Student counselling

The Institute of Behavioural Sciences at the Semmelweis University is providing student counselling in English and German (coming soon as well.

Coming to university can be a very exciting and rewarding time. It can also be a time of change and stress, especially if you study in Budapest, left your home country and have to face a new culture, language and environment. There may be a whole range of difficulties and dilemmas affecting your life and studies.

These may be the result of either past or present experiences. The University Counselling Service is one of the services which are there to help. One way of starting to with things is to see a counsellor. This involves meeting with a trained person to talk about the issues that are important for you.

There are a number of ways in which counselling can help, such as:

• Dealing with a crisis or immediate concern
• Support with longer term difficulties
• Getting access to specialist help
• Referring on to other resources

Counselling is an active process that is designed to give you the time, space and encouragement to explore and understand the issues you bring. The counsellor will be able to help you think about your problems from a different perspective. Their role is to provide you with a secure framework in which to reflect upon your circumstances. The aim is, that in time this will increase your awareness of yourself, your situation, and the choices that are open to you. Coming for counselling can take courage as it involves facing yourself and asking someone else for help.

Counselling provides a safe place, separate from your daily life, where you can explore issues or feelings which are causing you difficulty. The counsellor will aim to relate to you in a supportive and purposeful manner and assist you in the task of finding your own way forward. Your use of counselling remains confidential to the service within the limits agreed with your counsellor.

Emotional and psychological problems encountered by student counselling services include:

• anxieties about aspects of study including exams and presentations
• general stress and anxiety
• depression
• relationship difficulties
• eating problems
• bereavements and parental separations
• loneliness and homesickness
• lack of self confidence or low self esteem
• managing transitions
• making difficult decisions
• traumatic experiences including rape, assault and abuse
• difficulties with alcohol or drugs
• issues around sex, sexual orientation and sexuality
• self-injury
• suicidal thoughts
• anger management
• worries about appearance
• any other topic or problem you wish to talk about

Contact:

If you have any question, need to talk to someone on the phone in advance, or want to book an appointment to see a counsellor, just send us an email and we will get back to you within 48h:

Email: studentcounselling@net.sote.hu

Elisabeth Kohls

Institute of Behavioural Sciences

Nagyvárad tér 4, 20th floor, room 2008

1089 Budapest

Appointments are available on:  

- Wednesdays 17-19

- Wednesdays 19-20 (drop by, you can just come without any contact before)

- Thursdays 17-20

- any other time on agreement

The list of FAQs here might help you to get answers to some question already:

Student FAQ Topics