Finding a therapist in India: honest answers

What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MBBS, then MD in psychiatry) who diagnoses mental health conditions and can prescribe medication. Appointments are usually short and focused on symptoms and medicines.

A psychologist is trained in the mind and behaviour, not medicine. Psychologists provide talking therapy and psychological assessment, and do not prescribe. Many people benefit from both: medication from a psychiatrist and therapy with a psychologist. Our guide psychiatrist vs clinical psychologist vs counselling psychologist goes into detail.

What is the difference between a clinical psychologist and a counselling psychologist?

In India, a clinical psychologist has completed an RCI-recognised professional qualification in clinical psychology with supervised hospital training (traditionally a two-year M.Phil after a master’s, now being replaced by RCI-recognised two-year professional master’s programmes), and is registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). They work with the full range of mental health conditions, including psychological assessment for diagnosis.

A counselling psychologist usually holds a master’s in psychology and works with everyday emotional difficulties, stress, relationships and life transitions. Both can be very good therapists; what matters is training that fits your concern, and supervision for those earlier in their careers.

Should I see a psychologist or a psychiatrist?

Start with a psychologist if you want to understand and change what you are going through by talking: stress, anxiety, low mood, relationships, overthinking, self-esteem.

See a psychiatrist (a doctor) if symptoms are severe or long-lasting, are stopping you from working, studying or looking after yourself, if you are already on psychiatric medication, or if a psychologist suggests a medication review. If you are unsure, a psychologist can help you decide; at Rooh Mind Care our psychologists and psychiatrist coordinate, with your consent.

What qualifications should a psychologist have in India?

For a clinical psychologist, look for RCI registration: the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 requires it to practise as a clinical psychologist. The usual route has been an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology; RCI-recognised two-year master’s programmes in clinical psychology are replacing it, and both lead to RCI registration.

For a counselling psychologist, look for a master’s degree in psychology (MA or MSc, often in counselling or clinical psychology), training in specific therapies such as CBT, and clinical supervision. Psychologists other than RCI-registered clinical psychologists fall under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. Its registration regulations were published in 2026 and the registers are still being set up, so many well-qualified counselling psychologists will not have a registration number yet; ask about their degree, training and supervision instead.

For a psychiatrist, look for MBBS plus MD (Psychiatry) or DNB, and registration with the National Medical Commission or a state medical council.

How do I check a mental health professional’s credentials in India?

Ask for the registration number and check it: RCI registrations appear on the RCI’s Central Rehabilitation Register, and doctors’ registrations on the National Medical Commission’s Indian Medical Register or the state medical council’s list.

At Rooh Mind Care the numbers are published on each profile: Anamika Rawlani, RCI A39595; Divyanshi Tolani, RCI A101532; Dr Mekhala Divakar, Karnataka Medical Council 134015. See our team.

How do I choose the right therapist?

Look at three things. Training for your concern: someone experienced with anxiety, trauma, couples, ADHD or whatever brings you. Practicalities: language, fees, online or in person, timings. And fit: whether you feel heard and safe after a session or two. Research consistently finds the relationship with the therapist is one of the strongest predictors of whether therapy helps.

If you would rather not choose alone, our Help Me Choose an Expert asks a few short questions and suggests someone from our team.

What questions should I ask before booking a therapist?

• What are your qualifications, and are you registered (RCI, or a medical council)?
• Have you worked with people with concerns like mine?
• What approach do you use, and what would sessions look like?
• How long is a session, what is the fee, and what is the cancellation policy?
• How is confidentiality handled, and when could it be broken?
• Which languages do you work in? Do you offer online sessions?

How do I know if my therapist is a good fit?

After two or three sessions you should feel listened to, not judged, and clearer about what you are working on together. It is normal for therapy to feel uncomfortable at times; it should not feel dismissive, rushed or unsafe.

Can I change therapists if I don’t feel comfortable?

Yes, and it is common. You do not owe anyone an explanation. At Rooh Mind Care, just tell us and we will help you move to someone else on the team, without starting from zero if you are happy for notes to be shared.

Can I find a therapist who understands Indian family dynamics?

Yes. Ask directly whether they work with joint families, family pressure about marriage or careers, and caring for parents. Our team works with these every day, in person in Lucknow and online, including with Indians living abroad, and our guide to boundaries with Indian parents answers the common questions.

How do I compare therapists’ fees and experience?

Compare like with like: a session’s length, the professional’s qualification and registration, years of experience, and whether they work with your concern. A higher fee usually reflects seniority or specialist training, not a better fit for you. Check what is included (session length, cancellation terms, packages) and whether the fee is shown in full before you pay.

How do I find an LGBTQ+-affirming therapist in India?

Ask directly before booking: “Do you work affirmatively with LGBTQ+ clients? Have you worked with people like me?” An affirming therapist treats your identity as part of who you are, not a problem to fix, uses your name and pronouns, and never attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity. Be wary of anyone who is vague about this. See queer-affirmative therapy at Rooh Mind Care.

Who should I see for sexual or intimacy concerns?

Sexual difficulties can have physical, hormonal or medication causes as well as psychological and relationship ones, so it often makes sense to see a medical doctor first (a general physician, gynaecologist or urologist). Psychosexual therapy, with a psychologist trained in it, works on anxiety, shame, desire and communication about sex; couples therapy works on the relationship more broadly, and the two often overlap.

At Rooh Mind Care, Senior Clinical Psychologist Dr Poornima Chandrashekar works with sexual concerns. Read sexual therapy for men and women’s sexuality and mental health.

Who can assess adult ADHD in India?

In India, adult ADHD is usually assessed by psychiatrists and by RCI-registered clinical psychologists. A proper assessment includes a detailed interview, your developmental and school history (ideally with input from someone who knew you as a child), standardised rating scales, and checking for other explanations such as anxiety, depression or sleep problems. An online questionnaire is a screening: it can suggest an assessment is worth having, but it cannot diagnose. Medication, if needed, is prescribed by a psychiatrist. See ADHD and psychological assessment.

How much does a therapy session cost in India?

There is no official survey of private therapy fees in India, and fees vary a lot with the professional’s training and experience, the city, and whether sessions are online. Private sessions range from under ₹1,000 to several thousand rupees, with senior clinicians usually at the higher end; always check the full fee, and the session length, before booking. Government hospitals, medical colleges and some NGOs offer care at very low or no cost, usually with waiting times.

Our current fees, for your region:

Shown in rupees for India. Outside India the figures above change to your region’s fees when the page loads.

Packages of 4, 8 or 16 sessions lower the per-session fee. See all fees and packages.

Why is therapy so expensive?

A session is one qualified professional’s full attention for close to an hour, plus preparation, notes, supervision and years of training. Fees vary with experience and city. If cost is the barrier, ask about packages, student rates or reduced fees; many practices, including ours, have them.

Are there free or low-cost mental health services in India?

Tele-MANAS (14416 or 1-800-891-4416) is the Government of India’s free, 24×7 mental health helpline, in many Indian languages. Psychiatry and clinical psychology departments in government hospitals and medical colleges offer low-cost outpatient care. Many colleges have free counselling centres, and some NGOs run free or sliding-scale counselling.

Are there discounts for students?

At Rooh Mind Care, students can get up to 20% off sessions with our psychologists, and reduced fees are available on request for anyone facing financial difficulty: ask us on WhatsApp. New clients also get 10% off their first session with the coupon WELCOME10, applied automatically at checkout.

Is online therapy cheaper than in-person therapy?

Sometimes, but not always. At Rooh Mind Care the fee is the same online and in person; online saves travel time and cost, and widens your choice of therapist beyond your city.

Should I choose a trainee or an experienced psychologist?

Trainees and early-career psychologists can be very good, especially when they are supervised by senior clinicians, and they are usually more affordable. For complex or long-standing difficulties, trauma, or when you need an assessment, an experienced clinical psychologist is often the better choice. At Rooh Mind Care, our counselling psychologists work under the clinical supervision of our senior clinicians.

Does online therapy actually work?

For most common concerns, such as anxiety, low mood, stress and relationship difficulties, research comparing video and in-person therapy generally finds similar results. What matters more is the therapist and the relationship than the screen.

How does online therapy work at Rooh Mind Care?

You choose a professional and a time, pay online, and receive a secure Google Meet link by email. You can join from a phone or laptop. A quiet, private room and headphones help; plenty of people join from a parked car or a terrace.

Is online therapy confidential?

Yes. Sessions are not recorded without your written consent, and what you share is kept confidential, with a few exceptions set by law, such as serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or the sexual abuse of a child. The limits are explained in privacy and trust. Keep your session link to yourself, as you would a password.

Can I attend therapy without my family knowing?

Adults can, yes; your therapist will not contact your family without your consent. Practically, choose a time when you are alone, use headphones, and step out somewhere private if you need to. For clients aged 13 to 17, parents are involved; see adolescent therapy.

Can I keep my camera off?

You can talk to your psychologist about it. Many people feel more at ease starting with the camera off or switching it on later, and that is fine.

Can I attend therapy from another city or another country?

Yes. Our psychologists see clients online across India and abroad, including the USA, Canada, the UK, the Gulf, Europe, Australia and Singapore, booked in your own time zone. Psychiatric consultations are available to clients in India only. Rooh Mind Care cannot provide emergency response in another country. See online therapy for Indians abroad.

Can I have therapy in Hindi or another Indian language?

Yes. Sessions can be in Hindi, English or both: switching between them mid-sentence, as many people do, is completely fine. Our team also works in Sindhi, Urdu, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam; each clinician’s profile lists their languages. Read about थेरेपी हिंदी में or ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಥೆರಪಿ.

When is in-person care better than online therapy?

If you are in crisis or at risk of harming yourself, need urgent medical care, cannot find a private space at home, or for some assessments and work with young children, in-person care can be more appropriate. Your psychologist will tell you if they think so.

How many therapy sessions will I need?

It depends on what you are working on. Some people feel a difference within six to eight sessions; long-standing patterns or trauma usually take longer. You decide together with your psychologist and review it as you go; nobody should ask you to commit to a fixed number.

How often should I attend therapy?

Most people start weekly, then move to every two weeks or monthly as things settle. Fortnightly from the start can also work, especially when cost is a concern.

What happens in the first therapy session?

Your psychologist asks what brings you, what you have tried, and what you would like to change. You go at your own pace and do not have to share anything you are not ready to. Read what to expect in your first session or how to book your first session with us.

How do I book a session with Rooh Mind Care?

Choose a professional on our team (or use Help Me Choose an Expert), pick a time, and pay online; the full fee is shown before you pay. If you have questions first, ask us on WhatsApp.

What is the cancellation policy?

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Sessions cancelled with less notice, or missed, are charged in full; a one-off emergency may be treated as an exception at the therapist’s discretion. Full terms are in our policies.