Therapy in India has no single price. I explain how I handle fees at Rafiq, what shapes cost across roles and cities, and the money questions to ask before you book.
Short answer. India has no single price for counselling. I run a free 30-minute first conversation booked through a form, then I state my fee and the ways we can meet, and you decide whether that fits your money and your week. If you want ballparks before you talk to anyone, I point you to a clearer guide below.
In short:
There is no single rate across India, only a wide band, and you will hear very different figures from two rooms a kilometre apart. City, room rent, format, and experience shape the number, and demand pushes it around inside the same city. Psychiatrists usually charge more than counsellors because they prescribe and carry medical responsibility. That spread makes budgeting awkward when you are trying to plan a month.
I wrote a plain guide with typical bands and what drives them here: What therapy actually costs in India. It gives ballparks without fluff. Prices change with seasons and supply, so always ask for a current fee and what it includes. You do not owe silence around money; clear numbers help you choose a room you can keep showing up to.
I'm Satlaj Sachan, a counsellor in Bengaluru, practising since 2015. I work with adults roughly 25 to 45, in English and Hindi, over video and in person in the city. The practice is Rafiq at heyrafiq.com; the name comes from my podcast, running since 2020. A first conversation is thirty minutes and free, and booking runs through a form first.
After that call I tell you my fee, my current slots, and the ways we can meet. You take a beat and check your budget. Then you either book a paid slot or you pass. I will not push, and I have worked with more than 140 people who handled this choice in their own way.
If you want to know what we cover in the free call, I wrote it here: What happens in a first conversation. Read that, then fill the form if it feels right. I keep the pace unhurried and plain. We talk like two people, not like a checklist.
Please ask money questions before you part with a rupee. Email is fine, and the first call is fine, and most counsellors expect it. You are buying protected time, and you get to protect your money too. Specifics now prevent awkwardness later when schedules slip or a card fails.
Use this as a quick script if money talk makes you freeze. Get the exact fee and the timing of payment, and hear how late arrivals are handled. Clarify the cancellation window and charges. Check whether video is priced the same and whether switching formats is allowed.
Also ask if they provide a receipt with their details, in case your insurer asks for paperwork. Check whether you can change frequency for a while if money gets tight. If you do not get straight answers, choose someone else. A clear yes or a clear no saves both time and money.
Roles affect price because different work carries different costs. For a quick primer on who does what in India, read this: Counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist: who does what in India. I am a counsellor. Prescribing sits with a psychiatrist, and when medication is worth considering I refer, which sometimes changes the overall spend for a while.
Overheads set the floor. Room rent and travel add up, and so do admin time and note time after you log off. Some people use shorter sessions to keep the bill lower, while others prefer fewer but longer meetings. Demand and waitlists push prices too, and none of this is personal.
If you searched 'trt therapy cost in india', you are likely looking for testosterone replacement therapy. That is a medical treatment, so speak with an endocrinologist or a urologist about risks, dosing, monitoring, and cost. I am not a doctor and do not prescribe, and I do not quote prices for medical care. Insurers treat it differently, so get the terms in writing.
Insurance in India is a maze, and policies differ by insurer and employer. Ask for the written terms for outpatient mental health. Check whether sessions with a counsellor are eligible and what paperwork they need from you and from me. Get the answer over email if you can.
Your employer might run an EAP, which is a vendor who offers short-term counselling paid for by the company. HR will know if there is one and how to access it. Ask how many sessions are covered and whether choice of counsellor is limited. Some people start there and then choose their own room later.
If you want a diagnosis, a certificate, or medication, see the right person for that. A psychiatrist handles medication. Clinical psychologists handle assessment and diagnosis. I do neither, and I refer when a medical route makes sense, which keeps the money picture clearer.
If you are in immediate danger or feel close to harming yourself or someone else, do not book me. Call Tele-MANAS on 14416, which is India's free 24/7 mental health helpline. Ask a friend or family member to sit with you. Counselling here runs by appointment and emergency care needs a faster door.
Hallucinations, heavy withdrawal, violent agitation, or a medical crisis need a hospital or a psychiatrist. A quiet room with me will not hold that safely. Spend your money on the right level of care first. When things are steadier we can talk, and I can still be the steady person in your corner.
If money is tight and you still want a small human space, I run a tiny gathering in a cafe in HSR, Bengaluru. Five or so people come, and the day moves week to week. It is not counselling. Sometimes that feeling of a table and company is enough, and other times you decide you want a one-to-one room.
How much does one session cost in India?
There is no single price. City and format shape it, and the person's role and experience move it. Ask for a current fee and what it includes. If you want ballparks to start thinking, I wrote a plain guide here: What therapy actually costs in India. I also offer a free 30-minute first call where I state my fee clearly.
Is online counselling cheaper than meeting in person?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Video can lower room costs for the counsellor, and some people pass that on. Others keep one fee for both. Ask whether the price changes by format and whether you can switch formats when life gets in the way. Clear rules here help you budget without surprises.
Can I use health insurance for counselling in India?
Policies vary a lot. Ask your insurer for the written terms for outpatient mental health. Check whether sessions with a counsellor are eligible and what paperwork they require. Some employers also offer an EAP with covered sessions. HR will know if there is a vendor and how to access it. Keep copies of bills and emails.
Do you diagnose or prescribe if I need that?
No. I am a counsellor. I am not a doctor and cannot prescribe. If medication is worth considering I refer to a psychiatrist. If you want assessment and a formal diagnosis, a clinical psychologist is the right person. Roles matter for both care and cost, and I am upfront about that from the first call.
What if I cannot afford weekly sessions right now?
Tell me in the first call. We can pick a rhythm you can keep. Ask your employer about an EAP if they have one. If you are in crisis, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 for immediate, free support. I also host a small cafe gathering in HSR that is not counselling and may feel lighter on the pocket.
Written by Satlaj Sachan, a counsellor in Bengaluru working Book a first conversation.