Summary after one year: Students in Dortmund seek advice in over 500 counselling sessions

Last winter semester, the Studierendenwerk opened a new department: Psychological Counselling. As a social service provider on campus, this service was intended to improve the network of support services around student life. Now, after one year, it is time to draw a first conclusion. According to this, 531 counselling sessions were held, and workshops, seminars and discussion groups were also organised. A network with the counselling centres of the universities has also been established - all for successful studies.

After a year of development work, Clara Hirzel, a psychologist at the Studierendenwerk, is very positive: "We can be very satisfied, the service is well received and we have the impression that the counselling centre is now well known among the students.

Hirzel runs the counselling office, which is located in the basement of the Mensa building, together with Imke Rolf and Inga Heinz-Fischer. Students of the TU Dortmund, FH Dortmund and FH Südwestfalen are advised there confidentially and free of charge. The talks can take place on site or online. You can choose between counselling in German or English.

After a year of work in the middle of campus, between the Audimax and the main cafeteria - how are the students in Dortmund and the surrounding area doing and what are their biggest concerns and problems? "It is not possible to formulate such a generally valid answer to this," says Inga Heinz-Fischer. "Of course, in our work we only see a very small group of students and even this group approaches us with very different issues. It is not uncommon for these to include a combination of different problems, which in sum lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed. These range from classic study-related issues such as procrastination, exam nerves, lack of stress management and pressure to perform, to depressive moods, partnership conflicts, lovesickness, identity crises and so on. Student life is complex and multi-layered."

In addition to individual counselling, since the department was launched, support services have also been designed that students can take advantage of together in a group. In the summer, as part of the campaign "(We) care for you", there was a cooperation with the counselling centres of the universities. The workshops of the Studierendenwerk were so well received that waiting lists had to be set up.

The three psychologists are expecting a similar response for the winter semester that is now beginning. A comprehensive programme has been developed for this semester as well. More information about the programme can be found here.