How to select a mental health therapist for yourself?

Please read my earlier blog titled 'How to find a psychotherapist?'

Now that you have shortlisted a few therapists You can use the list below to decide on the right therapist for you.

1. Note down your budget:

The minimum a therapist in India would charge is INR 600 per session. The price varies according to the therapist's education, years of experience, expertise in an area, and also client’s age, socio-economic status etc. On an average, a therapist with 5 years of experience would charge between INR 1200- 3000 per session. The charges would be different for a client based in a country outside India.

When deciding on how much you can spend on therapy, also think over if you can pay for weekly sessions or a once-in-two-weeks session.

2. Research the therapist:

Look for reviews or testimonials on the therapist's website or online profile to learn more about their approach to therapy. You can ask therapists to share their online profile or their credentials with you. Ask them about their available time slots and see if they fit with your schedule.

3. Credentials:

Choose a therapist who has a minimum of MA/ MSc Psychology.

A therapist who has studied till MA has studied various aspects of psychology- from theories of learning and motivation, biology of brain and behaviour, personality theories, psychopathology, counselling and therapy; internship in mental health clinics or psychology departments in hospitals.

4. Schedule a consultation:

You can ask to have a 15 minutes consultation over phone with the therapist to share your issues and get an understanding of their therapeutic style and approach. This call can be free or paid. Some therapist may not offer a consultation and ask you to book a first session with them. In that case, the first session acts as a way for you to gauge if you and therapist are a good fit.

A therapist also uses the consultation call or first session to gauge if they will be able to work with you on the issues you shared.

5. Have patience:

Therapy is a long-term professional working relationship. People rarely find the right therapist on the first attempt. Don’t let that put you off of therapy. Invest 2-3 sessions to make a decision on a particular therapist. If you still aren’t comfortable with them, then approach another therapist which matches you.

You can also check out the ‘about me’ section on this website to know more about my practice. Feel free to use the inquiry form on the ‘book a session’ page to get in touch with me.

Next blog- How to prepare for your first therapy session?