Group Offers
Our group offers provide professional counselling, psychological support, lots of information and the chance to share and exchange experiences with other students. They can also be used as a supplement to individual counselling sessions.
International Meet Up
What? Come by to this International Meet Up, ask your questions, drink tea, get to know other students and have fun.
For whom? Students from all Leipzig universities who feel they belong to the group of international students
How to finance your studies in Leipzig? Overview about the options for international students.
Online-Lecture
In this online event, various options for financing your studies are presented, for whom they are eligible and what to look out for. Learn more about workiing next to your studies and scholarships. as well as BAföG, social benefits and loans. The event is open to all international students from Leipzig's universities.
The information event covers topics such as:
Dates and registration
You can find the dates for this workshop and a registration possibility in our online scheduling.
Dealing with depressive moods
On-site workshop
Depressive symptoms are among the most common mental health difficulties. Those affected usually suffer from a negative mood and often lack drive or energy to take good care of their own mood and well-being. The group aims to help people to take care of themselves in a more empowering way. It provides information about the dynamics of depression and strategies that can help to stabilise one's mood.
In the first part, essential information on symptoms, dynamics and causes of depressive symptoms is conveyed. In the second part, further concrete measures are discussed on how to favourably influence one's own mood and everyday life. The third part is about the fact that depressive dynamics usually include a more or less pronounced self-deprecation, which often causes or maintains the symptoms.
It is recommended to attend the three parts consecutively. However, since the offer is intended as an immediate stabilisation, it is possible to join the group at any time if there are places available. In principle, it is only possible to register for all three dates; individual dates cannot be booked.
Dates and registration
If you are interested in the workshop series, please register via our online tool.
Events in German Language
How to find a psychotherapy?
Online workshop
You would like to make use of a psychotherapy but you do not know how to begin your search for it? Maybe you are also insecure or you have already undertaken some first steps, but could not find a therapy place yet?
We would like to support you because the search for a psychotherapy place can be mentally stressful and obscure because of multiple reasons. This is why in this online workshop we will be talking about different psychotherapeutic offers, procedures and ways to find a psychotherapy place. The workshop serves for your orientation as well.
First of all, an overview of the different therapeutic possibilities is given. At the same time some terminologies and commissions the points of contact for a therapy have within our health system will be clarified. Based on this, information on psychotherapeutic formats and professional orientations will be conveyed. In the further course we will explain the procedures at the beginning of a psychotherapy. Moreover, helpful action strategies will be shown in order to strengthen feelings of orientation and structure. At the end potential obstacles will be a subject of discussion together with possibilities of exchange in breakout rooms, to clarify your personal questions as well.
Dates and registration
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates, please check the German version of this site.
If you are interested, please register via our online appointment system.
Appearing confident in exams
On Site Workshop
During their studies many students suffer from stress before exams or tension and anxiety. The number of unrecorded cases is high and many students are afraid to speak openly about it. No matter whether you experience anxiety in written or oral exams, when giving talks or in lectures - we don't want to leave you alone with it.
The current changes in the way knowledge is passed on and in the restrictions for contact with fellow students can cause additional uncertainty. For example, attending online seminars with the need to actively participate may pose another challenge.
In our workshop "Appearing confident in Exam Situations" we will address the topic of anxiety before and during exams, discuss theoretical aspects and introduce explanatory models and coping strategies. The many practical exercises, can help you to approach exam preparation in a more relaxed manner and pass oral and written exams with less stress and worry. Participants also have the opportunity to exchange their personal experiences, previous solution strategies and tasks and plans for the future. The workshop consists of three sessions and can be extended by an additional date if required.
Dates and registration
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates, please check the German version of this site.
The workshop will take place at Semmelweisstraße 10 (04103 Leipzig).
If you are interested in the workshop series, please register via our online tool.
Please note that the workshop parts build on each other in terms of content and that participation in all three dates is recommended.
Studying without postponing
Online Workshop
Studying requires a lot of motivation and the ability to organize yourself. Especially long term assignments such as papers and thesis whose deadlines initially seem "far away" often are difficult to integrate into everyday life and so sometimes get postponed in favour of other short-term commitments.
To avoid additional stress learning for exams also needs to be well planned and regularly implemented. The skills required to structure oneself are even more important in the current situation. Thus, the preparation and follow-up work for lectures and courses as well as the participation in online classes are not always easily included in a daily routine.
In our online workshop series we want to show you various methods of using your working time well and efficiently and enjoying your free time without a guilty conscience. In addition to theoretical input, various possibilities for implementation will be explored and then discussed with the other participants. The focus will be on a good balance between working and leisure time and on being satisfied with what has been achieved.
Dates and registration
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates, please check the German version of this site.
If you are interested in the workshop series please register via our online tool.
Inner peace & resilience even in hard times
On Site Workshop
The focus is on practicing techniques for self-regulation, such as conscious focusing of attention in order to be able to cope with difficult emotions, learning to relax despite uncertainty and to be present in the moment. Exercises for breath relaxation, imagination, mindfulness and short meditations are introduced and practiced.
Furthermore, the inner strength of the participants will be stimulated, they will be encouraged to question worn-in patterns of thinking and behaviour in order to replace them with new, more appropriate strategies if necessary. The participants will be instructed in how to look at the current life situation from different perspectives in order to consciously shape their everyday life according to their current needs. At the same time, a reflection on past success is encouraged in order to reactivate individual strengths that can help to stay on track in the face of challenges and to achieve personal goals.
Dates and Registration
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates, please check the German version of this site.
If you are interested in the workshop, please register via our online tool.
Stopping the ride on the emotional rollercoaster - workshop on dealing with mood swings
Online Workshop
This online workshop in three parts ment to support mental health is aimed at students who suffer from mood swings, overwork, depressive symptoms or similar mental stress and is also useful for prevention.
Studying is not always perceived as "the time of one's life" and, especially in recent months, this perception has been shaken by the change in study conditions. Tendencies towards avoidance, chronic dissatisfaction and disorientation are frequently mentioned problems among students.
This experience-oriented workshop explores finding a healthy distance to one's own thoughts and a stimulates a helpful and functional way of dealing with these thoughts in group exercises. Furthermore, the focus on the present is strengthened and generalised self-attributions are questioned. This can help us to avoid the "autopilot" in everyday life and enable more mental flexibility. This allows us to face challenging and stressful situations with more tranquillity and less self-criticism. Finally, a reflection of the participants' values is encouraged to focus on more consciously acting in accordance with these values. The contents of the workshop are mainly based on the techniques of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (according to Hayes).
Dates and registration
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates, please check the German version of this site.
If you are interested in the workshop series please register via our online tool.
Online Writing Lab
Often you can not seem to get done with the preparation of seminars or with writing a term paper or thesis?
We offer a (virtual) room for you to address your tasks together with others in a simular situation. Firstly, you can reflect on your individual work behaviour and possible difficulties with a consultant and define the next work steps based on the current status of your project. Then you have 45 minutes for starting your work, which will be briefly evaluated. Finally, you have the possibility to plan the work process for the upcoming the coming week.
Contents and goals:
- Reflecting on your own work behaviour
- Identifying difficulties and finding suitable strategies for overcoming them
- Finding a start into the work process and use our long-term support if needed
- Planning your time and defining your tasks (on a weekly basis)
- Mutual assistance
When and where:
Support by the Academic Lab:
On 10 November and 15 December 2023, as well as on 26 January and 9 February 2024, the Academic Lab of the University of Leipzig will be present to provide professional tips. The Lab will answer questions about academic writing (e.g. on the use of sources and citations) and advise you on how to deal with writer's block, procrastination, realistic time management and similar issues. You will also have the possibility to discuss specific issues in short individual consultations in breakout rooms.
If you are interested in the workshop series, please register via our online tool.
What to do with the inner critic?
On Site Workshop
"I have to do it perfectly or it won't be enough." "In the end, I will still fail." "This is way too hard for me. I'm a failure."
What can we do if we alone are responsible for creating unfavourable learning and working conditions for ourselves? Often we are harsh, self-critical, demanding and dismissive of ourselves. We do not admit to mistakes and expect everything to be perfect. Often this does not lead to better performance, but rather to frustration, dejection or discouragement.
Such self-critical thoughts often arise suddenly and randomly. This workshop can help to gain an understanding of certain inner processes and their activation. In addition, we will show strategies that can help to develop a distance to these unfavourable inner messages. So that a change into a more loving and caring attitude becomes possible.
Dates and registration
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates, please check the German version of this site.
If you are interested, please register via our online appointment system. We will be contacting you about one or two weeks before the workshop begins in order to arrange an initial conversation that will last approximately 20 minutes.
Studying at home with children
Studying with a child presents special challenges for young parents. Especially long term assignments such as papers and thesis whose deadlines initially seem "far away" often are difficult to integrate into everyday life with a child. They are therefore often postponed in favour of short-term tasks like household and child-related work. Also learning periods before exams are often shorter than originally planned as a result of the demands of day-to-day life with a child. This situation is even further intensified by the current situation. Thus, the preparation and follow-up for lectures as well as the participation in online classes are not always easy to integrate into a daily routine.
In our three-part workshop series, we want to show you various possibilities of how you can make good and efficient use of your working time, not only despite the time restrictions imposed by the children, but perhaps even because of those. In addition to some theoretical input, different ways of applying these ideas will be tried out and discussed with the other participants. The focus is on a good balance between parenting and studies. In the first session, questions about study organisation/financing will also be answered by the Social Counselling Service of the Studentenwerk.
The workshop series "Studying at home with children" is divided into three online meetings that will build on each other.
If the midday nap does not go well, children are also welcome online.
+++The workshop is temporarily paused. +++
The Interaction Group
This workshop focuses on exploring one's own relationship patterns and ways to make them more variable.
Interpersonal relationships are one of the biggest influences on our psychological well-being and can be a source of distress. For this reason, it is helpful to reflect on one's own relationship dynamics. Working together is a particularly good way to do this!
The interactional group is an effective method for taking a closer look at your own behaviour, expectations, fears and avoidances. The group offers a space for shaping social relationships and opens possibilities for recognizing, understanding and changing your own recurring relationship and role conflicts. The collective work focuses primarily on what is happening in the current moment. Participants can bring up their own issues that move or affect them. In particular, however, the aim is to talk about how the participant experiences and feels in relation to the other group members and the group leadership. You are encouraged to express yourself as freely and openly as possible, while keeping in mind and respecting your own boundaries and those of others.
If you are interested in participating in the group, you are welcome to make an appointment for a preliminary interview, where you will have the opportunity to receive information, get to know the group leader/s and talk about any uncertainties you may have. The preliminary interview will take place two or three weeks before the group starts, if the group has enough vacancies.
Dates and registration
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates and further information on i.e. group size, please check the German version of this site.
If you are interested, please register on the waiting list for the preliminary interview via our online appointment system.
Kick-Start The Day
We want to start off the day with you! In order to begin the day with a fixed date and build up motivation from the start, we will meet up to discuss specific targets and define first steps to help you tackle your goals of the day. There will also be the opportunity to ask us practical questions and exchange ideas with the other participants.
Dates and registration
+++The workshop is temporarily paused. +++
Speed Dating: Learning Tandem
Would you like to find a learning buddy? Exchange information with other students about your daily study routine or learning plans. Together you can establish learning times, keep a common structure or even take a learning break by going for a walk.
During an online meeting (1-2 hours), students who want to motivate each other are put in contact with each other. In several rounds, the pairs can share their learning needs. At the end, the participants can decide with whom they would like to form a learning partnership. However, there are no strings attached. Each person is free to decide whether the learning partnership can work or not.
Dates and registration
+++The workshop is temporarily paused. +++
Overcoming fear and panic
Online Workshop
Everybody feels fear from time to time. Just like anger, sadness or joy, it is one of the basic human emotions. As long as it occurs at a healthy level, fear is important for our lives and protects us from danger. Fear provides us with energy to cope with difficult situations and also ensures that we avoid overly risky situations.
Fears and worries are part of life – but normal fear eventually passes.
However, fears permanently determining your everyday life or being experienced as no longer controllable may massively impair your quality of life.
Such troubles often worsen over time. Anxiety disorders are widespread in Germany and are the most common mental illness.
In the three-part workshop, you will learn the most important facts about the most common anxiety disorders such as phobias, generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks. The goal of the workshop is to understand your own anxiety and panic symptoms and to develop effective strategies to deal with them. Special importance is attached to exchange between the students.
The group is offered online.
Dates and registration:
This workshop is currently only offered in German language. For workshop dates, please check the German version of this site.
If you are interested, please register via our online appointment system.