Author: saeepatwardhan

In recent years, online therapy has surged in popularity due to increased mental health awareness, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made virtual services a necessity. Virtual therapy or teletherapy entails the delivery of therapy via an online platform. You may choose online therapy due to its convenience and accessibility, and it may reduce your anxiety around face-to-face interactions, especially in the first few sessions. In the Indian context, It is especially useful for citizens living away from metropolitan cities or in remote areas, where a qualified mental health professional may not be as easily available. This also applies to Indian citizens living abroad, who can continue to seek this service from an RCI-licensed psychologist. Furthermore, online therapy allows credible therapists to impart their services to those who need it, regardless of geographical boundaries. What matters most is the therapeutic alliance, ie the therapist’s ability to form a trusting and collaborative relationship with you, regardless of the platform that you choose. Regarding privacy concerns, generally, therapists conducting teletherapy use platforms like Google Meet and Zoom, which use encryption measures to protect client meetings. However, it is always your right to ask your therapist how and where your data is stored. Moreover, before you book a session, ensure you check the therapist’s background, including their qualification. Also, ensure that your therapist is licensed in the country or state that they practice in to ensure that you’re delivered quality care. It is to be noted that virtual therapy isn’t always the right choice. It may not be suitable for individuals experiencing severe mental health crises, including suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or acute distress requiring immediate intervention. In such cases, in-person therapy or emergency services are essential. Ultimately, online therapy is a valuable tool that has helped millions worldwide. Whether you choose virtual or in-person therapy depends on your individual needs. The focus should be on choosing the correct therapist, their credibility, and the therapist-client fit. No matter the format, seeking help is always a step in the right direction.

Lately emotional expression has taken a new turn with an interesting set of terms entering everyday conversation. Someone who misses out on concert tickets is now ‘depressed’ and a person who gets a bad haircut claims they’ll ‘never recover from the trauma’. These hyperbolic expressions reflect the growing influence of therapy-speak in recent years. Therapy-speak refers to the use of psychological and therapeutic jargon in everyday conversations. While therapy-speak helps raise awareness and reduces the taboo surrounding mental health, it also comes with its fair share of baggage. Popular use of words like ‘depression’ or ‘trauma’ can lead to semantic bleaching, which refers to the weakening of a word’s meaning due to overuse. Which essentially means that they have been used so frequently and in a variety of contexts that they are now being used loosely. Such exaggerated expressions where every day struggles are dramatized with clinical labels blur the line between genuine psychological conditions and casual frustrations. As a result, the true meaning of these words is lost, which can further contribute to the spread of misinformation. This misinformation can lead to individuals incorrectly labelling oneself and others. Further, therapy-speak often undermines the experiences of those who truly struggle with serious psychological disorders. Calling a neat and tidy person ‘OCD’ is like calling someone who double-checks their locks a secret agent — it sounds amusing, but it trivializes and invalidates a real struggle. Additionally, such misrepresentations can lead to individuals second-guessing their conditions which can affect their willingness to seek professional help. As Confucius has wisely put, “If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things”. Our use of words strongly affects our own and people’s perceptions and one must be mindful of the power language holds. This does not mean we should stop using psychological concepts altogether, but rather that we should fact-check what we hear or read and rely on credible sources. Being equipped with authentic psychological knowledge can be helpful in bringing attention to when someone is genuinely in need of professional help.

A Path to Balance Let’s talk about something we often overlook — the relationship between our mind and body. This connection is always at work, whether we notice it or not. Ever felt your stomach churn before a big event or a wave of calm after a walk? That’s your mind and body talking to each other. Science shows how closely they’re linked. Meditation doesn’t just relax you — it can actually reduce activity in the amygdala, the brain’s “fear center,” making us more resilient to stress. Exercise? It’s not just about staying fit; it releases endorphins that lift your mood and boost focus. Even the food you eat plays a role — your gut health directly impacts your mental clarity and emotional well-being. How do we nurture this connection? Take small moments to breathe: A few minutes of focused breathing can reset your day. Move your body: Activities like yoga, running, or dancing don’t just build strength; they build emotional resilience too. Eat and rest well: Sleep and balanced meals may seem basic, but they ripple out into every aspect of your health. You could start by noticing how your body reacts to stress or joy. Pay attention to how journaling, laughing with a friend, or just stepping outside shifts your energy. Your mind and body are always working together, helping you navigate life. When you care for one, you’re supporting the other. Here’s to exploring that connection and making this year one of balance and growth! Warm regards, Saee Patwardhan

As we step into 2025, it’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and trepidation about the year to come. The New Year often brings with it a surge of energy and the promise of fresh starts. This is a wonderful time to reflect, set intentions, and make space for growth and healing. Many of us make resolutions — often only to feel disheartened a few weeks later. But what if we approached resolutions differently? Instead of seeking perfection, aim for progress. This year, consider: Setting Intentions: Focus on values and feelings, not just outcomes.E.g.: Replace “I will read 50 books” with “I will read for 20 minutes daily.”Practicing Self-Compassion: Change is non-linear; ups and downs are normal. Be kind to yourself.Missing a workout or indulging isn’t failure — it’s part of the process.Prioritizing Mental Health: Emotional well-being underpins everything. Dedicate time to self-care or mindfulness.Try 10 minutes of breathing, meditation, or journaling daily.Therapeutic Reflections for the New Year What are three things I’m grateful for from the past year?What limiting beliefs do I want to release?What is one small, meaningful step I can take towards my emotional well-being?Each day is an opportunity to begin anew. Let this year be a celebration of your resilience and your capacity to grow. Wishing you a 2025 full of healing, joy, and discovery! Warm regards, Saee Patwardhan

In my experience as a clinical psychologist working in India, cultural taboos can have a big influence on how families talk about mental health issues. In a culture steeped in customs and family responsibilities, conversations about mental health frequently fall aside due to social stigmas and myths. But in order to promote emotional resilience and stronger family dynamics, these taboos must be addressed. Look at the situation of Ramesh and Meera, a couple residing in a busy metropolis in their mid-40s. Even though the family gave the impression of being happy on the outside, there were unsolved arguments and unsaid feelings. Feeling confined by society’s expectations of being the ideal wife and mother, Meera battled untreated anxiety. In contrast, Ramesh struggled with depression but was reluctant to get treatment because he was afraid of being judged as weak or insufficient. Their experience is not unusual in Indian households, where people are frequently discouraged from getting the help they sorely need due to a fear of being judged and pressure to maintain an air of perfection. But it’s our duty as mental health experts to establish safe spaces where families like Ramesh and Meera may talk honestly about their challenges without feeling shamed or retaliated against. Psychoeducation is one method I frequently use. It is a process that includes educating families about mental health issues and busting myths and prejudices. By providing families with information, we enable them to question prevailing perceptions and attitudes around mental illness. For example, in a family therapy session with Ramesh and Meera, I stressed that mental health problems are the outcome of intricate interplay between biological, psychological, and environmental elements rather than a sign of moral failure or personal weakness. They learned via frank and open communication that asking for assistance with mental health issues was not a sign of weakness but rather a brave step toward recovery and development. The importance of cultural sensitivity in treating mental health concerns in Indian households cannot be underestimated. Gaining the trust and respect of your clients requires an understanding of and adherence to cultural norms and values. For instance, getting professional mental health assistance is rarely seen as a first choice in many Indian households, where families would much rather rely on folk cures or religious interventions. We can bridge the gap between Western psychology and indigenous knowledge systems by incorporating culturally sensitive approaches into therapy, such as including traditional healing practices or including family elders in the therapeutic process. This will make therapy more relevant and approachable for Indian families. In summary, removing the taboos around mental health in Indian households necessitates a multifaceted strategy that incorporates cultural sensitivity, psychoeducation, and open communication. We can foster healthy family relations and the emotional well-being of future generations by establishing a secure space where people feel comfortable sharing their stories and asking for assistance without fear of being judged. It is our responsibility as clinical psychologists to question social conventions and promote an inclusive and compassionate approach to mental health care in India. To anyone reading this who could be experiencing mental health issues or who is watching a loved one struggle with hidden obstacles to think about getting help. Therapy provides a safe, accepting, and impartial environment in which you can examine your feelings, ideas, and experiences under the supervision of a qualified expert. Always keep in mind that asking for assistance is a brave step toward recovery and development rather than a sign of weakness. Help is accessible whenever you’re ready to take the first step toward a better and healthier future, so you’re not alone.

Is your IG feed and YouTube doom scroll leading you to doubt whether you have ADHD? Do you often zone out of conversations, classes, or while reading? Do you relate to being a procrastinator? Do you go back and forth while leaving home because you forgot your phone or keys or something else? Have people called you lazy, forgetful, and careless, where you almost believe them. But, deep down, it feels more like a paralyzing “I can‘t seem to do it, not like I don’t want to!” Chances are that you might be an ADHD-er! Let’s have a look at some indicators that may qualify you to get screened for ADHD besides the fact that you may feel you have ADHD! You end up getting easily distracted, have a hard time completing tasks, or are forgetful. Engage in high-risk driving, any kind of substance use, or binge eating. Get fidgety in situations and have issues like anxiety or having trouble with your mood. Persistently feel that you can never reach your potential. Current researchers are contesting the popular belief that ADHD is a disorder of attention by calling it more of a disorder of intent. It can be understood as a disorder of a set of skills which help you strategize, plan and execute. Everybody experiences issues; like forgetting to pay the bills, spacing out during a conversation, or missing deadlines. But for ADHD-ers, these are constant and can lead to chaos in their life, making it harder to perform the tasks despite knowing how to. Chaos manifests difficult life circumstances and a lowered quality of life and well-being. These persistent imposing symptoms can cause a series of failures, which leads to feelings of shame, guilt, and make one not believe in themself. Milkrosi et al. conducted a trial in 2016 by taking accounts of people with ADHD brought to light the behaviors of chronically avoiding doing certain things because they have convinced themselves of facing imminent failure. ADHD is a disorder that is seen to persist across one’s lifespan. Typically, it gets diagnosed in childhood. However, as the symptoms can go unnoticed, they can get diagnosed as late as in their old age. These are behavioral issues and they come with a societal stigma. This stigma, when internalized, leads to the under-reporting of symptoms. ADHD-ers often misunderstand them as personal shortcomings or failures. Anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse disorders commonly co-occur with ADHD and many times are the primary targets of treatments. Whereas the underlying ADHD can get potentially missed and untreated. Women and individuals with a high IQ have a higher likelihood of being undiagnosed till a later stage in life. Here’s a plus, ADHD-ers are creative problem solvers and they develop unique strategies to mask the symptoms. Making it difficult to diagnose. Untreated ADHD is a Shakespearean tragedy that poses a risk to the individual’s life. It increases the odds of the individual facing issues like, disturbed relationships, work and academic difficulties, accidents, and trouble with the law have a higher occurrence in the lives of people with ADHD as compared to others. There are three subtypes of ADHD: predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, and combined type. The predominantly inattentive type is characterized by symptoms such as difficulty paying attention, forgetfulness, and distractibility. The predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type is marked by symptoms such as restlessness, impulsivity, and difficulty sitting still. The combined type is a combination of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Each subtype presents unique challenges and may require different treatment approaches. It is important to note that ADHD is a spectrum disorder, and individuals with ADHD may not fit neatly into one subtype or another. ADHD-ers require intervention to provide scaffolding in the environment to aid the individual’s performance. This can be done by consulting an adhd doctor AKA a psychiatrist and a therapist. Solution is not excusing the behavior but instilling accountability for initiating change. As ADHD is chronic but highly treatable! The latest medical guidelines recommend a combination of both medicines and cognitive behavior therapy for adults with ADHD (NICE, 2019). Various types of medications like stimulants, non-stimulants, and antidepressants are available which are seen to be highly efficient in reducing the symptoms like distractibility, impulsivity, and even mood related problems. The right medication and the right dose may vary among individuals, so it may take time to find out what’s right for you. It’s important to monitor your symptoms and report side effects if any to your treating adhd doctor. Research has emphasized that treatments must involve psychotherapy, and skills training by a well informed and qualified ADHD therapist. Therapy for ADHD includes getting to know yourself and your ADHD better. Learning skills and strategies that help you successfully navigate the difficulties that these symptoms add to your life. Working memory and internal time clock aids, breaking down goals to maneuver the ADHD reward system can be set in the course of therapy. Research Stephen (2013?) shows that treatments like CBT boost the cognitive juices which can help you better monitor your behavior. It can help transform your relationship with yourself, and with others and get you growing through your ADHD! — Saee Patwardhan; RCI Licensed Clinical Psychologist, India