Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR WITHIN A PSYCHOTHERAPIST?
- Focus on whether you are Comfortable with the Psychologist with whom you wish to seek Counselling or Psychotherapy.
- Find a Psychologist whom you feel can be Trusted.
- Try to choose a Psychologist who would Value your Individuality, your Belief System, Respects you, and Values yourself as a Person.
- If possible seek the services of a Psychologist who has around 10 years of Practical Experience in the field.
- Avail services of a Psychologist who is Not Hesitant to Answer Any and all Questions that you may have, and at the same time is Interested to Ask you a lot of Questions, as well as is Ready to Actively and Attentively Listen to the client’s issues.
- You should have a belief that the Psychologist can create a change in your life and solve your problems with your assistance and active participation.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Counselling/Psychotherapy is Strictly Confidential in nature, which aims to protect the privacy of the client at all costs, and any inquiries by friends/family/colleagues of the client will not be entertained. Details pertaining to Which persons requested such services?, Why they requested such services?, What was discussed during the process of counselling?, and any other aspects of psychotherapy will not be shared by the Psychologist, due to ethical considerations of the Profession of Psychology. Even the fact that who is the client (name) is never revealed to anyone. The only exception where confidentiality will be waived and information will be shared is when there is clear risk of Suicide or Homicide with the client, also if there is Ongoing Sexual Abuse with/or by the client, and if in rare circumstances a Court Order is issued by the Court to reveal information. Also there will be secure Official Record Keeping and Documentation of such Counselling/Psychotherapy sessions, to protect the identity of the client and maintain confidentiality. Such records can only be accessible by the treating Psychologist. The Psychologist cannot release any information pertaining to the client under most situations without signed consent of the client. If the Psychologist wants to record psychotherapy sessions in audio/video, or take notes, they will have to take informed consent from the client about such procedures, and thus cannot record or write anything without explicit permission of the client.
HOW TALKING TO A PSYCHOTHERAPIST DIFFERS FROM TALKING TO A FRIEND OR A FAMILY MEMBER?
Talking to a Psychotherapist entails a Professional Relationship between the Client and the Psychotherapist. Psychotherapy is also called The Talking Cure. The Psychotherapist/ Psychologist listens, talks, explains, gives clarification, elaborates, asks questions, explores, probes, among others, in a completely non-judgemental and objective way. The Psychologist does not display strong emotional reactivity, does not dominate or control, does not have any expectations apart from psychotherapeutic ones, nor gives advice like a family member or friend. Nor is the Psychotherapist in most situations emotionally affected or mentally disturbed by any aspect or behaviour of the client, the same cannot be said for a family member or a friend. The Psychologist accepts the client the way they are unconditionally, assisting them to improve certain aspects of their life so that the client can live their lives in a more fulfilling, meaningful way, along with achieving complete autonomy, and maximizing their inherent potential. Psychotherapists, while strive to their maximum in providing assistance to clients, but it is the clients who have an active and central role in psychotherapy, and success in addressing issues of clients is largely based on the client and not the psychotherapist. Likewise, Psychotherapists do not ever give any guarantee for curing, or successfully treating any issue/problem/disorder, owing to the fact that the mind and mental processes as a whole are too complex, and the personality of every client is unique, so is the variation in every client’s level of motivation to change, compliance to treatment, among other various factors.
SCHEDULE OF APPOINTMENTS
Psychotherapy is usually provided One to Four times a week depending on the complexity, severity, frequency, duration, latency/speed, and multiplicity of issues with the client, along with the approach of psychotherapy being used. The standard treatment begins with Psychotherapy 2 times a week. Timings have be adhered to in a very strict manner. Kindly note that an hour in psychological terms globally constitutes 50 minutes only. But considering the fact that sometimes clients may need more time, I provide 60 minutes time per session. It is necessary that the time of psychotherapy never exceeds the time limit of 70 minutes (rare circumstances only). The reason why psychotherapists do not normally give more than 50 minutes of psychotherapy in one session is because psychotherapy is not effective enough beyond the time limit of 50 minutes. The schedule of time and days of psychotherapy that is set initially and agreed upon by both the client and the psychologist depending on the available slots have to be maintained till termination of therapy. Creating changes in timings or days of psychotherapy while may seem flexible and convenient to the client, but it breaks the stability, structure, and support that psychotherapy provides. Cancellation of any appointments need prior intimation of at least 1 hour in advance. The client will be charged fee for the session if they are not present during the slot time provided to them, provided they fail to cancel the appointment in time. Even if the client arrives late for psychotherapy, still the psychotherapy session will end at the designated scheduled time. Even during ongoing deep exploration of a certain issue the psychotherapist may gently terminate the given session when the general time limit of 1 hour per session is over, sometimes giving a maximum of additional 10 minutes if necessary, but not always as a routine, only as an exception.
INITIAL PROCESS, AND ADHERENCE TO PSYCHOTHERAPY
Initially, for the first 3 to 4 sessions, when psychotherapy commences formally with the client, the psychotherapist will actively listen to the entire spectrum of issues as presented by the client, without any interruptions, and the Psychotherapist at this initial phase will contribute very little from their side. The client will have maximum opportunity to express all of their concerns, many of which are sometimes negated or unheard by significant others. Proper validation of concerns raised by the client, whether accurate or not, is of prime importance and absolute necessary. The purpose of this initial active listening is to understand all the issues at hand that the client is facing, and the potential underlying unconscious factors that may have a role in manifestation of the issues. Usually, during the first 5 to 7 minutes of a typical psychotherapy session previously given homework is reviewed, and during the last 5 to 7 of the same session, follow up homework is given to the client. Efficacy of Psychotherapy is completely dependent on regular and efficient compliance towards treatment regimen by the client, and following the prescribed psychotherapeutic guidelines.
COMPLAINTS
Any form of misbehaviour, misdemeanours, insult, abuse of power, or criminal activities towards the clients are strictly prohibited for any Psychologist as per their Ethical Code of Conduct. Such violations mandate Criminal Proceedings along with complaints to respective Psychological Board and other Authorities. In India, if a client faces any justified harassment, they should immediately lodge a First Information Report (complaint) in the local Police Station against the concerned Psychologist. The client should also contact the Rehabilitation Council of India (The Government Licensing Board for Clinical Psychologists in India) which is under the Ministry of Social Empowerment and Justice and give a written complaint describing the nature of the complaint. They can additionally contact the State Mental Health Authority and here too give a complaint in writing. It is necessary for clients to take action against unethical psychologists so such wrongful acts or exploitation is not repeated in the future.
TERMINATION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY
Under most circumstances, it is the client who usually decides when to end Psychotherapy after discussions with the Psychologist. If the issues of the clients are resolved, the goals of psychotherapy achieved, if there is no further achievable improvement within the client with continuance of psychotherapy, if there is no regular adherence to psychotherapy by the client, if there is any misbehaviour on part of the psychologist, etc., then for any of the afore mentioned conditions therapy should be terminated. After termination of Psychotherapy, there is no further contact between the client and the psychologist, unless in the event that the former client is facing some other issues and wants psychotherapy for this new issue.
ADHERENCE TO BOUNDARIES AND NO PHYSICAL CONTACT
The Psychotherapist will have to maintain a wide range of psychotherapeutic boundaries, which is for the benefit of the client, and this will be followed strictly at all times without any deviation. Some of the psychotherapeutic boundaries are also mentioned within other areas of this document. The psychotherapist will under usual situations not make any attempt to contact the client beyond the confines of the psychotherapy session, and telephonic conversations or emails for cancellation/rescheduling of appointments. There will be no social networking, or friendly/casual telephone calls, emails, text messages between the psychotherapist and the client. Psychotherapy related professional calls/emails/texts are acceptable if there is a genuine concern. The Psychotherapist under most circumstances will not use the internet to find out any personal or professional details about their clients, unless when safety concerns about the client are raised. The Psychotherapist will usually not initiate a friendly relationship, or dual/multiple relationships with the client. The psychotherapist usually does not accept gifts, bartering, or other services from the client, with some rare exceptions which may be clinically appropriate. The psychotherapist will not misuse their power over the client in any way. The psychotherapist will provide their personal phone number to the client, which should be used anytime during the day or night only in case of an emergency, not otherwise. Moreover, the psychotherapist will not indulge in any physical contact with the client, be it sexual, physical touching, or in any other form, unless it is a non-sexual comforting appropriate touch. The psychotherapist will usually not indulge in self-disclosure or reveal any personal aspects of their life to the client, as the time, effort, and monetary aspects of the client is valued, and given due consideration. The client comes in psychotherapy to get their own issues resolved, not to listen to the therapist’s concerns which will not prove beneficial for them. Even if the client probes, the psychotherapist will gently decline, unless in some specific circumstances, when clinically appropriate self-disclosure may aid the client in some way or prove beneficial. Appropriate language and dressing needs to be used by the psychotherapist. Adequate proximity and spacing must be maintained between the client and psychotherapist when in the process psychotherapy. The psychotherapist will not visit the house of the client by any means, unless the client is bed-ridden. Boundary violations threaten the therapeutic integrity and professional relationship, which in turn compromises the efficacy of psychotherapy.