Counselling that fits your life — with qualified psychologists
Stress, worry, low mood, relationships, family, work or exam pressure. Talk to a qualified counselling or clinical psychologist by video, audio or chat, in your language, at a time that suits you. When medicines might help, a registered psychiatrist joins the same plan.
- Qualified counselling & clinical psychologists
- Registered psychiatrists when medicines may help
- Video, audio or chat — your choice
- Sessions from 15 to 60 minutes, from ₹199
🎯 Find your match
Click your concern — see who can help.
Tap what is closest to what you are going through. We pre-fill your booking and match you with a counsellor trained for it.
👩⚕️ Our psychologists
Browse counsellors — filter by what matters to you.
Psychologists from HopeQure's panel, with qualifications as listed on their profiles. Filter by concern, language, gender and mode, then book their next slot here — or browse the full panel of 550+ experts.
🏷️ Transparent pricing
Counselling cost — six ways to start, all upfront.
From a 15-minute call to a package with the same counsellor. New clients save 10% on their first full session with code WELCOME10.
More options on HopeQure
| Option | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Group sessions | Four facilitated group sessions a month | ₹2,400 a month |
| Full psychological evaluation | Structured clinical interview with validated questionnaires and a written formulation | ₹4,999 |
| Longer packages | 8–12 sessions with the same counsellor | Shared by your coordinator before you book |
👥 Who is counselling for?
Start in the way that fits you.
Counselling in 30 seconds
What is counselling?
Counselling is a confidential, structured conversation with a trained professional that helps you understand what you are going through and find practical ways to cope, decide or change. It is not a lecture or advice from a friend: a good counsellor listens without judgement, asks useful questions and teaches skills you can use between sessions.
- Who it is for — anyone facing stress, worry, low mood, relationship or family difficulty, a big decision or a loss. You do not need a diagnosis to start.
- How long — often 6–12 weekly sessions for a specific problem; some people need fewer, some longer.
- Counselling or therapy? — the words overlap. “Psychotherapy” usually means longer or more intensive work on deeper patterns.
Quick answer
Does counselling by video work as well as in person?
For many common problems, the research says yes. A 2021 meta-analysis of randomised trials found that psychotherapy delivered by live video was, on average, as effective as the same therapy delivered face to face (Fernandez et al., 2021). What matters most is a good fit with your counsellor and attending regularly. Video, audio or chat also saves travel time and lets you talk from somewhere you feel safe.
🤝 Get matched · 6 questions
Find your counsellor — matched by need, language and timing.
Answer a few simple questions. We rank counsellors by expertise, language, preference and mode — then you book a slot with your match, or ask us to handpick. Your answers stay on this page.
🗣️ Your language
Counselling in your language — 12+ Indian languages.
It is easier to talk about feelings in the language you think in. Tap a language: we set it in your booking and show counsellors who list it.
If no listed counsellor speaks your language yet, we match you from the wider panel — .
🧩 Types of counselling
Ten kinds of counselling — one place.
🧭 Three kinds of care
Counselling, psychiatry or couple work — which fits?
All three are available on HopeQure and can be combined in one plan. Tell us which sounds closest and we will set up the right booking.
Individual counselling
One-to-one sessions with a qualified counselling or clinical psychologist.
Psychiatric care
A consultation with a registered psychiatrist for assessment, diagnosis and, only when clinically appropriate, medicines — alongside counselling.
Couple & family counselling
Two or more people in the session, working on communication, conflict and connection.
Which sounds most like you?
Couple / familyWe need to work on us — couple or family🧭 Choosing the right professional
Counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist — who should I see?
All three can help, but they are trained and regulated differently in India. If you are unsure, start with a counsellor: they will refer you on if you need a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.
| Professional | Training & regulation in India | Often the right choice for | Prescribes medicines? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counsellor / counselling psychologist | Master's degree in psychology or counselling; behavioural-health professionals under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 | Stress, relationships, life changes, grief, decisions, mild to moderate anxiety or low mood | No |
| Clinical psychologist | M.Phil in Clinical Psychology or an equivalent RCI-recognised qualification; registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) | Diagnosable conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, OCD and trauma; psychological testing and assessment | No |
| Psychiatrist | MBBS plus MD/DNB in Psychiatry or DPM; registered with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council | Severe symptoms, bipolar disorder, psychosis, risk of self-harm, or when medicines may help | Yes |
| Life coach | No statutory regulation in India | Goals and performance when there is no significant distress | No |
Counselling and medicines are often combined. Our Counsellor + Psychiatrist option (₹1,699) brings both into one plan. Meet our psychiatrists →
🤔 Is it time?
When should you consider counselling?
You don't need to wait for a crisis. If one or more of these sounds familiar, a conversation can help.
- Worry, sadness, anger or stress has lasted more than two weeks
- Sleep, appetite or energy has changed
- It's affecting work, studies or relationships
- You keep having the same arguments or patterns
- Something big has happened — a loss, breakup, move or diagnosis
- You're relying on alcohol, screens or overwork to cope
- You'd simply like someone outside your circle to talk to
- Friends or family have said they're worried about you
⚖️ Video, audio or chat vs in person
Counselling from home vs at a clinic — an honest comparison.
| From home (video, audio, chat) | In person at a clinic | |
|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness | Similar on average for many common problems (research on live video) | Long-established |
| Travel & time | None — join from anywhere private | Travel and waiting time |
| Choice of counsellor | Anyone on the panel, across cities and languages | Limited to who is nearby |
| Scheduling | 7 days, including evenings | Clinic hours |
| Ways to talk | Video, audio or chat | Face to face |
| Couples in different places | Possible | Both must travel |
| Continuity if you move | Same counsellor | Usually a new counsellor |
| Physical examination | Not possible — referred if needed | Possible |
| Crisis or emergency care | Not suitable — call 14416 or 112 | Emergency departments |
If you need in-person care, we'll help you find it.
🔬 What the research says
Why talking therapy is worth trying.
Research findings describe averages across many people. Everyone is different, and no result can be promised — but these findings explain how good counselling is designed.
Across randomised trials, psychotherapy by live video was on average as effective as face-to-face therapy.
Fernandez et al., Clin Psychol Psychother 2021Across nearly 300 studies, a strong working alliance between client and therapist was consistently linked with better outcomes.
Flückiger et al., Psychotherapy 2018UK national guidelines list counselling, CBT and behavioural activation among the first-line options for less severe depression.
NICE guideline NG222, 2022For people with recurrent depression, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy lowered the risk of relapse by about 30% over 60 weeks.
Kuyken et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2016🧠 Skills counselling builds
Eight skills good counselling helps you build.
Rate each from 1 (this is hard for me) to 5 (this is a strength). Your profile stays on your device.
When it is weak: “I just felt bad all day” — no idea what triggered it or what you were feeling underneath.
When it is weak: “I know they think I'm stupid” — mind-reading, catastrophising or all-or-nothing thinking on autopilot.
When it is weak: Any discomfort needs to stop right now — and what you do to stop it often makes things worse.
When it is weak: Chasing what should feel good and being surprised when it doesn't, or stuck because everything feels equal.
When it is weak: You explode, shut down or people-please, then quietly resent it — sometimes all three.
When it is weak: Always in your head — replaying the past, rehearsing the future, missing what is happening now.
When it is weak: Waiting to feel motivated before doing anything. You wait, do nothing, feel worse, wait more.
When it is weak: An inner critic you'd never allow anyone to use on a friend.
📋 Booking policies
Rescheduling, refunds and switching — in plain words.
Reschedule
Free up to 2 hours before your session, from your booking confirmation or on WhatsApp.
Cancel & refund
Full refund if you cancel 2 or more hours before the session starts.
Change counsellor
Ask at any time — feeling comfortable matters, and you don't have to explain why.
Receipts
A receipt for every payment, for insurance or employer claims.
Privacy
Sessions are encrypted and records stored securely; information is shared only with your consent or where the law requires it.
Help when you need it
WhatsApp +91 98993 99516 (8 am–11 pm) or call +91 98991 12690.
Full terms: Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy
🎯 Common reasons people come
What counselling helps with — signs and how it helps.
Low mood and depression
Common signs
- Feeling sad, empty or flat most days
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- Tiredness, sleep or appetite changes
- Harsh self-criticism or guilt
- Pulling away from people
How counselling helps
- Behavioural activation to rebuild routine and enjoyment
- CBT to spot and test harsh thoughts
- IPT when mood is tied to a loss or conflict
- Psychiatrist review if symptoms are moderate to severe
Tap your exact concern — we'll pre-fill your booking:
Counsellor + psychiatrist
Anxiety, worry and panic
Common signs
- Worry that is hard to switch off
- Racing heart, tight chest or breathlessness
- Avoiding places, people or tasks
- Restlessness and irritability
- Sudden waves of panic
How counselling helps
- CBT for worry, panic and social anxiety
- Gradual, planned facing of feared situations
- Breathing and grounding skills
- ACT to make room for anxiety while living fully
Tap your exact concern — we'll pre-fill your booking:
Counselling psychologist
Stress, burnout and sleep
Common signs
- Feeling constantly on edge or drained
- Struggling to switch off after work or study
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Headaches, tight shoulders, stomach upsets
- Short temper and low patience
How counselling helps
- Problem-solving and boundary-setting
- Sleep routines based on CBT for insomnia principles
- Relaxation and pacing skills
- Planning conversations about workload
Tap your exact concern — we'll pre-fill your booking:
Counselling psychologist
Relationships, marriage and family
Common signs
- The same arguments again and again
- Feeling distant, unheard or taken for granted
- Trust broken or hard to rebuild
- Tension with family or in-laws
- A breakup that's hard to move on from
How counselling helps
- Understanding the patterns behind conflict
- Communication and repair skills
- Couple sessions when both partners join
- Support to decide what you want next
Tap your exact concern — we'll pre-fill your booking:
Counselling psychologist · 3 sessions
✍ Free mental health check-in
How are you really doing? Free 2-minute check-in.
Five short questionnaires used by doctors and psychologists worldwide: PHQ-9 (low mood), GAD-7 (anxiety), K10 (overall distress), WHO-5 (well-being) and AUDIT-C (alcohol). About 2 minutes each. Your answers stay on your device — nothing is sent or stored. A screening guide, not a diagnosis.
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?
In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel…
Please indicate, for each statement, which is closest to how you have been feeling over the last two weeks.
About your drinking over the past year. One “drink” is a standard drink (about one small beer, one small glass of wine or one peg of spirits).
PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were developed by Drs Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B.W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. — no permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute. Scoring: Kroenke et al., 2001; Spitzer et al., 2006. K10 © Kessler; free to use; Andrews & Slade, 2001. WHO-5 Well-Being Index © Psychiatric Research Unit, Mental Health Centre North Zealand; free to use; Topp et al., 2015. AUDIT-C: first three questions of the WHO AUDIT; Bush et al., 1998.
What the scores mean
| Questionnaire | Minimal | Mild | Moderate | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHQ-9 (low mood, 0–27) | 0–4 | 5–9 | 10–14 | 15–19 moderately severe · 20–27 severe |
| GAD-7 (anxiety, 0–21) | 0–4 | 5–9 | 10–14 | 15–21 severe |
| K10 (distress, 10–50) | 10–15 low | 16–21 moderate | 22–29 high | 30–50 very high |
| WHO-5 (well-being, 0–100) | Above 50 — adequate well-being | 29–50 — poor well-being | 28 or below — screen for depression | |
| AUDIT-C (alcohol, 0–12) | Below 4 (men) or 3 (women) | 4+ men · 3+ women — worth a conversation | ||
A PHQ-9 or GAD-7 score of 10 or more is the usual point at which a professional assessment is recommended. Any answer above “Not at all” on PHQ-9 question 9 deserves a conversation with a professional, whatever the total score. More tests: all free self-assessments →
🧩 Interactive · 6 questions
Which counselling approach might suit you?
A guide to start a conversation with your counsellor — they will choose and blend approaches with you after the first session.
📚 Approaches
Eight evidence-based approaches our psychologists use.
Your counsellor blends approaches to suit you. It is always fine to ask what they are using and why.
- CBT — cognitive behavioural therapy
Spot and change unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns, with practice between sessions.
- DBT — dialectical behaviour therapy skills
Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and relationship skills.
- ACT — acceptance and commitment therapy
Make room for difficult thoughts and feelings while acting on what matters.
- IPT — interpersonal therapy
Work on relationships, role changes and grief linked to mood.
- Trauma-focused therapy
Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR, delivered by trained clinical psychologists.
- Person-centred & psychodynamic
A reflective space to understand feelings, history and patterns.
- Mindfulness-based (MBCT, MBSR)
Attention training to step out of rumination and stress reactions.
- Couple & family approaches
Gottman-informed, emotionally focused and systemic work.
⚖️ Compare your options
Counselling, combined care or self-help — side by side.
| Counselling | Counselling + psychiatrist | Guided self-help | Intensive / in-person care | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Often suits | Mild to moderate difficulties, life stress, relationships | Moderate to severe or long-lasting symptoms | Mild symptoms, prevention, while waiting | Severe symptoms, risk, not managing daily tasks |
| Who is involved | Counselling or clinical psychologist | Psychologist + registered psychiatrist | You, with programmes and check-ins | Hospital or day-care team |
| What you build | Skills and understanding that stay with you | Skills, plus medical treatment if appropriate | Habits and basic skills | Safety and stabilisation first |
| Typical rhythm | Weekly, then spaced out | Weekly counselling + periodic psychiatrist reviews | Self-paced | Daily or inpatient |
| On HopeQure | ₹900 a session · ₹2,499 for 3 | ₹1,699 (counsellor + psychiatrist) | Wellness programmes | We help you find in-person services |
Stepped care: start with the least intensive option likely to help and step up if needed (NICE CG123). Medicines are prescribed only by a psychiatrist, only when clinically appropriate.
🩺 Psychiatric care
When a psychiatrist joins your care.
Assessment & diagnosis
A registered psychiatrist assesses symptoms, history and physical health factors, and explains what is going on in plain language.
Shared decisions about medicines
If medicines may help, the psychiatrist explains options, benefits and side effects, and you decide together. Nothing is prescribed on request alone, and never without a proper consultation.
One plan with your counsellor
With your consent, your psychiatrist and counsellor share notes so therapy and any medical treatment work together.
Under the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020, most prescription medicines need a first video consultation, and Schedule X or narcotic medicines are never prescribed by teleconsultation. Meet our psychiatrists →
🔗 Concerns that come together
When more than one thing is going on — one joined-up plan.
It is common to have more than one concern at once. It usually makes sense to plan for them together, with one team that talks to each other.
Low mood + anxiety
They often travel together. CBT-based counselling can target both; a psychiatrist reviews if symptoms are moderate to severe.
Low mood + poor sleep
Sleep routines based on CBT for insomnia principles alongside counselling for mood.
Trauma + alcohol or substance use
Safety and stabilisation first, with a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist working together.
Long-term pain + low mood
Counselling (ACT or CBT for pain) alongside your doctor or physiotherapist.
Adult ADHD + anxiety or low mood
A psychiatrist's assessment, plus counselling for organisation, focus and emotional skills.
Burnout + relationship strain
Individual sessions for stress and boundaries, couple sessions for the relationship.
🗺️ 5 steps · free
Build your care roadmap — who to see and how often.
A rule-based guide built from stepped-care principles. It suggests a starting point; your counsellor tailors the plan with you.
🧮 Cost calculator
Estimate your monthly cost — no surprises.
Move the sliders to estimate. Actual prices are always shown before you pay.
How it's worked out: counselling at the full-session price, or the 3-Session Package price with packages; a psychiatrist review is booked as Counsellor + Psychiatrist, replacing one counselling session that month; couple sessions at the couple-session price — all prices as listed above. New clients save 10% on their first full session with WELCOME10. Medicines and tests, if ever needed, are separate.
🚀 Ready to start?
Pick the path that fits you.
📅 Book a slot
- From ₹199 · full session ₹810 the first time
- Pick a time and confirm in seconds
- Change counsellor any time
🤝 Get a handpicked match
- Free call with a care coordinator
- Matched to your concern, approach and language
- No pressure, no obligation
💬 WhatsApp us
- Ask any question before you book
- Get help choosing a counsellor
- Book through chat when you're ready
🔒 Secure Razorpay payments · UPI, cards, net banking · Full refund if cancelled 2+ hours before
🗓️ What to expect
Your first four steps — from hello to a plan.
- Step 1
Match
Book directly, or have a free call with a care coordinator who understands what you're looking for and finds the right counsellor.
- Step 2
First session
Up to 60 minutes: what brings you, your goals, some background, how confidentiality works and a short safety check. Validated questionnaires may be used.
- Step 3
Your plan
Agreed goals, the approach that suits you, how often to meet, and whether a psychiatrist's view would help.
- Step 4
Sessions & reviews
Weekly or fortnightly sessions with practice in between. Progress is re-checked every 4–6 weeks and the plan adjusted.
Video, audio or chat — which should I choose?
Video
Closest to being in the same room. Good for most first sessions and couple counselling.
Audio
Easier if you feel self-conscious on camera or your internet is patchy.
Chat
Typed, at your pace. Helpful when speaking feels hard or privacy at home is limited.
🤲 Support beyond sessions
Help between sessions — and help paying for them.
Employer & insurance
Your workplace may already cover this.
- Many employers offer counselling through an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
- What you discuss stays between you and your counsellor; organisations see only anonymised, overall usage.
- Under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, insurers must cover mental illness on the same basis as physical illness; outpatient reimbursement depends on your policy. Receipts are provided for claims.
Between sessions
Change happens between sessions, too.
- Practice exercises agreed with your counsellor.
- Guided wellness programmes for sleep, overthinking, anxiety and stress.
- Free self-assessments to track how you're doing.
- A personal crisis plan for hard nights — with Tele-MANAS 14416 always available.
🏢 For organisations
Counselling for your employees, students or members.
Employee Assistance Programme
Confidential support your people will use.
- One-to-one counselling in 12+ languages, by video, audio or chat
- Psychiatrist access when needed
- Manager and HR guidance for difficult situations
- Only anonymised, overall usage reported to the organisation
Students & campuses
Support through exams, hostels and transitions.
- Student counselling and well-being programmes
- Exam-stress support for NEET, JEE, UPSC and more
- Workshops for students, parents and faculty
📱 HopeQure app
Join sessions, message and track progress in one app.
- Join video, audio or chat sessions
- See upcoming bookings and reschedule
- Practice exercises and wellness programmes between sessions
- Self-assessments to track how you're doing
✅ Choosing a counsellor
How to choose a counsellor — five things that matter.
- Qualifications & regulation — the floor
Check their degree and, for clinical psychologists, RCI registration; for psychiatrists, NMC or State Medical Council registration. Credentials set the minimum standard; they don't predict fit.
- Approach fit
Ask which approach they mainly use and why it suits your concern — for example CBT for panic, or couple work for relationship conflict.
- The working relationship
Do you feel understood, and do you agree on goals? Research consistently links this alliance with outcomes.
- Practical fit
Language, video/audio/chat, timings, frequency and cost. A plan you can keep up matters — stopping early is common.
- The first-session test
Afterwards, ask yourself: did I feel heard, do I trust their competence, and do I want to keep going? If not, ask to change.
❓ Myths vs facts
Eight counselling myths — corrected.
Counselling is only for “serious” problems.
Fact: Most people come for everyday struggles — stress, relationships, decisions, grief. Getting help early often means fewer sessions.
Seeing a counsellor means I'm weak.
Fact: Asking for help is a practical step, like seeing a physiotherapist for a sore back. It takes courage.
A counsellor will just tell me what to do.
Fact: Good counselling helps you find your own answers and teaches skills; it is collaborative, not advice-giving.
Counselling takes years.
Fact: Many focused problems improve over 6–12 sessions. Longer work is a choice for deeper patterns.
My family or employer will find out.
Fact: Sessions are confidential under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, with narrow exceptions for safety. Employer programmes receive only anonymised, overall usage information.
Video counselling isn't real counselling.
Fact: Research comparing live video with in-person therapy has found similar results on average for many common problems.
Talking won't change anything.
Fact: Counselling isn't just talking — it builds specific skills, such as handling worry or communicating under stress, that you practise and keep.
I should be able to handle this on my own.
Fact: Most of us would see a doctor for a persistent physical problem. Getting support for your mind is just as reasonable.
📊 Why it matters
Mental health in India and the world — by the numbers.
of Indian adults were living with a mental health condition at the time of the national survey.
National Mental Health Survey of India, 2015–16 (NIMHANS)of people with mental disorders in India were not receiving treatment — the treatment gap.
National Mental Health Survey of India, 2015–16people worldwide — about 970 million — were living with a mental disorder in 2019.
WHO World Mental Health Report, 2022You are not alone, and asking for help early is a strength. Free, confidential support is also available from the Government of India's Tele-MANAS on 14416.
🧰 Assessment toolkit
The questionnaires we use — validated and free.
We use public, validated measures only, so you can see exactly how progress is tracked. None of them diagnose on their own.
| Questionnaire | What it measures | Questions | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHQ-9 | Low mood (depression) severity; includes a question on self-harm thoughts | 9 | Free · on this page |
| GAD-7 | Anxiety severity | 7 | Free · on this page |
| K10 | Overall psychological distress | 10 | Free · on this page |
| WHO-5 | Well-being | 5 | Free · on this page |
| AUDIT-C | Alcohol use | 3 | Free · on this page |
| DASS-21 | Depression, anxiety and stress together | 21 | Free · used by your counsellor when helpful |
| CORE-10 | Session-by-session progress | 10 | Free · used by your counsellor when helpful |
⚖️ Your rights
Your rights under India's Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
Right to access care
Every person has a right to access mental healthcare that is affordable, of good quality and available without discrimination (Section 18).
Equality & insurance parity
You must be treated equally, and insurers must provide cover for mental illness on the same basis as physical illness (Section 21).
Confidentiality
Information about your mental health and treatment is confidential, except in limited situations the Act allows, such as preventing harm to you or others (Section 23).
Access to your records
You have a right to access your basic medical records (Section 25). Under the DPDP Act, 2023 you can also ask how your personal data is used.
Support, not punishment
A person who attempts suicide is presumed to be under severe stress and is to receive care and rehabilitation, not punishment (Section 115).
Prescriptions follow the rules
Only psychiatrists (registered medical practitioners) prescribe, following the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020. Schedule X and narcotic medicines are never prescribed by teleconsultation.
📚 Free resources
Free tests, programmes and reading.
Free self-assessments
Guided programmes
🔤 Concerns A–Z
Counselling for specific concerns — find your page.
- ADHD
- Adult ADHD
- Anger management
- Anxiety
- Autism spectrum
- Behavioural disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Breakup support
- Bullying
- Career counselling
- Child counselling
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Conduct disorder
- Couple counselling
- Depression
- Dialectical behaviour therapy
- Eating disorders
- Family counselling
- Generalised anxiety (GAD)
- Impulse control
- Intellectual disability
- Marriage counselling
- OCD
- Occupational therapy
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Panic disorder
- Personal stress
- Personality disorder
- Phobia
- Postpartum depression
- Procrastination
- PTSD & trauma
- Relationship counselling
- Relationship stress
- Self-esteem & confidence
- Self-harm & suicidal thoughts
- Sexual addiction
- Sexual wellness
- Sleep problems
- Social anxiety
- Stress management
- Time management
- Violence & abuse
- Workplace stress
💬 FAQs
Counselling FAQs — questions people ask.
What is counselling?
How does counselling by video, audio or chat work?
Is counselling by video effective for anxiety and depression?
How much does a counselling session cost at HopeQure?
How many counselling sessions will I need?
What happens in the first counselling session?
Is counselling confidential?
What is the difference between a counsellor, a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Can a counsellor prescribe medicine?
How do I know if I need counselling?
What are the PHQ-9, GAD-7 and K10?
Can I choose my counsellor's language or gender?
Can I change my counsellor?
Can I reschedule or cancel a session?
Is counselling covered by health insurance in India?
Can my child or teenager have counselling?
What should I do if I am in crisis?
Will my employer know if I use counselling through an EAP?
How much does a couple counselling session cost?
Which counselling approach is right for me?
Can I have counselling by chat only?
How do I join my session?
What happens if I miss a session?
Which languages are available?
Can I use HopeQure if I live outside India?
Do I have to give my full name?
What is the 15-minute quick session for?
Do you offer group sessions?
How does my organisation set up counselling for employees?
📚 References
Sources, laws and evidence behind this page.
Indian law & guidelines
- Government of India. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (Act No. 10 of 2017): Sections 18, 21, 23, 25, 115.
- Government of India. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021.
- Board of Governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India. Telemedicine Practice Guidelines. New Delhi; 2020.
- Government of India. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Tele-MANAS — National Tele Mental Health Programme. Helpline 14416 / 1-800-891-4416.
Data & guidelines
- Gururaj G, Varghese M, Benegal V, et al. National Mental Health Survey of India, 2015–16: Prevalence, Patterns and Outcomes. Bengaluru: NIMHANS; 2016.
- World Health Organization. World Mental Health Report: Transforming mental health for all. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222). London: NICE; 2022.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Common mental health problems: identification and pathways to care (CG123). London: NICE; 2011.
Research & tools
- Fernandez E, Woldgabreal Y, Day A, Pham T, Gleich B, Aboujaoude E. Live psychotherapy by video versus in-person: a meta-analysis of efficacy and its relationship to types and targets of treatment. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2021;28(6):1535–1549.
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606–613.
- Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092–1097.
- Flückiger C, Del Re AC, Wampold BE, Horvath AO. The alliance in adult psychotherapy: a meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy. 2018;55(4):316–340.
- Kuyken W, Warren FC, Taylor RS, et al. Efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in prevention of depressive relapse: an individual patient data meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(6):565–574.
- Andrews G, Slade T. Interpreting scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Aust N Z J Public Health. 2001;25(6):494–497.
- Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB, et al. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C). Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(16):1789–1795.
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