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Browse Therapists for: 1-on-1 Online Therapy

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    Sameera Sachdev

    Sameera Sachdev

    Clinical Psychologist

    Sameera Sachdev

    8+ yrs. exp. | Trauma, Grief & Identity | Relationship Patterns | Trauma-Informed Care

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    Sharon Uthappa

    Sharon Uthappa

    Counselling Psychologist

    Sharon Uthappa

    Trauma-informed psychotherapist offering a safe space for healing, growth, and self-discovery

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    Dr Aashmeen Kaur

    Dr Aashmeen Kaur

    Psychiatrist

    Dr Aashmeen Kaur

    Psychiatrist specializing in trauma, addiction, emergencies, and evidence-based mental healthcare.

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    Dr Himanshi Singh

    Dr Himanshi Singh

    Clinical Psychologist

    Dr Himanshi Singh

    Experienced psychologist offering empathetic online therapy for anxiety, addiction, and life stress.

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    Mehak Mahajan

    Mehak Mahajan

    Counselling Psychologist

    Mehak Mahajan

    Supports young adults with anxiety, depression & relationships through warm, evidence-based care.

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    Arpita Bhambri

    Arpita Bhambri

    Counselling Psychologist

    Arpita Bhambri

    CBT, REBT, SFBT therapist. Expert in assessments. Bringing accessible mental health to all.

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    Shubham Gautam

    Dr Shubham Gautam

    Psychiatrist

    Dr Shubham Gautam

    5+ yrs. exp. | Adult, Child & Addiction Psychiatry | Neuromodulation | Evidence-Based Care

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    Jayant Sundaresan

    Jayant Sundaresan

    Counselling Psychologist

    Jayant Sundaresan

    Counselling psychologist supporting couples & adults with emotional wellness and relationship issues

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    Himanshi Sharma

    Himanshi Sharma

    Counselling Psychologist

    Himanshi Sharma

    Counselling Psychologist | Expressive Arts, EFT & Color Therapist for all age groups.

What actually happens in therapy?

At its core, it's a guided conversation. You sit down with someone trained to listen without judging you, and you talk about whatever's going on: stress, relationships, patterns you keep repeating, or things from years ago that are still affecting you.

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The therapist isn't there to hand you advice the way a friend might. They ask questions, notice things you might not notice about yourself, and help you slowly connect the dots. You might walk in thinking "I'm just annoyed about this one fight," and twenty minutes in you're sitting with "wait, why does this keep happening with people I love?"

Some sessions feel heavy, some feel uneventful, some feel like a weight has lifted. Depending on the approach (CBT, psychodynamic, and so on), it might involve homework, journaling, or just conversation. The first few sessions are usually about the therapist understanding your history and what you're hoping to get out of the process.

How to select the right therapist?

Prioritise fit first and credentials second, both matter, but fit is what actually keeps you engaged over time. 

Begin with the basics:

Confirm they're properly qualified (a relevant degree in psychology or counselling, appropriate certifications, and licensing where applicable in India). Then consider specialisation, someone who primarily works with couples may not be the ideal choice for grief-related concerns, and vice versa.

Beyond credentials, consider practical factors:

Budget, location or online availability, language (therapy conducted in your first language can make a meaningful difference), and gender preference if that matters to you. If your first thought while reviewing profiles is something like "I don't think I could actually open up in English," that's worth taking seriously, language fit can matter more than people expect.

Then there's the harder to quantify element, rapport. Most therapists offer a brief introductory call or first session specifically so you can assess whether it feels comfortable to speak with them.

Consider afterward:

"Did I feel judged or safe just now?" "Did I have to explain myself twice because they weren't following?" Trust that impression, a highly qualified therapist you can't open up to won't be particularly useful to you.

Don't hesitate to ask direct questions early on:

Their approach (CBT, psychodynamic, etc.), how they handle confidentiality, what a typical session looks like, and their experience with what you're going through. This isn't inappropriate, it's reasonable due diligence, comparable to vetting a doctor. Give it a fair chance as well, one uncomfortable session doesn't necessarily mean it's the wrong fit, but a persistent feeling of "I still don't feel comfortable here" after several sessions is meaningful information.

Note:

It's entirely normal to try a couple of therapists before finding the right one, and that isn't wasted time, it's part of narrowing things down. This isn't about being overly selective, it's about ensuring the person you're being vulnerable with is genuinely the right person for that role.

When should I seek therapy?

There's no minimum threshold you need to meet. You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis to start. If something has been bothering you for a while, sadness that won't lift, anxiety that's running your day, relationships that keep going sideways, or a general sense of "something's off," that's reason enough.

Many people wait until things become unbearable, but therapy works just as well, sometimes better, as a preventive measure. Major life transitions (breakups, job loss, grief, moving cities) are also common reasons to start. If you keep catching yourself thinking "I don't know why I'm like this lately" or "I used to handle this better, what changed," that's usually already your answer. You don't need a "big enough" problem or anyone's permission to seek support.

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How many sessions will I need and how long does therapy take?

This genuinely depends, there's no universal number.

Some people attend 6 to 8 sessions to work through something specific, such as a breakup or a decision they're stuck on. Others remain in therapy for years, working through deeper, longstanding patterns.

Short term therapy (CBT style) is often more structured and time bound, sometimes 10 to 20 sessions. Longer term or psychodynamic therapy doesn't usually have a fixed endpoint, since it's more about ongoing self understanding. You might begin thinking "I'll do five sessions and be done with this," and then a few weeks in find yourself thinking "there's clearly more here than I expected."

A good therapist will check in with you periodically about how things are progressing and whether your goals are shifting. It's less about reaching a set number and more about noticing when you feel more equipped to manage things independently.

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Is online therapy effective compared to in-person sessions?

Yes, research supports this fairly consistently, online therapy works about as well as in-person sessions for most concerns, including anxiety and depression.

What matters more than the format is the fit between you and the therapist, along with your consistency with sessions.

Online therapy also offers practical advantages: no commute, easier scheduling, and access to therapists outside your city. If your hesitation is something like "will this even feel real over a screen," that concern tends to fade once you're actually in session and no longer thinking about the camera.

That said, some people process better in person, find video calls tiring, or worry about privacy at home. If you have a strong preference either way, that's valid and worth honouring. Neither format is inherently lesser, it comes down to what works for you.

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Will my therapy be confidential and are there exceptions?

Yes, confidentiality is central to therapy, what you share stays between you and your therapist. This is written into their ethical code, so they won't casually discuss your sessions with anyone else.

There are, however, a few exceptions, and a good therapist will explain these upfront. If there's a risk to your life or someone else's life (such as active suicidal intent or plans to harm someone), if abuse of a child or vulnerable adult is involved, or if a court legally orders records, confidentiality can be broken in those situations. This isn't about penalising you for honesty, it's a safety mechanism. Many people privately wonder "what if this gets back to my family," and having a therapist address that clearly before any personal disclosure usually settles that concern.

If you're ever unsure of your therapist's specific policy, it's reasonable to ask directly.

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Can therapists in India prescribe medication?

No, psychologists and counsellors cannot.

Only psychiatrists can prescribe medication in India, since they are medical doctors (MBBS plus psychiatric specialisation).

A psychologist or therapist, regardless of experience, is not legally permitted to prescribe medication. If your therapist believes medication might help alongside therapy, they will typically refer you to a psychiatrist, and the two can work in tandem, one addressing medication, the other addressing therapy. This combination is fairly common for moderate to severe depression or anxiety. If your first reaction to a referral is "does this mean my therapist thinks I'm worse," that usually isn't the case, it simply means the biological aspect is being addressed as well. It's worth checking credentials before starting with someone, since titles like "therapist" and "counsellor" aren't as tightly regulated in India as "psychiatrist" is.

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What if I don't feel therapy is helping or I don't connect with the therapist?

This is more common than people admit, and it's completely reasonable to raise it. Not connecting with a particular therapist doesn't mean therapy itself isn't working for you, it usually means the fit isn't right, and fit matters more than people expect.

It helps to give it a few sessions before deciding, since some discomfort early on is normal given the vulnerability involved.

If you keep leaving sessions thinking "I don't feel like I can actually say what I mean here" or "why do I feel more guarded after talking to them," it's worth taking that seriously rather than dismissing it to avoid seeming difficult. If after several sessions you still feel unheard, dismissed, or as though nothing is shifting, it's reasonable to say so directly or to switch therapists. A good therapist won't take this personally, they would rather you receive support that actually helps.

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What can I talk about in therapy?

Essentially anything. No topic is too small or too unusual. People discuss work stress, family conflict, breakups, sex, financial anxiety, intrusive thoughts, grief, dissatisfaction with life, guilt from years past, dreams, habits they're ashamed of, or simply their day.

You don't need a "significant" problem to justify the session. Even something like "I had this strange dream about my father and I can't stop thinking about it" is entirely valid, and it may reveal more than expected.

You're also not obligated to discuss anything you're not ready to, a good therapist will never push you toward territory you're not comfortable with. If you're unsure what to bring up, it's perfectly acceptable to say "I don't know what to talk about today," which is a normal way to begin a session.

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Can I start therapy if I don't know what is wrong with me?

Yes, and this is actually one of the more common starting points. You don't need a clear diagnosis or explanation before beginning, that's part of what therapy helps you work out.

Many people start by saying "I just feel off" or "I can't explain it, I just feel stuck," and that vague, unclear feeling is a completely valid reason to seek support. If the most you can articulate is "I don't know, I just feel heavier than usual lately," that's sufficient to begin with.

Part of your therapist's role is to help you understand and name what's happening, not only to treat something already labelled. Attempting to self-diagnose beforehand can sometimes limit that process unnecessarily. Clarity is often something therapy provides rather than a prerequisite for starting.

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Can I restart after stopping - what should I be careful about?

Yes, restarting is entirely fine, whether after a few months or a few years. Many people take breaks and return when new circumstances arise or old patterns resurface.

One thing worth considering: returning to the same therapist means less time spent re-explaining your history, while seeing someone new offers a fresh perspective, both have their advantages. If you find yourself thinking "should I start over or return to the same person," it usually comes down to whether you value continuity or a new lens.

It's also worth being cautious about treating therapy as a quick fix during a crisis and then stopping again once it passes, as that pattern can keep you cycling rather than building lasting change. Restarting isn't a failure, it's simply part of how this process tends to work for most people.

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How do I know if therapy is actually working?

It's rarely a dramatic realisation, progress tends to be smaller and slower than that. Signs it's working include noticing your own patterns more quickly, reacting to stress somewhat differently than before, sessions feeling less like reciting events and more like genuine processing, or applying insights outside of sessions. You'll often notice it during an argument, catching yourself thinking "this is the pattern we discussed" instead of reacting automatically.

Sometimes progress involves feeling worse before feeling better, since you're confronting things rather than avoiding them, which isn't necessarily a bad sign. It helps to check in with yourself periodically: "do I feel even slightly more equipped than I did a month ago?" If the answer remains consistently no over an extended period, it's worth discussing directly with your therapist.

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When is therapy not the right option? Are there alternatives?

Therapy isn't always the immediate answer for every situation. If someone is in acute crisis, actively suicidal, in danger, or facing a medical emergency, they require urgent psychiatric or medical care first, not a scheduled therapy session the following week. Similarly, when underlying issues are primarily biological (severe untreated mental illness, certain neurological conditions), medication or psychiatric treatment often needs to occur alongside or before therapy can be effective.

For milder day-to-day stress, alternatives such as support groups, journaling, exercise, strong social support, or peer communities can genuinely help and don't always require a therapist. On weeks when a session isn't possible, even a thought like "I'll journal this out instead of sitting with it alone" can be sufficient in the interim. Therapy also isn't effective if someone isn't ready or willing to engage with it, timing matters. None of these alternatives are lesser, sometimes they are exactly what's needed.

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