--- title: "How to Choose a Malayalam-Speaking Psychologist" url: "https://www.ellomind.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-psychologist-in-malayalam/" description: "Check qualifications you can verify, RCI registration for a clinical psychologist, real fit, and, for Malayalis, a psychologist who works in Malayalam." --- ℹ️ **Quick answer:** To choose a psychologist well, check three things above all: their qualification (a recognised Master's or MPhil in psychology, and for a clinical psychologist, RCI registration you can verify), their experience with your specific concern, and whether you feel heard and comfortable with them. For many Malayalis, one more thing matters just as much: someone who works in your own language, so you can describe your life rather than translate it. നിങ്ങളുടെ മാതൃഭാഷയിൽ സംസാരിക്കാൻ കഴിയുന്ന, യോഗ്യതയുള്ള ഒരാളെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുക. Choosing a psychologist can feel like guesswork, especially the first time. It does not have to be. Deciding who to trust with your inner life is a reasonable thing to be careful about, and there is a clear, checkable way to do it. This guide walks through who is properly qualified, who is a good fit for you, how to tell the difference between real help and a nice-sounding profile, and why, for so many Malayalis, working in your own language changes the whole experience. Key takeaways * Check qualifications you can verify: a Master's or MPhil in psychology, and RCI registration for a clinical psychologist specifically * Match the psychologist to your specific concern, not a general list of everything * Fit matters as much as credentials. You should feel heard and able to be honest within the first session or two * Language is not a small thing. Working in Malayalam means describing your life, not translating it * Watch for real red flags: vague about credentials, advice like a relative, or poor professional boundaries ## Why choosing in your own language matters (മാതൃഭാഷയുടെ പ്രാധാന്യം) വികാരങ്ങൾ ആദ്യമായി അനുഭവിച്ച ഭാഷയിലാണ് അവ ഉള്ളിൽ ജീവിക്കുന്നത്. Feelings live in the language you first felt them in. When you have to translate your grief, your family, or your shame into a second language, something is lost on the way, and you spend energy explaining context that a Malayalam-speaking psychologist would already understand: the weight of "നാട്ടുകാർ എന്ത് പറയും" (what will people say), the place of family and community in a decision, the things left unsaid at home. Working in your own language, with Manglish welcome, means the session goes straight to the real problem instead of to the translation. Think of the difference concretely. A young woman in Kochi wants to talk about the pressure around an arranged marriage and a mother she loves but cannot say no to. In English she can describe the events, but the exact texture, the guilt, the duty, the way one aunt's comment lands, keeps slipping. With a psychologist who works in Malayalam, she says it once and is understood, and the hour is spent on the feeling rather than on the footnotes. For a software engineer in the Gulf, it is the reverse pull: he speaks English fluently all day at work, yet the worry that wakes him at 3am is in Malayalam, and he wants to talk about it in the language it arrives in. For many people this single factor, being understood without translating, is what finally makes therapy feel like it fits. None of this means English-language therapy is wrong or lesser. It means you are allowed to choose the language that lets you be most honest, and honesty is where therapy does its work. ## Psychologist, counsellor, psychiatrist, or "coach"? Who does what in India (ആരാണ് എന്ത് ചെയ്യുന്നത്?) ഇന്ത്യയിൽ മാനസികാരോഗ്യ രംഗത്ത് പല തരം വിദഗ്ധരുണ്ട്, അവരുടെ പരിശീലനവും ചെയ്യാൻ കഴിയുന്ന കാര്യങ്ങളും വ്യത്യസ്തമാണ്. Before you choose, it helps to know what each title means here, because the words are used loosely and the training behind them varies a great deal. | Role | Training | Prescribes? | Best for | | ---------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Psychiatrist** | Medical doctor (MBBS plus MD or DPM) | Yes | Diagnosis, medication, severe or complex illness | | **Clinical psychologist** | MPhil in Clinical Psychology (RCI-recognised) | No | Assessment and therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, and more | | **Counselling psychologist / psychotherapist** | Master's in psychology or a recognised counselling qualification | No | Talk therapy for emotional, psychological, and relationship difficulties, including mental health concerns that may not require a clinical diagnosis | | **"Life coach" / "wellness coach"** | Unregulated; anyone can use the title | No | Goals and motivation, **not** treatment for mental-health conditions | The first three are all legitimate routes to good care, and which one you need depends on your situation rather than on a ranking between them. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, so if medication may be part of the picture, that is the door. A clinical psychologist has specialised, RCI-recognised training in assessment and therapy for mental-health conditions. A counselling psychologist or psychotherapist is trained to do talk therapy for the emotional, psychological, and relationship difficulties most people come in with, including concerns that may not require a formal clinical diagnosis, from stress and low mood to relationships and grief. Many excellent therapists sit in this third row, and a Master's-qualified counselling psychologist is a real professional, not a lesser one. The row to be careful with is the last. "Coach", "healer", "wellness expert" and similar labels are unregulated in India, so a person using them may have deep training or none at all, and you cannot tell from the title alone. That is fine for goal-setting, motivation, or performance work. It is not therapy for anxiety, depression, or trauma, and a responsible coach will say so and refer you on. The problem is only the coach who treats clinical conditions they are not trained to treat. If you are unsure which kind of professional your situation calls for, that is itself a good first question to ask, and any qualified psychologist will answer it plainly. ## How can you verify a psychologist's credentials? (യോഗ്യത എങ്ങനെ ഉറപ്പുവരുത്താം?) സ്ഥാനപ്പേരുകൾ അവകാശപ്പെടാൻ എളുപ്പമാണ്; പക്ഷേ യോഗ്യതകൾ നിങ്ങൾക്ക് നേരിട്ട് പരിശോധിക്കാവുന്നതാണ്. Titles can be claimed; qualifications can be checked, and you are well within your rights to check. Look for a recognised Master's or MPhil in clinical or counselling psychology from a known university. Ask where they trained and how long they have practised. A good psychologist will never mind these questions, and if someone becomes defensive when you ask about their training, that reaction is itself useful information. For a **clinical psychologist** specifically, there is a public register you can use. Clinical psychologists in India are governed by the Rehabilitation Council of India, and a registered clinical psychologist holds a CRR (Central Rehabilitation Register) number that can be looked up online.[\[1\]](#source-1) Here is the precise part, and it matters. RCI registration applies to **clinical psychologists** (and to rehabilitation professionals), not uniformly to every counsellor or psychotherapist. So the absence of an RCI number does not, on its own, mean someone is unqualified. A counselling psychologist with a solid Master's and proper supervised training can be an excellent choice for talk therapy even without an RCI registration, because RCI is not the governing register for that role. Use the CRR lookup as a strong, easy confirmation when you are choosing a clinical psychologist, and use the wider checks (qualification, training, supervision, specialty) for everyone. The goal is to help you verify with confidence, not to make you nervous about therapy. Most practitioners you will meet are exactly who they say they are. ## What should you check before you book? (ബുക്ക് ചെയ്യുന്നതിന് മുൻപ് എന്തെല്ലാം നോക്കണം?) പണം നൽകുന്നതിന് മുൻപ് ഈ ആറ് കാര്യങ്ങൾ വ്യക്തമാക്കി വെക്കുക. Beyond the paperwork, six practical things separate a good match from a frustrating one. It helps to run through them before you commit to paying for a course of sessions. 1. **Qualification you can verify**, as above, with the RCI or CRR check where it applies. 2. **Real language fluency**, enough to do therapy in Malayalam, not only to make small talk in it. There is a difference between chatting and working through grief in a language. 3. **Specialty match** to your actual concern, whether that is anxiety, a couple's difficulties, trauma, or a teenager's struggles. A generalist is fine for many things, but some concerns benefit from someone who works with them often. 4. **Approach**, the kind of therapy they use and why it suits your goal. You do not need to become an expert; you just want them to be able to explain it in plain words. 5. **Practicalities**, clear fees, session length, and cancellation terms, all stated before you pay rather than discovered afterward. 6. **Privacy**, a clear answer to how your sessions and records are kept confidential, and who, if anyone, can see them. If a practitioner or a platform makes all six easy to find and easy to ask about, that openness is a good sign in itself. ## How do you vet a psychologist, step by step? (ഘട്ടം ഘട്ടമായി എങ്ങനെ വിലയിരുത്താം?) മുകളിൽ പറഞ്ഞ കാര്യങ്ങൾ ഒരു ലളിതമായ ക്രമത്തിൽ ചെയ്യാം. If the list above feels like a lot to juggle, here is a simple order to do it in. It works whether you are choosing a single practitioner or comparing an online service. 1. **Start from your real need, not a title:** Name, even roughly, what you want help with: constant worry, a low patch that will not lift, a relationship, a child's behaviour, a hard decision. This tells you whether you are looking for a psychologist for talk therapy, or whether a psychiatrist should be involved because medication may be part of it. If you are not sure, that is a fine thing to ask at the start. 2. **Check the qualification, and verify what you can:** Look for a recognised Master's or MPhil in clinical or counselling psychology. For a clinical psychologist, confirm the RCI registration or CRR number on the public register. For a counselling psychologist, ask about the degree, the training, and the supervision behind it. Asking is normal; a qualified person expects it. 3. **Confirm real language and specialty fit:** Ask directly: can we do the sessions in Malayalam, or in Manglish? And have you worked with something like my concern before? You want a real yes to the language question, not a polite one, and honest experience with your kind of concern rather than a claim to do everything. 4. **Ask the practical questions up front:** Session length, how often you would meet, the fee, the cancellation and reschedule terms, and whether you pay before or after. Also ask plainly how confidentiality works. Getting clear answers before the first session protects you from awkward surprises later. 5. **Treat the first session as a trial, not a verdict:** Book one session and pay attention to how it feels rather than expecting your problem to be solved. Did they listen? Could you be honest? Did they explain how they would work with you? A first session is information-gathering for both of you, not a lifetime commitment. 6. **Review the fit, then stay or switch without guilt:** After one to three sessions, ask yourself the simple question: do I feel reasonably heard and safe, even if the work is hard? If yes, keep going. If it still feels wrong after a fair try, changing psychologists is completely normal and not a failure on anyone's part. ## What questions should you ask in a first session? (ആദ്യ കൂടിക്കാഴ്ചയിൽ എന്തെല്ലാം ചോദിക്കണം?) ഒരു സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റ് ആവശ്യമില്ല, പക്ഷേ ചില ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ കാര്യത്തിന്റെ കാതലിലേക്ക് നേരിട്ട് എത്തിക്കും. You do not need a script, but a few questions cut straight to what matters. Ask them before you book, in a first message, or in the session itself. Any good psychologist will welcome them. * What is your qualification, and can I verify your registration? * What is your main approach, and why does it suit a concern like mine? * Have you worked with something like this before? * Can we work in Malayalam, or in Manglish? * How long is a session, how often would we meet, and what does it cost? Do I pay before or after? * Are sessions private, and who can see my records? * How will we know if therapy is working, and what happens if it turns out not to be the right fit? After the first session, ask yourself the simplest question of all: did I feel heard, could I be honest, and did I leave with a little more clarity than I came in with? You are not grading a performance. You are noticing whether this is a person you could keep being honest with. ## What are the red flags of a bad or unqualified practitioner? (ശ്രദ്ധിക്കേണ്ട അപകടസൂചനകൾ) മിക്ക വിദഗ്ധരും നല്ലവരും വേണ്ടത്ര പരിശീലനം ലഭിച്ചവരുമാണ്; ഇത് എല്ലാവരെയും സംശയിക്കാനുള്ള പട്ടികയല്ല. Most practitioners are decent and well trained, so this is not a list to make you suspicious of everyone, only a short set of signals that reliably point to a poor fit or a lack of real training. Any one of them is worth pausing over. * **Vague, evasive, or defensive** about their qualification or registration when you ask. * **Calls themselves a coach or healer** but takes on clinical conditions like depression or trauma. * **Gives advice the way a relative would** ("just be positive", "get married", "pray more") instead of helping you understand your own patterns. * **Dismisses your family and cultural reality** with a quick "just set boundaries" that ignores how life works at home. * **Shares too much personal information about themselves**, so the focus drifts from you to them. * **Does not maintain clear professional boundaries**, for example regularly taking sessions through casual calls or chat with no clear therapeutic structure, or contacting you unnecessarily outside sessions. * **Uses overly familiar or personal terms of address** without checking your preference. * **Pressures you to continue, to disclose, or to follow their advice** rather than helping you reach your own decisions. * **Is unclear about confidentiality, fees, or cancellation** before you pay. * **Leaves you feeling judged, rushed, or small**, with sessions that go nowhere. * **Promises a guaranteed or quick "cure"**, or pushes a religious or moral agenda you did not ask for. * **Offers to prescribe medication.** A psychologist cannot prescribe in India; prescribing is a psychiatrist's role, so this offer signals confusion about what the professional is qualified to do. A useful test underneath all of these: a good psychologist helps you think, and does not just tell you what to do or what to believe. ## How many sessions before it should feel right? (എത്ര സെഷനുകൾക്കുള്ളിൽ ശരിയെന്ന് തോന്നണം?) ഈ ബന്ധം ശരിയാണോ എന്ന് അറിയാൻ ന്യായമായ ഒരു അവസരം കൊടുക്കുക, പക്ഷേ പരിധിയില്ലാത്ത ഒന്നല്ല. Give the fit a fair chance, but not an unlimited one. The therapy itself may take time, and some concerns do need many sessions, so this is not about expecting fast results, but about the sense of fit, of feeling reasonably heard and safe with this particular person, which should be there within roughly the first one to three sessions even when the deeper work is only beginning. A first session is information, not a lifetime contract. If, after a few, it still does not feel right, changing psychologists is completely normal and is not a failure on anyone's part, least of all yours. The one conclusion to avoid is deciding that therapy itself does not work. Far more often it is not the right match yet, in the same way that the first person you meet is not always the right one. Switching early to someone who fits is one of the most sensible things you can do, and a good psychologist will support you in finding a better match rather than taking it personally. ## What does a first session look like? (ആദ്യ സെഷൻ എങ്ങനെയായിരിക്കും?) ആദ്യ സെഷൻ ഒരു പരീക്ഷയല്ല, ശാന്തമായ ഒരു സംഭാഷണമാണ്. If you have never been, the idea of a first session can be the scariest part, so it helps to know how ordinary it is. It is a private, unhurried conversation, not an interrogation and not a test you can fail. Nobody will make you relive the worst thing on day one. Usually it goes like this. You say, in your own words and at your own pace, what has been happening and what you would like to be different. The psychologist asks a few gentle questions to understand the shape of it: how long, which situations, what you have already tried, what a good outcome would look like for you. Together you begin to name the pattern, and you agree on small first steps rather than big ones. You can pause, you can say "I am not ready to talk about that yet", and you can do the whole thing in Malayalam, from your own room. Many people find that just saying it out loud to someone who is not going to judge them is the first real relief they have felt in a long time. If you want a fuller picture before you book, our guide on [what to expect in a first session](/what-to-expect-first-session/) walks through it step by step. ## How do you vet an online therapy platform, not just a person? (ഓൺലൈൻ തെറാപ്പി പ്ലാറ്റ്ഫോം എങ്ങനെ വിലയിരുത്താം?) ഒരു വ്യക്തിയെയല്ല, ഒരു സേവനത്തെയാണ് തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുന്നതെങ്കിൽ, മുകളിലുള്ള എല്ലാ മാനദണ്ഡങ്ങളും ഇവിടെയും ബാധകമാണ്. If you are choosing a service rather than tracking down one individual, every standard above still applies, and a few more become important. Online therapy is a good, well-evidenced way to get help,[\[2\]](#source-2) and the difference between a trustworthy platform and a thin one is usually visible before you pay. * **Named, verifiable psychologists.** You should be able to see who you would be working with, with their real names and qualifications, not an anonymous pool of "experts". * **Stated qualifications for the people you would see**, so you can run the same verification you would for an individual. * **Transparent pricing and clear reschedule and cancellation terms**, published rather than quoted only after you commit. * **Real language fluency treated as care, not a checkbox.** A platform that takes Malayalam seriously will match you with someone who works in it, not someone who only lists it. * **Private, secure sessions**, with a straight answer to who can see your records. Confidentiality should be stated with confidence, not hedged. * **Pay-after as a trust signal.** A service that is confident in its care can let you have the session first and pay afterward, which quietly shifts the risk off you and onto them. ELLOMIND is built around exactly these standards: you are matched with a real, named, Malayalam-speaking psychologist, the terms are clear, and you pay after the session rather than before. You can see the people you might work with on the [our psychologists](/therapist/) page, and current fees are on the [pricing page](/pricing/). ## Choosing from abroad: for Malayalis outside Kerala (വിദേശത്തുനിന്ന് തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുമ്പോൾ) Distance does not have to mean losing same-language care. If you are in the Gulf, the UK, the US, Australia, or anywhere else, online therapy lets you work with a Malayalam-speaking psychologist from home, at a time that fits your zone, without explaining your world in a borrowed language. For a great many NRIs, that combination, home language and home understanding from far away, is exactly what has been missing, especially in the quieter, lonelier stretches after a move. A few things to check when you are choosing from abroad. Confirm the platform can schedule across your time zone rather than only Indian office hours. Confirm sessions are private and secure over the connection you will use. And, as always, confirm the psychologist works in Malayalam in practice rather than only listing it. നിങ്ങളുടെ മാതൃഭാഷയിൽ സംസാരിക്കാം, from anywhere, is not a luxury; for something as personal as therapy, it is often the thing that lets you start at all. If a moment ever turns into a crisis while you are far from home, contact your local emergency number first, and our crisis helplines page lists verified lines for India and several other countries. ⚠️ If your low mood has turned into hopelessness, or into thoughts of not wanting to be here, please reach out now rather than waiting to choose the perfect psychologist. **Tele-MANAS** on [1800-89-14416](tel:18008914416) answers around the clock in Malayalam, and **Vandrevala Foundation** on [1860 2662 345](tel:18602662345) is available any time. You do not have to carry this alone. [Crisis helplines → Free 24/7 mental health helplines for India and internationally](/crisis-helpline/) ## Getting help in Malayalam (മലയാളത്തിൽ സഹായം) മലയാളത്തിൽ സഹായം ലഭ്യമാണ്. Choosing well comes down to this: a qualification you can verify, a person you feel you can be honest with, and, for many Malayalis, a language you do not have to translate out of. You can talk it through with a real, named, Malayalam-speaking psychologist, online, whether you are in Kerala or abroad, and you pay after the session. For something this personal, starting in your own words, from your own room, takes away the hardest step. Talk it through with a real, named, Malayalam-speaking psychologist. Online, private, and you can pay after the session. 50-minute sessions in Malayalam or English. No referral needed. [Book a session](/get-started/) ## Read next [Online counselling in Malayalam → How therapy in Malayalam works, who our psychologists are, and what a session costs](/malayalam-counselling-online/) [Meet our psychologists → Real names, qualifications, and what each of them works with](/therapist/) [What happens in a first session → The whole shape of a first appointment, start to finish](/what-to-expect-first-session/) [Individual therapy → One-to-one sessions in Malayalam for anxiety, low mood, and more](/services/individual-therapy/) [Couples therapy → Working through a relationship together, in your own language](/services/couples-therapy/) [Anxiety meaning in Malayalam → ഉത്കണ്ഠ explained: what anxiety is, the physical signs, and how it is treated](/blog/anxiety-meaning-in-malayalam/) [Depression meaning in Malayalam → വിഷാദരോഗം explained: signs, how it presents in Kerala, and treatment](/blog/depression-meaning-in-malayalam/) [Sessions and pricing → What a session costs, and how paying after works](/pricing/) ## Frequently asked questions ## Frequently Asked Questions മലയാളം സംസാരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു സൈക്കോളജിസ്റ്റിനെ എങ്ങനെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കാം?+ യോഗ്യത പരിശോധിക്കുക (ക്ലിനിക്കൽ സൈക്കോളജിസ്റ്റാണെങ്കിൽ RCI രജിസ്ട്രേഷനും), നിങ്ങളുടെ പ്രശ്നത്തിൽ പരിചയമുണ്ടോ എന്ന് ചോദിക്കുക, മലയാളത്തിൽ (വേണ്ടിവന്നാൽ മംഗ്ലീഷിലും) സെഷൻ നടത്താൻ കഴിയുമോ എന്ന് ഉറപ്പാക്കുക. ELLOMIND-ൽ പേരും യോഗ്യതയും വ്യക്തമായ, മലയാളം സംസാരിക്കുന്ന സൈക്കോളജിസ്റ്റുകളുമായി ഓൺലൈനിൽ, കേരളത്തിലായാലും വിദേശത്തായാലും, സംസാരിക്കാം. What qualifications should a psychologist have in India?+ Look for a recognised Master's or MPhil in clinical or counselling psychology from a known university. A clinical psychologist should hold RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) registration, which comes with a CRR number you can verify online. A counselling psychologist or psychotherapist may not be RCI-governed and can still be an excellent choice for talk therapy. A psychiatrist, by contrast, is a medical doctor. How do I check if a psychologist is registered?+ For a clinical psychologist, ask for their RCI registration or CRR number and check it on the Rehabilitation Council of India's public register. For a counselling psychologist, ask about the degree, training, and supervision behind their practice. A qualified professional will not mind you asking, and defensiveness about credentials is itself a warning sign. Does every psychologist have to be RCI-registered?+ No. RCI registration applies specifically to clinical psychologists (and to rehabilitation professionals). A counselling psychologist or psychotherapist with a solid Master's and proper supervised training is a legitimate professional even without an RCI number. Use the RCI or CRR check to confirm a clinical psychologist, and use qualification, training, and specialty checks for everyone. Is a 'counsellor' or 'coach' the same as a psychologist?+ Not necessarily. A counselling psychologist or psychotherapist has formal training in therapy. 'Life coach' or 'wellness coach', however, are unregulated titles in India, so anyone can use them. Coaches can help with goals and motivation, but they are not trained to treat conditions like depression or trauma, and a responsible coach will refer you on for those. What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?+ A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MBBS plus MD or DPM) who can diagnose and prescribe medication, and is the right door for severe or complex illness or when medication may help. A psychologist works through assessment and talk therapy and does not prescribe. Many people see a psychologist for therapy and are referred to a psychiatrist only if medication is worth considering. Why does choosing a psychologist who speaks Malayalam matter?+ Because feelings live in the language you first felt them in. Working in Malayalam, with Manglish welcome, means you can describe your family, your guilt, and your context directly instead of translating them, so the session goes to the real problem. For many Malayalis this is the single biggest factor in whether therapy feels like it fits. What questions should I ask before booking a psychologist?+ Ask about their qualification and how to verify it, their main approach and why it suits your concern, whether they have worked with something like yours, whether you can work in Malayalam or Manglish, the session length and cost and whether you pay before or after, and how confidentiality works. Clear answers before you pay are a good sign. What are the red flags of a bad therapist?+ Being vague or defensive about qualifications, giving advice like a relative instead of helping you explore your patterns, dismissing your family and cultural context, poor professional boundaries (over-sharing about themselves, contacting you unnecessarily outside sessions, or pressuring you to continue or disclose), being unclear about confidentiality or fees, making you feel judged, promising quick 'cures', or offering to prescribe medication (which a psychologist cannot do in India). How many sessions before therapy should feel right?+ The work itself can take time, but the sense of fit, of feeling reasonably heard and safe with this person, should be there within roughly the first one to three sessions. If it is not after a fair try, it is reasonable to switch. A first session is information, not a commitment. Can I switch psychologists if it is not a good fit?+ Yes, and it is completely normal. The right fit matters, and changing is not a failure; it is far better than concluding that therapy does not work when it may just be the wrong match so far. A good psychologist will support you in finding someone who fits better. What happens in a first therapy session?+ It is a private, unhurried conversation, not a test. You say in your own words what has been happening and what you would like to change, the psychologist asks a few gentle questions to understand the shape of it, and together you agree on small first steps. You can pause, and you can do it in Malayalam from your own room. Can Malayalis abroad get the same Malayalam-speaking psychologists?+ Yes. Online therapy lets you work with a Malayalam-speaking psychologist from anywhere in the world, at a time that suits your zone. When choosing from abroad, confirm the platform can schedule across your time zone, that sessions are private and secure, and that the psychologist works in Malayalam in practice rather than only listing it. How much does it cost, and do I pay before or after?+ Current pricing is shown on our pricing page. At ELLOMIND you pay after the session rather than upfront, which lets you decide with the experience in hand. With any psychologist, ask about fees and cancellation terms before you book. ### Sources 1. [Rehabilitation Council of India: statutory mandate and the Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR)](https://rehabcouncil.nic.in/) 2. [National Institute of Mental Health: Psychotherapies](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies)