Questions people ask before they book.

Yes. What you share stays between us — that's the foundation the whole thing rests on. There are a few standard limits, which every ethical therapist follows and which I'll explain plainly in our first session: if there's serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or where the law requires disclosure (for instance around harm to a child), I may need to involve appropriate support. Even then, wherever possible it happens with you, not behind your back.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication. A clinical psychologist (my training) holds an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology, is registered with the RCI, and treats through talking therapies rather than prescriptions. Many people benefit from one or the other; some benefit from both together, and I work alongside psychiatrists whenever that serves you better.

Mostly, a conversation. You share what's been going on — in whatever order and depth feels okay. I'll ask questions to understand you and what you're carrying, we'll talk about what you want from therapy, and I'll share honestly how I think I can help. No tests sprung on you, no lying on a couch, no dissecting your childhood on day one. The step-by-step version lives on the first-session page.

A session runs about 50 minutes [FILL: confirm]. Most people start weekly or fortnightly and space sessions out as things steady. The rhythm is reviewed together — nothing is locked in.

For fees and payment details, write to contact@swathitp.com — you'll get them plainly, with no obligation. If cost is a barrier, say so; asking about reduced-fee arrangements is a normal, welcome conversation.

Yes — video sessions across India and abroad, via a Google Meet link sent after booking. You need privacy, headphones and a stable connection. If the connection misbehaves, we reconnect or switch to audio; the work continues.

English and Malayalam — separately or mixed, exactly as your thoughts arrive. For many people, therapy in their first language reaches places English can't.

The honest answer: it varies. Some focused concerns ease in a handful of sessions; long-standing patterns take months. We review progress openly at regular intervals, and continuing — or stopping — is always your decision.

[FILL: confirm whether couples therapy and adolescent work are offered.] Individual adult therapy is the core of the practice; if what you need is outside it, I'll say so and help you find the right person.

For most common concerns — anxiety, depression, OCD, postpartum struggles — research over the past decade has generally found online therapy comparable to in-person work, and that matches my experience in practice. Where in-person or more intensive care would genuinely serve you better, I'll tell you.

[FILL: cancellation policy, e.g. 24-hour notice]. Life happens — the policy exists to protect session slots, not to punish bad weeks.

Both happen often in first sessions, and neither is a problem. Crying isn't a detour from the work — it often is the work. If words won't come, you can say exactly that; the session can start from silence.

Then say so, with no awkwardness needed. A good fit matters more than loyalty, and it's completely okay to stop after one session — I'd rather help you find the right person than keep you in the wrong room.

[FILL: e.g. first appointments usually within 3–5 days]. If you're struggling right now, please don't wait for an appointment — Tele-MANAS 14416 is free and open 24×7.

The practice is currently fully online — video sessions across India and abroad. If that ever changes, this page will say so plainly.

Please don't wait for an appointment. Call Tele-MANAS at 14416 (Government of India, 24×7) or KIRAN at 1800-599-0019, reach iCall at +91 91529 87821 or AASRA at +91 98204 66726, or go to your nearest emergency department. These services exist for exactly this moment — the full list is on the disclaimer page.