Questions people often ask.
If your question isn’t here, send a message on WhatsApp. You’ll get a reply from a real person.
Getting started
How do I know if therapy is right for me, or for us?
You don’t need a diagnosis, a crisis or a clear goal to start. Many people come because something feels heavy, stuck or repeated, and they want space to think it through with someone trained to help. If you’re unsure, send a message and ask. There’s no obligation.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is 60 minutes. You talk about what brought you, and Sammyaka asks some gentle questions to understand your situation. Together you agree what you’d like to work on. At the end, you decide whether it feels right to continue.
How long and how often are sessions?
Each session is 60 minutes. Most people meet weekly or every two weeks at the start, then less often as things settle. You can pause or stop whenever you choose.
Couples sessions
Does my partner have to come?
Couples sessions work best when both of you attend. If your partner isn’t ready yet, you can start on your own: individual sessions can help you understand the relationship and your part in it.
Will you take sides?
No. Sammyaka’s role is to help you both be heard and understand each other, not to decide who is right. Each person gets space to speak.
Is couples counselling only for married couples?
No. It’s for any two people in a committed relationship: dating, engaged, married, or deciding what comes next. Pre-marriage sessions are welcome too.
Privacy and care
Is it confidential?
Yes. What you share stays between you and Sammyaka, with a few legal exceptions, such as a serious risk to someone’s life or a court order. Sessions are never recorded. She’ll go through her confidentiality policy in your first session, including how it works in couples sessions. You can read it any time on the confidentiality page.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. Sammyaka is a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, and does not prescribe medication. If she thinks a psychiatrist’s view would help you, she will talk with you about it and can suggest a referral.
Online sessions
Can I have sessions online if I live outside India?
Yes. Many clients join online from other cities and countries. Booking shows times in your own time zone, and you’ll get a private video link before each session. Fees for clients abroad are shared in your currency when you get in touch.
Is online therapy as good as in person?
For many people, yes. What matters most is feeling safe and heard. For online sessions, find a quiet, private place, use headphones if you can, and keep a glass of water nearby.
Practical
What if I need to cancel or move a session?
Please give at least 24 hours’ notice by WhatsApp or phone, and we’ll find another time.
What if I need urgent help?
This service is not for emergencies. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 112 in India, or your local emergency number if you are abroad. For free mental health support in India, call Tele-MANAS on 14416, any time.
When you’re ready, the first step is a message.
Book a time that suits you, or send a short note on WhatsApp. In person in Bengaluru, or online wherever you are.