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Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR WITHIN A PSYCHOTHERAPIST?
- The first thing you should focus on is whether you are Comfortable with the Psychologist with whom you wish to
seek Counselling or Psychotherapy. When rapport is established with miminal effort, and you do feel hopeful,
motivated, relaxed, all while in conversation, that Psychologist could be appropriate for you.
- Secondly, look out for a Psychologist whom you feel can be Trusted, and you do feel safe in their presence.
- Third, try to choose a Psychologist who would Value your Individuality, your Belief System, Respects you, and
Values yourself as a Person.
- Fourth, if possible seek the services of a Psychologist who at least has around 5-10 years of Practical Experience in
the field, and is competent to handle all issues for which you seek resolution using Evidence-Based Practice.
- Fifth, 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 your issues.
- Sixth, you should have a belief that the Psychologist can create a change
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Counselling/Psychotherapy is Strictly Confidential in nature, which aims to protect your privacy at all costs, and
any inquiries by your friends/family/colleagues regarding Psychotherapy Sessions 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?, For What reasons was Counselling/Psychotherapy sought? and any other aspects
of Psychotherapy, or Assessment 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 not revealed to anyone.
The only exception where confidentiality will be waived and information will be shared is when there is reason to
believe you are at risk for Suicide/Homicide/Destruction of Property, Neglect towards child/elderly/dependents,
also if there is Ongoing Sexual or Abuse with you or by you, indulging in or association with Child Pornography in
any way, if you introduce your emotional condition into any legal proceedings, if in rare circumstances a Court
Order is issued by the Court to reveal your mental health records, or Psychosis (not in touch with reality).
Also there will be secure Official Record Keeping and Documentation of your Counselling/Psychotherapy
sessions, to protect your identity and maintain confidentiality. Such records can only be accessible by your treating
Psychologist (stored for 6 years). The Psychologist cannot release any information pertaining to you under most
situations without your signed consent (except as mentioned above). If the Psychologist wants to record
psychotherapy sessions in audio/video, or take notes, they will have to take informed consent from you about such
procedures, and thus the Psychologist cannot record or write anything without your explicit permission.
HOW TALKING TO A PSYCHOTHERAPIST DIFFERS FROM TALKING TO A FRIEND OR A FAMILY MEMBER?
Talking to a Psychologist entails a Professional Relationship between You and the Psychologist. Psychotherapy is
also called The Talking Cure. The 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 manipulate or coerce, does not dominate or control, does not lie or
decieve, does not have any expectations apart from psychotherapeutic ones, nor gives you any advice like a family
member or friend. Nor is the Psychologist in most situations emotionally affected or mentally disturbed by any
aspect of your behaviour, the same cannot be said for a family member or a friend.
The Psychologist accepts you the way you are unconditionally, assisting you to improve certain aspects of your life so that you, the client can live their lives in a more fulfilling, meaningful way, along with achieving complete autonomy, and maximizing your inherent potential. Psychologists, while strive to their maximum in providing assistance to you, but it is you who have an
active and central role in psychotherapy, and success in addressing your issues is largely based on you and not the Psychologist.
Likewise, Psychologists 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, the personality
of every client is unique, so is the variation in every client’s level of motivation to change, compliance to treatment,
multiplicity of issues, differences within frequency / intensity / duration of symptoms, 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 within yourself, along with the approach of psychotherapy being
used. The standard treatment begins with Psychotherapy 2 times a week (in your sepecific case it may wary).
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 usually 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 usually maintained till termination of therapy. Creating
changes in timings or days of psychotherapy while may seem flexible and convenient to you, but it breaks the
stability, structure, and support that psychotherapy provides.
Cancellation of any appointments need prior intimation of at least 24 hours in advance. You will be charged fee for the session if you are not present during the slot time provided to you, provided you 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 Psychologist 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 there will be an Intake Interview, thereafter for the first 16 to 18 sessions for Case History (sometimes a
few more sessions), when psychotherapy commences formally (excluding 2 sessions of MSE), the Psychologist will
actively listen to the entire spectrum of issues as presented by you, without many interruptions, and the Psychologist
at this initial phase will contribute comparatively little from their side, apart from asking several questions in a
systematized guided and progressive manner. You will have maximum opportunity to express all of your concerns,
many of which are sometimes negated or unheard by significant others. Proper validation of your raised concerns,
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 you are courageously facing, and the potential underlying unconscious
factors that may have a role in manifestation of the issues.
Usually, during the first 5 to 10 minutes of a typical psychotherapy session previously given homework is reviewed, and during the last 5 to 10 minutes of the same session, follow up homework is given to the client. Thereafter, during conceptualization phase the Psychologist
formulates a clear idea about the different nature and various causalities of your problems.
Then, to test and verify this assertion Psychological Assessments are used. During Assessment Phase, a multitude of Psychological
Assessments (Tests) are administered, to better understand your concerns and arrive at a formal diagnosis and / or
confirm issues and / or behavioural problems.
You then enter the process of Treatment Planning along with the Psychologist, whereby they decide possible types of Evidence-Based psychotherapeutic treatments, what all needs to be addressed in Psychotherapy, how, and at what stage. Only then the lengthy phase of Psychotherapy (intervention) begins. Efficacy of Psychotherapy is completely dependent on regular and efficient compliance towards treatment regimen by yourself, and following the prescribed psychotherapeutic guidelines as explained by your Psychologist.
COMPLAINTS
Any form of misbehaviour, misdemeanours, insult, abuse of power, or criminal activities directed towards you
are strictly prohibited for any Psychologist as per their Ethical Principles Of Psychologists And Code of Conduct
(herein APA 2010, 2016 Ammendments). Such violations mandate Criminal Proceedings along with complaints to
respective Psychological Board and other Authorities. In India, if you face any justified harassment, you should
immediately lodge a First Information Report (complaint) in the local Police Station against the concerned
Psychologist.
You should also contact the Rehabilitation Council of India (The Government Licensing Board for
Clinical / Rehabilitation Psychologists in India) which is under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, or
National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (The Government Licensing Board for Counselling /
All Other Psychologists in India) which is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, depending on
registration/licensure of the Psychologist either from NCAHP or RCI, and give a written complaint describing the
nature of the complaint.
You can additionally contact the State Mental Health Authority and here too give a
complaint in writing against Hospitals / Clinics. It is necessary for you 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 you, the client, who usually decides when to end Psychotherapy after discussions
with the Psychologist. If your issues are resolved, the goals of psychotherapy achieved, if there is no further
achievable improvement within you with continuance of psychotherapy, if there is no regular adherence to
psychotherapy by you, if there is any misbehaviour on part of the psychologist, if you do not pay for rendered
services, etc., then for any of the afore mentioned conditions (among others) therapy should be terminated. After
termination of Psychotherapy, there is no further contact between you and the Psychologist, unless in the event that
the former client, i.e., you, is facing some other issues and wants psychotherapy for this new issue.
ADHERENCE TO BOUNDARY VIOLATIONS / CROSSINGS AND NO PHYSICAL CONTACT
The Psychologist has to maintain a wide range of psychotherapeutic boundaries, which is for your benefit, 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 Psychologist will under usual situations not make any attempt
to contact you beyond the confines of the psychotherapy session, and telephonic conversations or emails (or any
other mutually agreed upon mode of communication) for cancellation/rescheduling of appointments, giving
handouts, reminders, notices, essential readings, etc. There will be no social networking, or friendly/casual
telephone calls, emails, text messages between the Psychologist and the client. Psychotherapy related professional
calls and emails are acceptable if there is a genuine concern.
The Psychologist under most circumstances will not use the internet to find out any personal or professional details about you, unless when safety concerns about you are raised. The Psychologist will usually not initiate a friendly relationship, or dual/multiple relationships with you. The Psychologist usually does not accept gifts, bartering, or other services from you as well, with some rare exceptions
which may be clinically appropriate. The Psychologist will not misuse their power over you in any way. The
Psychologist will provide their personal phone number to you, which should be used anytime during the day or
night only in case of an emergency, not otherwise, normal conversation should be via email / text only.
Moreover, the Psychologist will not indulge in any physical contact with you, be it sexual, physical touching, or in any other
form, unless it is a non-sexual comforting appropriate touch (rare distress situations). The Psychologist will usually
not indulge in self-disclosure or reveal any personal aspects of their life to you, as your time, effort, and monetary
aspects are valued, and given due consideration. You come in psychotherapy to get your own issues resolved, not to
listen to the therapist’s concerns which will not prove beneficial for you. Even if you probe, the Psychologist will
gently decline, unless in some specific circumstances, when clinically appropriate self-disclosure may aid you in
some way or prove beneficial.
Appropriate language and dressing needs to be used by the Psychologist. Adequate
proximity and spacing must be maintained between you and the Psychologist when in the process psychotherapy.
The Psychologist will not visit your house by any means, unless you are bed-ridden and /or physically disabled.
Boundary violations threaten the therapeutic integrity and professional relationship, which in turn compromises the
efficacy of psychotherapy.
SIDE-EFFECTS OF COUNSELLING/PSYCHOTHERAPY
At any time, you may initiate discussion of possible positive or negative effects of entering, not entering,
continuing, or discontinuing counselling and psychotherapy. While benefits are expected from counselling and
psychotherapy, specific results are not guaranteed. Counselling/Psychotherapy is a personal exploration and may
lead to major changes in your life perspectives and decisions. These changes may affect significant relationships,
your job, and/or your understanding of yourself. Some of these life changes could be temporarily distressing. The
exact nature of these changes cannot be predicted. Together we will work to achieve the best possible results for you.
Some clients achieve their goals in only a few counselling sessions; others may require months or even years of
counselling. As a client, you are in complete control and may end our counselling relationship at any time, though
we do ask that you participate in a termination session. You also have the right to refuse or discuss modification of
any of our counselling/psychotherapy techniques or suggestions that you believe might be harmful. We assure you
that our services will be rendered in a professional manner consistent with accepted legal and ethical standards.
Psychotherapy is a process in which Therapist and Client discuss a myriad of issues, events, experiences and
memories for the purpose of creating positive change so Client can experience his/her life more fully. It provides an
opportunity to better, and more deeply understand oneself, as well as, any problems or difficulties Client may be
experiencing. Psychotherapy is a joint effort between Client and Therapist. Progress and success may vary
depending upon the particular problems or issues being addressed, as well as many other factors.
Participating in therapy may result in a number of benefits to Client, including, but not limited to, reduced stress
and anxiety, a decrease in negative thoughts and self-sabotaging behaviors, improved interpersonal relationships,
increased comfort in social, work, and family settings, increased capacity for intimacy, and increased selfconfidence.
Such benefits may also require substantial effort on the part of Client, including an active participation
in the therapeutic process, honesty, and a willingness to change feelings, thoughts and behaviors. There is no
guarantee that therapy will yield any or all of the benefits listed above.
Participating in therapy may also involve some discomfort, including remembering and discussing unpleasant
events, feelings and experiences. The process may evoke strong feelings of sadness, anger, fear, etc. There may be
times in which Therapist will challenge Client’s perceptions and assumptions, and offer different perspectives. The
issues presented by Client may result in unintended outcomes, including changes in personal relationships. Client
should be aware that any decision on the status of his/her personal relationships is the responsibility of Client.
During the therapeutic process, many Clients find that they feel worse before they feel better. This is generally a
normal course of events. Personal growth and change may be easy and swift at times, but may also be slow and
frustrating. Client should address any concerns he/she has regarding his/her progress in therapy with Therapist.
DISCLAIMER
The Psychologist will not voluntarily participate in any litigation, or custody dispute in which Client and another
individual, or entity, are parties. The Psychologist has a policy of not communicating with Client’s attorney and will
generally not write or sign letters, reports, declarations, or affidavits to be used in Client’s legal matter. The Psychologist will
generally not provide records or testimony unless compelled to do so by the court. Should The Psychologist be subpoenaed,
or ordered by a court of law, to appear as a witness in an action involving Client, Client agrees to reimburse. Your
case details can be discussed in Academic/Research settings protecting your identity (without revealing name,
address, or any other details that could potentially identify you).