Therapist in Bangalore
Every now and then, we all face difficulties in life. These challenges may leave us feeling stressed, anxious, or sad. The process of searching for a therapist used to be a tedious one involving visits to various websites of individual therapists and phone calls to find out more about the prices and services offered. Given the confidential nature of therapy, it was also hard to find out how other clients of specific therapists felt about the experience of therapy.
Thankfully, the advancement of technology, coupled with an increasing number of people being more open about their experiences with counselling means that this is no longer the case! Talk Your Heart Out gathers quality professional therapists on one platform that allows you to book a therapy session in three simple steps: (1) choose your therapist (read clients’ reviews for specific therapists), (2) book a therapy session, and (3) attend your session. More about their service offerings and therapists in Bangalore below!
Therapists in Bangalore
Online counselling has been around for a long time. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, interest in online therapy has increased significantly. This comes as no surprise, as many of us had to move most of our lives online. For instance, we ordered food using delivery apps, we caught up with friends and family members on video calls and read eBooks instead of going to the library. Therapy too, was no exception. This spurred research into online counselling, which demonstrated that online counselling is as effective, if not more effective, than its face-to-face counterpart.
As society started to open up again and much of life transited back to “in-person”, many of us made the decision to continue with therapy online instead of in person. Perhaps some of us got comfortable attending therapy from our own homes and enjoy the reduced need to travel. Others, no longer bound by geographical limitations, appreciate being able to choose from a wider range of therapists. Regardless, one thing is for sure: online therapy is here to stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a therapy session cost? How much does seeing a therapist cost in India? What do therapists charge per hour in India? What is a good price for a therapy session? How much do clinical psychologists charge in India?
The price of a session of therapy can vary greatly. Examples of factors that influence pricing include the educational and professional qualifications of the therapist and whether therapy is offered in the public or private sector. Another consideration is whether therapy takes place in person or online, with in-person sessions generally translating to higher prices due to overhead costs such as venue rental. The prices of therapy sessions are usually fixed and thus non-negotiable. For more detailed information on pricing, see Talk Your Heart Out’s pricing page.
How long is therapy session?
The length of a professional therapy session depends on the organisation and therapist. Nevertheless, this will be made known to you before you sign up. Each session typically ranges from 45 minutes to an hour. At Talk Your Heart Out, each therapy session lasts one hour.
Are therapists expensive?
This depends on how you look at it. How much do you value your mental health, as compared to your physical health? Spending money on seeing a therapist to improve one’s emotional coping is just like paying for workout classes to build your fitness and endurance, and to stay healthy. When we fall ill, we see a medical doctor to help us recover faster. Similarly, when we experience emotionally difficult times in life, we can see a therapist to help us cope better.
Why is therapy so expensive?
Therapy is expensive because of the time and money spent on attaining undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. Upon graduation, most therapists work towards licensure or professional registration in their respective countries. Therapists also often attend specialised courses to be certified in various therapeutic approaches. All these cost additional time and money. On top of that, therapists have clinical supervisors, who may charge by the hour.
What kind of doctor is a therapist?
The term “therapy” is used loosely and can refer to many different things, such as physiotherapy, massage therapy, spa therapy, hydrotherapy, sports therapy, facial therapy, nail therapy, hair therapy, yoga therapy, music therapy, play therapy, art therapy, and so on. So, who really is a therapist? That can be confusing, to say the least.
When it comes to what people call “talk therapy”, a professional therapist is generally a clinical or counselling psychologist or a counsellor, usually with a postgraduate degree in psychology or counselling respectively, at the minimum.
They are not trained as medical doctors, which means that they will not be able to provide you with medical advice or prescribe medication to you. Instead, their focus will be on helping you to cope with your day-to-day struggles and improving your quality of life. If the psychologist or counsellor holds the title of “Dr”, it likely means that they have obtained a PhD in their field of study, as opposed to having a medical background. Nevertheless, there is no harm in asking about a professional’s qualifications before engaging their services.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a therapist?
There are different types of psychologists. Clinical psychologists and counselling psychologists are two types of therapists. Aside from these two, there are various other types of therapists, such as professional counsellors.
However, there are also other types of psychologists aside from clinical and counselling psychologists, who might not consider themselves therapists. Some examples are developmental psychologists, educational psychologists, cognitive neuropsychologists, industrial and organisational psychologists, sports psychologists, and military psychologists.
Is therapy helpful in India?
The short answer is that it depends. The truth is that therapy is hard work. Contrary to popular belief, most of this work is done by you, the client, and not the therapist.
It is just like when you go to the gym. Imagine this: someone walks into the gym, pays a gym instructor to lift barbells on their behalf each week, and expects to have nicely toned arms in a few months’ time. We all know that it is not going to work.
If, however, we are willing and ready to put in the hard work – and this could mean being brutally honest with ourselves, exploring our insecurities and facing our fears despite the discomfort we feel, just to name a few possible things that can happen in therapy – we will, slowly, bit by bit, see improvements in our lives.
How long does therapy take to work?
How long therapy takes to work depends on a number of factors. But before we get to that, it is important to acknowledge that the idea of therapy having “worked” can look different for everyone, depending on what each person wants to gain out of therapy. For instance, one client may be dealing with burnout due to work-related stress, while another client may be struggling emotionally following the loss of a loved one – what they both need out of therapy could look very different.
Therapeutic Approach
Another factor that could affect the length of therapy is the therapeutic approach used. Psychodynamic therapy can take years, other approaches may take relatively less time. For example, cognitive behavioural therapy may take between five to 20 sessions, and solution-focused brief therapy may take about five sessions. With that said, the number of sessions may also be affected by the complexity of issues brought into counselling.
Goals
There are also instances where a client begins therapy with a goal (or goals) in mind, only to realise as therapy progress that there may be other issues that the individual would prefer to prioritise instead. An example might be if a new stressor surfaces in the client’s life midway through the process of therapy. This is normal, as life does not always go as planned.
You may also want to factor in additional time at the beginning to find the right therapist “fit”. Some therapists may also be fully booked in the upcoming weeks or months, meaning that there may be waiting time involved. Therefore, try not to wait until the problem worsens before seeking professional help. You can seek help at any point in time.
Therapist in Bangalore near me: Who is the best therapist in Bangalore?
There isn’t one best therapist. Rather, just as everyone in the world is unique, so is each therapist. Although most professional therapists will have educational qualifications such as a master’s degree, each therapist may use different therapeutic approaches and may work with different population groups. Clients also have individual preferences when it comes to choosing a therapist. Some people may have a gender preference, while others might find it important to choose a therapist who is anti-caste. In other words, what a client deems as helpful can differ.
Can I talk to a psychologist online for free?
Depending on your needs, decide which type of psychologist you might wish to consult. You may then compare prices and enquire more about their services.
Free therapist in Bangalore / Online / free counselling in Bangalore: Can you talk to therapists online for free? Does online therapy cost money?
Online therapy may or may not cost money, depending on where you look. Some organisations such as schools, community centres, places of worship, as well as certain workplaces, may offer therapy at no cost to you.
If you are currently employed, you may ask the human resources department if your company has an Employee Assistance Programme. You may then enquire if they offer therapy online as well or only in person.
Alternatively, contact your insurance provider to check if your insurance plan covers therapy.
If you have low or no income, one option is to check with a social worker near you about the therapy options available to you. Social workers are usually able to provide some counselling as it is one part of their training. In a hospital setting, you may ask a medical social worker about what resources there may be. For instance, hospitals might have support groups for patients facing similar issues, organised by medical and mental health professionals.
Does online therapy actually work? Is online therapy as effective as in person?
Studies have found online therapy to be as effective, if not more effective, than in-person therapy. For example, cognitive behaviour therapy or CBT is an evidence-based approach that is well-known among therapists. It is based on the premise that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour all affect one another. A 2018 meta-analysis reported that online CBT was equally effective when compared to face-to-face CBT, and that online CBT for anxiety and depressive disorders constitutes effective and practical health care. Shortly after, another study conducted in 2020 demonstrated further support for online CBT – this review of 17 studies indicated that online CBT was even more effective than face-to-face CBT.
However, there are certain situations in which in-person therapy may be more suitable for an individual (eg serious psychiatric illnesses). Online therapy might also not be suitable when a person needs immediate crisis support and is unable to keep themselves safe; in instances like these, calling a crisis support hotline such as the local suicide prevention hotline or a hotline for domestic abuse victims might be more appropriate. Other options for seeking immediate assistance include calling the police or ambulance or going to the A&E department of a hospital.
Online or In-Person
Ultimately, instead of comparing the two, consider which medium is more suited for your needs at this moment. Sometimes, as counselling progresses and clients get more comfortable with the process, some clients choose to switch to in-person therapy, while others continue attending their sessions online. There are also clients who used to attend in-person sessions but now prefer online therapy. You may also opt for a combination of both, such as by having online sessions for individual therapy, and in-person sessions for marriage therapy, or vice versa.
