Who Needs a Therapist?

 



I have been working as a psychotherapist in the Delhi area in India for almost twenty years. 

When I started, therapy was not popular in India, as most people thought seeking help was something to ashamed of. And many still do. 

Growing up in India in the 50s and 60s, the only word for people who were not mentally well was 'mad'.  Keen to study an area that focused on the mind, after high school, I didn't figure out that it was psychology I wanted and there wasn't anybody to guide me. Fortunately, I fell into taking Education as my major in College, during which I was exposed to a fair amount of psychology. 

While I was living in the United States in the 70s and 80s that I sought therapy. I had issues that I couldn't work out on my own. I too, initially resisted, thinking it was for the weak and I could manage by myself. But, I couldn't. My housemate suggested a therapist she had been working with. 

I was in therapy in the U.S., Italy and when I returned to India in the early 90s. When I gave up full time work, I decided to study to become a therapist. Over the years, I found individuals, couples and old and young people, slowly, opting for therapy.

 In early 2000, just before the lockdown, I was asked to be on a show for Netflix focusing on a group death by hanging of 11 family members in the state of Haryana, where I live. This show was aired in 2021, called House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths. This contributed to more people talking about mental health. 

Many people do not know they need or can access therapy. Fortunately, doctors in India are now recommending to patients who come to them for anxiety, insomnia, gastro, among other issues to seek therapy. Thanks to media, more people are now conscious that mental health and physical health go together.

What is psychotherapy, and why should people seek it? 

Psychotherapy is a process that helps to deal with emotional stress and mental health issues.  Trained professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or licensed counsellors help clients to gain insight into life choices and difficulties faced by individuals, couples, or families. Most people, regardless of their specific challenges, can benefit from having an impartial observer, in a therapist, listen and offer guidance. 

Therapy sessions are meetings between a provider and a client with a goal of improving some aspect of their life. Providers offer various therapies, using a variety of strategies. The essential aspect is that the client or patient works collaboratively with the provider or therapist and can identify improvement and positive change over time.

How do you know if you need therapy? 

Are you feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed, or irritable? Feeling stuck in your life and struggling with relationships, and using drugs, alcohol, or food to cope with unpleasant events? Feeling disconnected from the people around you?  Do you find it hard to get out of bed, work, or feel you just don't want to do anything and feel unmotivated?

Therapy can help you. 




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