotherapy is not part of our services. If psychotherapy is advisable, we will inform you about the paths that lead to a therapy place or hospitalisation.

I need urgent help. Where can I turn in an emergency?

We have compiled a list of contacts for acute crises here.