Psychological help

Culture shock and homesickness

Studying and working abroad can be both an adventure and a challenge. Culture shock is not quite as shocking or as sudden as you might expect. It is part of the process of learning to live in and adapt to a new culture. Upon arrival you may find the new situation exhilarating and exciting, but as time passes you may start to feel overwhelmed and frustrated. Your experiences may go from being interesting to sometimes being irritating. This kind of disorientation is normal after arriving in a new culture. This does not necessarily mean that you will need professional help, but if these problems begin to affect your studies and personal life, you can always ask the counsellors for help. 

Other problems

Most personal, academic, relationship or identity problems can be addressed through counselling. These include lack of concentration, fear of failure, anxiety, stress, depression, family and/or relationship difficulties as well as addictions, eating disorders or sexual problems.

The university Psychological Counselling Service is for all students of the University of Groningen. All personal details and the content of the counselling sessions are confidential. The Service has a team of professionally trained and widely experienced female and male psychologists, who are accustomed to helping people from many different backgrounds and cultures and with a wide range of personal and academic issues.

Remember to make an appointment before going to the university psychologists. You can make an appointment by telephone Monday to Friday from 8.45 a.m. till 4.30 pm.  

Student Service Centre - Psychological Counselling

Uurwerkersgang 10
9712 EJ Groningen

050 - 363 8066

E-mail: studentenpsychologen@rug.nl (please state your student number)
website: www.rug.nl/bsp