FAQ

Magic

I do not do magic. Let me explain. A client's expectation is they will find a solution in one or two session and hope to be healed. Psychological therapy doesn't work that way. It needs commitment from the client as well. 

Flight to health

What we  call as therapeutic euphoria. This is opposite of "Magic". A client feel all healed and empowered with just one or two sessions. 

In psychotherapy, an abrupt “recuperation” by a prospective client after or during intake interviews and before entry into therapy proper or, more commonly, by a client in ongoing therapy in order to avoid further confrontation with cognitive, emotional, or behavioral problems. Psychoanalytic theory interprets the flight into health as an unconscious defense mechanism. 

Apa Dictionary of Psychology (no date) American Psychological Association. Available at: https://dictionary.apa.org/flight-into-health (Accessed: 14 December 2024). 

The risk of flight to health, clients stop therapy. We recommend, have just one more session. Discuss with your therapist how you feel empowered and why you feel you can stop therapy. Make an informed and mutual decision to terminate the therapeutic alliance.

What is counselling?

Counselling is Talk Therapy. Psychotherapy (sometimes called talk therapy) refers to a variety of treatments that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. (n.d.). Psychotherapies. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies 

Therapy has various components. It is usually a mix of 

1. Crisis counseling

2. Grounding / Calming / Soothing techniques

3. Insight

4. Prescriptive 

5. Psychoeducation

Check this blog out,  What is counselling?, Am I ready for therapy?

Are you a counsellor, a psychologist or a therapist?

One thing you will find confusing is that we use different terms. Sometimes they mean the same, other times not. Counselling is a generic word and also a fairly non-judgmental term. Counselling is not limited to mental health. 

A psychologist is a person who has professional qualification to provide counselling for mental health by using various proven (evidence based) therapeutic modalities. 

There are some psychologists who are experts and strictly believe in a certain therapeutic modality. So, they may call themselves therapist.

Why the term "client"?

In the past and even now in the hospitals, those seeking help are referred to as patients. As poignant as it is in the medical model, this creates a power equation between the doctor and the patient. In psychology, especially those who practice the Carl Roger's humanistic approach, prefer the word client. This way, there is no power equation between the therapist and the client. The more power to you the client. 

The power is within you

In client centered therapy, we firmly believe the power is with the client. This belief helps with "power equation" between the client and the therapist. As a therapist we do not provide any medication or anything other... We help you explore your own thoughts and help you get some clarity. The power to change is within you.  It brought you this far. Please exercise this power to heal yourselves. 

With power comes responsibility. One has to take ownership of their wellbeing. This cannot be forced. So your therapist allows you to control the number of sessions you want to take, when to schedule them (according to mutual convenience) and when you can terminate the therapeutic alliance. i.e. you also have power over your entire healing journey. 

How much does this cost and how many sessions would I need?

You will find our charges on the informed consent form. We have what is called as a sliding scale.  This is to ensure those who need help, do not stop themselves from reaching out due to their financial situation. On occasion, we do provide pro-bono support if their is a genuine need for it. 

Typically, one would need anywhere between 3 to 10 sessions for common life challenges. Some may need more. 

We recommend, have a budget for a month for therapy. Negotiate with your therapist on how many sessions you can get for your budget.  Also, read this blog, track your progress. 

Why is it expensive?

Typically a doctor charges ₹500 to ₹700 if not more for a 10 minute prescription which you would spend anywhere between ₹200 to ₹2000 to fill the prescription (buy medicines). A therapist spends an hour for therapy. They also spend time to prepare for the session and also to make notes post the session. They also spend to get supervision. It is not a competition  between physical and mental health in who is reasonable in their charges nor their importance. It is just to give you a perspective.  

I am sure you would appreciate why therapy costs what it does. 

When should I stop therapy?

As mentioned above, you the client has complete power over your therapeutic journey. You can stop whenever you want. But please do read and remember the above topics before you make a decision to stop therapy. 

Confidentiality

As therapist we would make a voice recording of the session for making notes and also for future reference. All notes and recordings are stored in a safe space. All of these are kept confidential. 

As a legal term, confidentiality refers to a duty of an individual to refrain from sharing confidential information with others, except with the express consent of the other party. There are rules and regulations which place restrictions on the circumstances in which a professional, such as a doctor or attorney, may divulge information about a client or patient, and other situations may be deemed confidential by the use of a contract. To explore this concept, consider the following confidentiality definition. (2015, October 16). Confidentiality. Definition and examples. https://legaldictionary.net/confidentiality/ 

Limited waiver for confidentiality

1. A court order or equivalent executive order which has to be adhered to or risk contempt ruling

2. When the client is a threat to themselves or to others life or property. i.e. 

   1. .Self-harm and suicidal ideations. 

   2. Threat to harm or kill someone

   3. Or a threat to destroy property. 

Privileged information

Privilege is a legal rule prohibiting the disclosure of private information against someone's will. Confidential information includes both privileged and unprivileged client information. Information is “privileged” when some rule or law protects that information from disclosure.

Everything you share with your therapist is privileged information. i.e. The therapist has to waive confidentiality only in order to ensure safety of the individual (2.1 above). But they are not required to reveal everything that is shared in therapy. What is share is only what is necessary and sufficient information to ensure safety of the client. 

Informed Consent

Knowing all the above, risks and benefits, you (the client) are making an informed decision to engage in a therapeutic relationship with the therapist. If you have not already, please sign the consent form here. 

Feedback

Feedback is important for the therapeutic alliance. Please providing feedback to your counsellor/therapist. Preferably after each session. Click here for the feedback form.  You may also provide feedback in the session as to what is working for you and what is not. This way the therapist can calibrate the support required.

Are you folks queer (& other) affirmative therapists? 

No, we are not "trained" in queer affirmative approaches. There are many such affirmative approaches, such as caste affirmative, and other similar marginalized communities affirmative approaches. 

But do you counsel people who might have issues related to their sexual orientation etc.?

We do! 

First and foremost our principles are simple. Following a humanistic approach we are committed to genuineness, unconditional positive regard (acceptance), and empathy.  This is the corner stone of client centered therapy.  In short, absolutely zero judgmental attitude towards clients. Hence our language with our clients are based on what the client can relate to. This helps us to form an effective therapeutic alliance with our clients.

We also constantly evaluate our biases, either when we are introspecting & reflecting or in supervision. 

So, we believe we are qualified to help from marginalized communities who need psychological support. 

I find this page interesting. you might too. https://thehumancondition.com/affirmative-therapy/

Personal belief and attitude

Each one of us are queer, as in strange one way or the other. All of us have unique preferences, personalities etc. All of us carry biases. It is what I call a human condition. Like any other human being, a therapist has to work on them. 

A good therapist would recognize all of these and be non-judgmental.  Having one and only primary goal, to help their clients' cope with their life situations and thrive.