# Psychological Counseling – Confidential, Autonomous, Free of Charge
**Source**: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/sei/lidx/1
**Parent**: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/sus/lidx/1
- [Psychological Counseling – Emergency Plan](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Beratung-Hilfe/Psychologische-Beratung/~sve/Psychologische-Beratung-Notfallplan/lidx/1/)
The Student Counseling and Advising Center offers RWTH Aachen students psychological counseling in times of crisis, when encountering personal problems, and for all questions and problems that can compromise one's studies:
- Disruptions to working or learning ability
- Motivation problems
- Exam and assessment anxiety
- Other anxieties
- Mood swings
- Orientation, identity and self-esteem issues
- Contact problems
- Crises and conflict situations
- Cultural adaptation issues
To make an appointment, please feel free to contact our consulting team via [appointment request form](https://rwth-aachen.de/zsb/terminanfrage/psych/). For all other enquiries, you can call us. Please let us know if you have a specific request for counseling, such as preferred gender of the advisor or counseling in a foreign language. We can offer English, Dutch, and Vietnamese.
Contact
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Appointments arranged via appointment request form (all advisors) | [Appointment request form](https://rwth-aachen.de/zsb/terminanfrage/psych/) |
| Kerstin Platt, Dipl.-Psych. | Phone: +49 241 80 99424 Office Hours: Monday to Friday |
| Van Tien Tran, Dipl.-Psych. | Phone: +49 241 80 99411 Office Hours: Monday to Friday |
| Anja Ghouse, M. Sc. Psych | |
| Anna Wafo, M. Sc. Psych | Phone: +49 241 80 99417 Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday |
| Lina Hoffmann, M. Sc. Psych. | Phone: +49 241 80-99425 Office Hours: Monday to Thursday |
| Sussan Hossein Ali Beigi, Drs. (NL) Psych | Phone: +49 241 80-99423 Office Hours: Monday to Wednesday |
| All psychological counsellors are fully trained in one of the recognized psychotherapy methods. We consider this a standard requirement for qualified counselling work. | |
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Find us here: | Student Advice Center, 3rd Floor, Templergraben 83, Corner of Pontstraße, 52062 Aachen |
| If you cannot reach us: | Please take note of the [emergency plan](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/sve/lidx/1)! |
In principle, you are welcome to make an [appointment for student counseling](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/rcw/lidx/1) independently of any contact with the Psychological Counseling Team if you would like to talk about your study problems in a timely manner.
## Psychotherapist Directory
- [Local Psychotherapist Directory / External Advising Services](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Beratung-Hilfe/Psychologische-Beratung/~twerg/Psychotherapieplatzsuche-Externe-Beratu/lidx/1/)
## What We Are Often Asked
### What can I do in case of emergency?
If you or another person acutely need help, and you cannot reach anyone else, please contact the institutions in our [emergency plan](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/sve/lidx/1).
### Can third parties find out that I have been to psychological counseling?
No. Advising and conversation content remains strictly confidential. This means, that without your clear agreement, no one finds out about your visit from us.
### Does counseling cost anything?
No. Our advising is free of charge.
### What is the difference between psychological counseling and psychotherapy?
Psychological counseling is recommended for those seeking advice or a way out of a personal crisis. Counselling is a form of preventive, development-oriented support that aims to encourage people to help themselves. Psychotherapy however is different, since it is a form of curative care that aims to heal an illness and requires a psychological disorder to be diagnosed to start therapy.\
\
RWTH’s psychological counselling does not offer psychotherapy and can by no means replace this treatment if it is required. A psychological consultation with us can, however, help you get an initial assessment as to whether you are suffering from a psychological illness and should seek therapy.
### How long do I have to wait for an appointment?
We schedule counseling appointments every month. If you contact us right at the beginning of a month via the appointment request form, we will usually offer you an appointment that same month – as long as we still have open slots.
### At what times do the individual counseling sessions take place?
Individual counseling sessions can be scheduled between 8am and 4pm.
### Can I also seek counseling if I am worried about fellow students?
Yes, if you believe that another person needs help or you, yourself are suffering because of mental problems of a fellow student, please contact us.
### What can I do if I am worried about a friend and the situation is urgent?
If you are worried about a friend and the situtation is urgent, please take advantage of our psychological (telephone-) advising service. This will allow us to quickly get an idea about the specific situation and discuss any steps that might have to be taken. We will also inform other support agencies as needed.
Outside of business hours and in emergencies or urgent cases of crisis, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Aachen region psychiatric counseling services - the "Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst."
[Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst](https://bportal.staedteregion-aachen.de/staedteregion-a-z/-/egov-bis-search/institution/780)
\
Trierer Straße 1\
52078 Aachen\
Telephone: +49 241 5198 5566
### Which (topic-specific) self-help options are available for students in the Aachen region?
You can find more information about the German and English-language [self-help groups of the Representative for Inclusive Studies (BIS)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/bixdyp/lidx/1) for students at RWTH Aachen University on the website.
There is also the [Junge Selbsthilfe Aachen](http://jsh.ac/), on whose website you can find out more.
### Who can I speak to if I am looking for a therapist?
[Local Psychotherapist Directory / External Advising Services](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/twerg/lidx/1)
## Further Offerings
- [Study Skills Workshops](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Im-Studium/Angebote-der-Zentralen-Studienberatung-f/~rvz/Studientrainings/lidx/1/)
- [Tutorials (Video and Audio)](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Beratung-Hilfe/~erhyl/Tutorials-Video-und-Audio-/lidx/1/)
- [Peer-to-Peer Project](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Beratung-Hilfe/Psychologische-Beratung/~tvnuz/Projekt-Starke-Peers-/lidx/1/)
- [Awareness-raising Measures](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Beratung-Hilfe/Psychologische-Beratung/~wtemo/Sensibilisierungsmassnahmen/lidx/1/)
- [Podcast "PsyTalk RWTH"](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/wir/Aktuell/RWTH-Podcasts/~bavjnd/PsyTalk-RWTH/lidx/1/)
## Similar Topics
- [University Medical Center](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/wir/Einrichtungen/Einrichtungen-A-Z/~unk/Hochschulaerztliche-Einrichtung/lidx/1/)
- [Services Offered by the Student Counseling and Advising Center](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Im-Studium/~dutqr/Angebote-der-Zentralen-Studienberatung-f/lidx/1/)
- [Counceling Services of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering](https://www.maschinenbau.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/ffrd//lidx/1)
- [In-House Social and Psychological Counseling](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/wir/Einrichtungen/Einrichtungen-A-Z/~bipf/Psychosoziale-Beratungsstelle-fuer-Besch/lidx/1/)
- [Advising for Students With Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Beratung-Hilfe/~eji/Inklusiv-studieren-an-der-RWTH-Aachen/lidx/1/)
- [Lectures and Workshops on the Topics of Questioning Your Choice of Degree, Changing Degree Program, and Reorientation](https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/Im-Studium/Angebote-der-Zentralen-Studienberatung-f/~dxkhz/Vortraege-und-Workshops/lidx/1/)
## External Links
- [Center for Mental Health for Students (ZPG) at the University Hospital Aachen](https://www.ukaachen.de/en/kliniken-institute/klinik-fuer-psychiatrie-psychotherapie-und-psychosomatik/patientenversorgung/ambulante-versorgung/zpg/)
- [Emergency Services in the Aachen Region (de)](https://www.aachen.de/services/notdienste/#accordion-1-6)
- [Social Psychiatric Services of the City or Metropolitan Region of Aachen (de)](https://www.staedteregion-aachen.de/de/navigation/aemter/gesundheitsamt-a-53/beratung-und-hilfe/hilfen-und-beratung-fuer-psychisch-kranke-und-suchtkranke-menschen/sozialpsychiatrischer-dienst-1)
- [German Depression Support (de)](https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/)