Here Is Why Qualified Therapists And Mental Health Education Matter

Understanding how mental health experts specialized knowledge and tailored treatments can pave the way for emotional balance and a fulfilling life.

Sumedha TripathiUpdated: Jul 25, 2023, 11:44 IST
5 min read
Indiatimes

With the rise of digital communication and the prevalence of social media, the concept of "self-proclaimed" therapists has gained traction. People are increasingly offering counselling and therapy services online, presenting themselves as experts in mental health without the necessary qualifications. While the intention might be to assist those in distress, the potential dangers of relying on untrained individuals for therapeutic guidance cannot be overlooked.

Who are trained therapists and mental health experts?

Trained therapists are mental health professionals who have undergone extensive education, clinical experience, and licensing to provide specialized counselling and therapeutic services. Their expertise spans various therapeutic modalities, enabling them to address various mental health issues. Whether managing stress, overcoming trauma, or dealing with relationship challenges, therapists can offer evidence-based interventions tailored to individual needs.

One of the fundamental advantages of seeking guidance from a trained therapist is creating a safe and confidential space for clients to express themselves openly. This non-judgmental environment fosters trust, allowing individuals to explore their emotions, thoughts, and fears without fear of stigmatization. By delving into the root causes of mental health struggles, therapists help clients gain insights, develop coping mechanisms, and initiate meaningful personal growth.

taking-therapy Unsplash

Dr Shyam Bhat adds, ¡°Psychotherapy,¡± or ¡°Therapy¡± as it is commonly called, focuses more on gaining insight into the unconscious aspects of the mind and understanding the root cause of problems, including thought patterns, behaviours, emotions, and subconscious patterns. A psychotherapist helps individuals with a broad variety of mental and emotional difficulties. Therapy is also useful to gain self-awareness, mental strength, and resilience. In India, psychiatrists and psychologists are the only professionals who can do psychotherapy. A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor with a postgraduate degree in Psychiatry; A psychologist has at least a postgraduate (Masters) degree in psychology, MPhil in Psychology from an institute recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), or PhD."

What can happen if the practitioners are under-experienced?

There are a lot of unprofessional people who tend to provide therapy and that can be dangerous. As per Dr Shyam Bhat, Psychiatrist and Chairman, LiveLoveLaugh "There are an increasing number of individuals practising as therapists without the necessary training or qualifications. This is largely due to a lack of stringent regulatory frameworks governing the practice of psychotherapy in India, and a lack of awareness among the public about what qualifications to look for in a therapist, along with a post-COVID-19 surge in demand for mental health services."

"An unqualified or untrained therapist can often misguide their clients, misdiagnose the condition, or even cause harm by violating boundaries or giving life advice that is contrary to good therapy. This not only prolongs the individual¡¯s suffering but can lead to mistrust of mental health professionals and discourage people from seeking professional help in the future," he adds.

therapy Unsplash

Reasons why a qualified mental health expert is needed

There are several courses which are making people become therapists. Here are reasons why a professional expert is a necessity:

They provide with proper expertise and knowledge

Qualified mental health experts, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, undergo rigorous education and training in their respective fields. They possess in-depth knowledge of various mental health conditions, treatment modalities, and therapeutic techniques. Their expertise enables them to accurately diagnose and provide effective interventions for individuals facing mental health challenges.

There are ethical standards and a code of conduct

Qualified mental health experts are bound by ethical standards and codes of conduct set by their respective professional organizations. These standards ensure that clients' confidentiality, autonomy, and well-being are respected and protected. They also provide guidelines for maintaining professional boundaries and handling challenging situations in a responsible and compassionate manner.

They provide an accurate assessment

Properly trained experts can conduct comprehensive assessments to accurately diagnose mental health conditions. A precise diagnosis is essential for tailoring the most appropriate treatment plan for an individual's specific needs, preventing misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatments.

They can reduce the risk of misinformation

The presence of qualified mental health experts helps to reduce the risk of harm caused by untrained individuals offering therapy without proper knowledge. It also minimizes the spread of misinformation and unproven treatments that can exacerbate mental health issues.

They provide safe and effective treatment

Qualified experts base their treatments on scientifically proven methods, ensuring that their interventions are safe and effective. This approach minimizes the risk of harmful or unproven therapies and maximizes the likelihood of positive outcomes for individuals seeking help.

Therapy Unsplash

How is the mental health landscape changing?

As per Dr Bhat, "The mental health landscape in India is changing rapidly. With increasing awareness about mental health, more people are seeking help. There's a push to strengthen mental health services at all levels of healthcare, from primary health centres to tertiary institutions. Technology plays a significant role, with many services offering online counselling, which has become more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increasing acceptance and usage of teletherapy are helping to reach more people, including those in rural or remote areas."

"The National Mental Health Survey (2016) and the Mental Healthcare Act (2017) also signify progress in recognizing and addressing mental health issues at a policy level. With more awareness, however, is a surge in unqualified self-appointed experts. This should be regulated to ensure that we provide good quality mental health care in the country," he adds.

Therapy Unsplash

Having qualified mental health experts is essential for providing safe, effective, and ethical mental health care. Their expertise, evidence-based approaches, and commitment to ongoing learning contribute to the well-being and recovery of individuals seeking support for their mental health concerns.

Sumedha Tripathi

Building, coordinating and crafting engaging content for lifestyle brand 'Evolve' at Indiatimes. Successfully revamping the lifestyle section including topics such as mental health, relationships, self, skin care, music etc. I collaborate with experts from various fields to gather insights and create well-structured pieces.

Read More
22/11/2024 6:32:16
seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
mfhoudan.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
jerusalemdispatch.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
worldhealthstory.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
techguroh.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com