Question 1

Why do I need counselling / therapy?

Accepted Answer

Counselling sessions can help you gain clarity on a problem you are facing, change old patterns, untangle complex personal issues, or help you embark on a journey of self-development. You may seek counselling as a result of a crisis, or you may be encouraged to seek counselling by family members, friends or colleagues.

Question 2

How do I make an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Use the Book Nowb(javascript:void(0))utton and send us your information. You can also contact us on +91-7736776627 | +91-8076167950 or send us an email at teampratidhi@gmail.com and we will get back to you within one working day.

Question 3

Why Pratidhi counselling ?

Accepted Answer

Pratidhi is an online counselling platform. We change the way people get help with facing life's challenges by providing convenient, discreet and affordable access to certified and well-trained counsellors. Pratidhi makes professional counselling available anytime, anywhere, through a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Question 4

Who will be helping me?

Accepted Answer

After you sign up and book your first appointment with Pratidhi, You are free to choose your counsellor and if you are confused in the process, we will help you find the right counsellor according to your objectives, preferences, and the type of issues you are dealing with. Different counsellors have different approaches and areas of focus, so it's important to find the right person who can achieve the best results for you. We have found that we are able to provide a successful match most of the time.

Question 5

How will I communicate with my counsellor ?

Accepted Answer

You can get counselling in four ways:
 • Exchanging messages with your counselor
 • Chatting live with your counselor
 • Speaking over the phone with your counselor
 • Video conferencing with your counselor
You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience. However, we find video calling an effective way to approach counselling.

Question 6

What happens in a counselling session?

Accepted Answer

There is no typical counselling session. Your counsellor will be highly trained in listening and reflecting, and will provide you with a safe environment to explore your issues. With most types of therapy, you are free to discuss what you wish, from everyday events, dilemmas, feelings, and thoughts, to regrets, aspirations, memories and dreams.

Question 7

What issues can counselling help with?

Accepted Answer

People usually have a wide-range of problems like(but is not limited to) : Anxiety ,workplace issues relationship issues, depression , low self-esteem, lack of confidence , abuse  and bereavement/grief/loss.

Question 8

What kinds of people seek counselling?

Accepted Answer

There is no barrier to whom counselling can assist. We welcome you, regardless of your culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or employment group. Counselling is also not just for adult individuals, but is beneficial for couples, families, teenagers and children.

Question 9

Is counselling only for people with severe issues?

Accepted Answer

Counselling is for anyone who recognizes the need for support and wants to learn tools to become more self-confident and emotionally balanced. It's a sign of strength and self-awareness, not severity.

Question 10

How long should I expect to have to continue counselling?

Accepted Answer

The length of your therapy will very much depend on your unique circumstances and needs, with six sessions often recommended and a review after that, it also depends on the type of therapy you choose to try. At Pratidhi, we follow an Eclectic approach where we use therapies and techniques from different schools of psychology. However, some counsellors also follow specific approaches like Cognitive behavioural therapy which is designed to be short-term and lasts six to 20 sessions, psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, and existential therapies that tend to be longer term, and many last for many months or even years. Keep in mind that once you start sessions, new issues and angles can arise you were not aware existed that you then want to explore. It is of course possible to also see improvement faster than you expected.

Question 11

Will my counselling sessions be confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes, counselling sessions are confidential. The exception would be if you were to pose a danger to yourself or others, in which case the relevant parties would be notified.

Question 12

Do you provide in-person or online counseling?

Accepted Answer

All counselling sessions are conducted via a secure and easy-to-use telehealth platform (similar to Zoom or Skype). Established clients can also hold some sessions by telephone, if needed. We do  not provide in-person counselling at the moment.

Question 13

Is online counselling right for me?

Accepted Answer

Although there are many advantages of online counselling (it’s convenient, effective, keeps us safe from infectious diseases such as COVID-19), it’s not right for everyone. Online counselling (teletherapy) works best for those with mild to moderate symptoms (not people who are suicidal or in crisis), are comfortable using technology, and have a quiet, private place to have their sessions.

Question 14

What can I expect from counselling?

Accepted Answer

Once you have decided to see a counsellor, you still might be apprehensive about the process. Many people feel nervous before their first appointment. Counselling is a shared journey; a shared process. And, although you and the we will travel together, it is ultimately your journey and you will make your own decisions. We do not have answers to all your concerns, but we do have the ability to listen carefully and will ask thoughtful questions. Your answers to these questions will help shape the direction of our work. You can expect to be respected. You can expect that we will offer opinions and suggestions from time to time but we will not tell you what to do.

Question 15

Is counselling working for me ?

Accepted Answer

You should be able to tell within a session or two whether you and your counsellor are a good fit. But sometimes, you may like your counsellor but feel that you aren’t making progress. It’s important to evaluate your progress to make sure you’re getting what you need from counselling. A word of caution: There is no smooth, fast road to recovery. It’s a process that’s full of twists, turns, and the occasional backtrack. Sometimes, what originally seemed like a straightforward problem turns into a more complicated issue. Be patient and don’t get discouraged over temporary setbacks. It’s not easy to break old, entrenched patterns. Remember that growth is difficult and non-linear, and you won’t be a new person overnight. But you should notice positive changes in your life. Your overall mood might be improving, for example. You may feel more connected to family and friends. Or a crisis that might have overwhelmed you in the past doesn’t throw you as much this time.

Question 16

How do I know when to stop therapy or counselling?

Accepted Answer

Deciding when to stop therapy is a personal decision. Ideally, you and your counsellor will agree that you've met your goals. However, you might feel ready to stop even if your counsellor thinks there's more work to do. It's about what feels right for you.

Question 17

Why do I need to attend weekly sessions?

Accepted Answer

The standard format of weekly sessions helps you make gradual and steady progress that means you see real results. In some cases, a counsellor will agree to two or more sessions per week, if you both deem it beneficial and they have the availability.

Question 18

What hours are therapists available?

Accepted Answer

Use the Book Nowb(undefined)utton and send us your information. You can also contact us on +91-7736776627 | +91-8076167950 or send us an email at teampratidhi@gmail.com. We offer sessions with flexible timings that are suitable both for our clients and counsellors.

Question 19

This is my first therapy. Do I need to be prepared with something?

Accepted Answer

No, there isn’t any formal preparation required. Be comfortable and feel free to express yourself.

Question 20

I am unable to understand whether my problem is bad enough to discuss it with you?

Accepted Answer

No problem can be measured objectively in terms of “good” or “bad”. What matters to us is how you feel about it. If you feel bad about something, then that needs to be discussed.

Question 21

How is the guidance from the Professional Psychologist different from the friend's advice ?

Accepted Answer

By choosing a counselling psychologist, you are choosing a professional who will not only guide you but also provide you with unconditional emotional support and an opportunity to grow in life. You will be heard and empowered with an appropriate set of healing tools to help you become capable of walking from the state of ordinary to extraordinary.

Question 22

What happens during the first session?

Accepted Answer

The initial session is the time for you to start to share your story, talk about your goals and what you would like to change. Another important aspect of the first session is deciding if your counsellor and you are a good fit. Do I seem like someone you can trust? You and your counsellor are establishing a relationship that will become the foundation for working together. You will begin to figure out some goals; your counsellor will begin to figure out how to help you get there.

Question 23

How long do appointments last?

Accepted Answer

Appointments are 60 minutes. This is the standard length of a counseling session. At Pratidhi, we also provide a 40 minutes session. If you are interested in a longer session (75 minutes) please contact us regarding availability and pricing.

Question 24

How often will we meet?

Accepted Answer

To begin, we will meet once a week. We find it’s important to gain some momentum in the beginning by meeting weekly or progress can stall out. Once some or all of your goals are met, meeting less often will make sense.

Question 25

What theoretical approach do you use?

Accepted Answer

We pull from a variety of theories and techniques. We find Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Positive Psychology, Feminist therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness techniques are often helpful for our clients.

Question 26

Do you prescribe medication?

Accepted Answer

No, we are not medical doctors. Many of our clients find medication is helpful, but many of them also progress well in counselling without medication. If you want to be evaluated for psychiatric medication, either contact your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are already taking medication, we can coordinate with your doctor.

Question 27

Do you offer Sliding scale ?

Accepted Answer

No, as pratidhi counselling already offers affordable fees for the counselling sessions.

Question 28

What if I cannot make it to a session?

Accepted Answer

It is requisite to inform about cancelling a session at least  to scheduled appointment. If a client does not provide notice of cancellation within 10 hours of the scheduled appointment, 50% of the amount will not be eligible for refund. If the client does not show up for a session, 100% of the counselling fee is non-refundable. Clients may  inform their counsellors for cancellation of an appointment; however this message must be left at least 12 hours before the scheduled appointment

Question 29

What if you don't want to talk about something ?

Accepted Answer

You can choose not to talk about something. It's the responsibility of a counsellor  to provide you with a safe and non-judgmental space. Gradually as you progress and build a therapeutic relationship with your counsellor . You will automatically feel comfortable sharing.

Question 30

Will you get tired of hearing me talk about the same thing over and over again?

Accepted Answer

No, it's an indication to your counsellor that it is important for you. You and your counsellor need to talk about it.

Question 31

Will there be any written record of what I say?

Accepted Answer

The counsellor will take short notes about the session for future reference only after taking your prior consent. If consent is not given no record will be taken.

Question 32

What happens to the record?

Accepted Answer

The record is for the counsellor’s reference as it's difficult to remember everything. The records will be discarded after the last session with the client.

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