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Working Together

Practice Handbook, Professional Standards & Informed Consent

Tanusree Mustafi

Rehabilitation Psychologist
Begin Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services

A Note Before We Begin

Beginning therapy is a significant decision.

You are not simply booking an appointment. You are choosing to enter into a professional relationship that asks for honesty, curiosity, patience and time. Like any meaningful relationship, it benefits from clarity about what each of us can expect from the other.

This document explains how I work, what you can expect from me, what I ask of you, and the practical agreements that support our work together. It also serves as informed consent for psychotherapy.

You may notice that I explain not only what my policies are, but also why they exist. That is intentional. I believe transparency is part of ethical practice. Wherever possible, I want you to understand the reasoning behind the professional boundaries and decisions that shape our work together.

Psychotherapy is not built on rules. It is built on trust.

Clear agreements simply create the conditions in which that trust can grow.

If, after reading this document, anything remains unclear, I encourage you to ask. Questions are always welcome.

About My Practice

Begin Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services is my independent psychotherapy practice. It is intentionally kept small. I do not think of psychotherapy as something that can be endlessly scaled without changing the quality of what is being offered. The work depends on time, attention, thought and a relationship that can respond to the particular person rather than move them through a standardized process.

That means Begin is structured around depth rather than volume. I work with a limited number of people and try to preserve enough space around the work to remain thoughtful, responsive and attentive to each therapeutic relationship. The aim is not to offer care to as many people as possible, but to offer the people I do work with a practice that has enough room to actually know them.

When this handbook says “I,” it refers to me, Tanusree Mustafi. When it says “you,” it refers to the person seeking or receiving psychological services.

Although this document contains practical policies, it is not intended to feel like a contract handed across a desk. Rather, I hope it serves as an introduction to how I practise psychotherapy and to the professional standards that guide my work.

This document may be updated from time to time as my practice evolves, professional standards change, or legal requirements require revision. The most recent version will apply to new therapeutic agreements.

I. Understanding Therapy

How I Understand Psychotherapy

Every therapist works differently.

Some therapists primarily teach skills. Some focus on changing thoughts. Some work with behaviour. Some work with emotions.

My approach is grounded in the belief that lasting psychological change begins not by forcing ourselves to become someone different, but by gradually understanding the way our inner world has come to be organised.

Many people begin therapy hoping that I will tell them what to do.

They may wonder:

“Will you tell me how to stop overthinking?”

“Will you tell me how to become confident?”

“Will you tell me how to make anxiety disappear?”

These are understandable hopes.

Sometimes therapy does include education, practical suggestions, or specific techniques. But psychotherapy is not primarily advice-giving. Advice can sometimes change what we do. Therapy aims to change how we come to understand ourselves.

Together, we become curious about patterns that may once have helped you survive but may no longer be serving you. We explore thoughts, emotions, relationships, bodily experience, memories and ways of responding that have developed over time.

Rather than searching immediately for solutions, we often begin by learning to observe. Observation creates understanding. Understanding creates choice. Choice creates the possibility of change.

This process is rarely linear. Some sessions may feel insightful. Others may feel uncertain, emotional or even frustrating. Often the most important psychological shifts occur gradually, becoming visible only when we look back over months rather than days.

For this reason, I encourage clients to approach therapy with curiosity rather than urgency. There are moments when we move actively towards change, and there are moments when simply staying with an experience without immediately trying to fix it becomes the work itself.

I do not believe my role is to tell you who you should become. My role is to accompany you as you gradually become more deeply acquainted with who you already are.

What You Can Expect From Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can offer a space to better understand yourself, your relationships, your patterns of coping, and the experiences that have shaped your life.

Many people find that therapy helps them develop greater emotional awareness, healthier boundaries, increased psychological flexibility, improved relationships, and a deeper sense of agency. For some, therapy also provides a place where difficult experiences can finally be approached safely after many years of carrying them alone.

At the same time, psychotherapy has limitations. It cannot remove every difficult emotion. It cannot promise certainty. It cannot guarantee particular outcomes.

There may be periods when therapy feels uncomfortable, confusing or emotionally demanding. Exploring painful memories, longstanding patterns or unresolved conflicts can temporarily increase distress before meaningful change begins to emerge.

Progress is rarely measured by feeling better after every session. Sometimes it is measured by becoming more honest, more aware, more able to stay present with experiences that previously felt unbearable.

Therapy asks for participation from both of us. I bring my professional knowledge, experience and commitment. You bring your lived experience, your willingness to engage with the process as honestly as you are able, and your freedom to decide what feels right for you. Psychotherapy is ultimately a collaborative process. Neither of us controls its outcome alone.

What I Ask of You

Therapy is a collaborative process. Although I bring professional training and experience, the work itself belongs to both of us. There is no “right way” to be in therapy. You do not need to be articulate, emotionally expressive or have your thoughts organised before you arrive. You are welcome exactly as you are.

There are, however, a few attitudes that I have found support meaningful therapeutic work.

Bring honesty rather than perfection.

You do not have to be your best self during therapy. You do not have to hide anger, shame, confusion, uncertainty or ambivalence. Sometimes the most important session begins with, “I don’t know what to say today.” or “I almost cancelled this appointment.”

Be curious.

It is natural to want answers. Psychotherapy often begins somewhere slightly different. Instead of asking, “How do I stop feeling this?” we may first ask, “What is this experience trying to show us?” Curiosity rarely removes pain immediately. It often transforms our relationship with it.

Therapy moves at the pace of trust.

Some experiences take time before they can be spoken. You are never expected to disclose something simply because I ask about it. You are always free to say, “I’m not ready.” Sometimes protecting yourself has been necessary for a very long time. Therapy does not ask you to abandon that protection overnight.

Disagreement is welcome.

You are allowed to disagree with me. You are allowed to question my understanding. You are allowed to tell me that something I said felt inaccurate or unhelpful. Therapy is not built upon agreement. It is built upon dialogue.

Psychological change rarely happens all at once.

Insight is valuable. Practice is valuable. But neither is enough on its own. Meaningful change usually develops gradually through many small moments of noticing, reflecting, experimenting and returning. Please be patient with yourself. Human beings rarely change in straight lines.

My Commitment to You

Just as I ask certain things of you, I believe you deserve to know what you can expect from me. I will strive to meet you with respect, curiosity and professionalism. I will listen carefully. I will take your experience seriously. I will challenge you when I believe it may support your growth, while also respecting your pace and autonomy. I will acknowledge when I do not know something. I will continue learning throughout my professional life. I will seek supervision when I believe it will help me practise more thoughtfully. I will protect your confidentiality within the limits described in this handbook. I will maintain professional boundaries, even when doing so is uncomfortable, because those boundaries exist to protect the therapeutic relationship. Most importantly, I will try to understand your experience before trying to explain it.

II. Beginning Our Work Together

Professional Standards and Ethics

Psychotherapy is built on trust. That trust is sustained not only through compassion and competence, but also through professional ethics.

As a Rehabilitation Psychologist, I am committed to practising psychotherapy in a manner that is ethical, respectful, evidence-informed and accountable. Every decision I make in my work is guided by the question, “What best serves the client’s wellbeing while maintaining professional integrity?”

My practice is informed by internationally recognised ethical principles, including:

Respect for the dignity, autonomy and rights of every individual.
Beneficence and non-maleficence—working towards your wellbeing while taking care to avoid harm.
Professional competence through ongoing education, supervision and reflective practice.
Honesty and transparency in professional relationships.
Justice, fairness and respect for diversity.

I am committed to providing an affirming therapeutic space regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, relationship structure, disability, neurodivergence, caste, culture, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic background or political belief.

No therapist can be free from personal values or life experiences. Ethical practice does not require neutrality as absence of a position; it requires awareness of the position we bring. I continuously reflect upon my own assumptions, seek supervision when needed, and remain accountable for practising within the limits of my competence.

If, at any point, I believe that your needs would be better served by another professional or service, I will discuss this openly with you and, wherever possible, support you in finding an appropriate referral.

For those interested in learning more about the ethical principles that inform my practice, I encourage you to explore the ethical guidance published by organisations such as the American Psychological Association (APA), the British Psychological Society (BPS), the Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists (IACP), and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

As part of ethical practice, I participate in regular clinical supervision, professional consultation and training. This system supports reflection, accountability and the quality of care I provide. Whenever supervision involves discussion of clinical work, every reasonable effort is made to protect your identity and confidentiality.

My Scope of Practice

I provide psychotherapy and psychological consultation for adults. My work may integrate ideas from multiple psychological traditions depending on your needs, the concerns you bring, and our shared understanding of what may be most helpful. Therapy is not limited to a single school of thought or technique.

At different stages of therapy, our work may include:

understanding emotional patterns
processing difficult life experiences or trauma
improving relationships
exploring questions of identity, meaning and purpose
strengthening emotional regulation
working with the body as an important source of psychological information
developing practical skills where appropriate

Psychotherapy is not the same as psychiatric care. Although I may recommend consulting a psychiatrist, physician or another healthcare professional when appropriate, I do not prescribe medication or provide medical treatment. Similarly, psychotherapy cannot replace emergency medical care, crisis intervention or hospital-based mental health services.

Beginning Therapy

Choosing a therapist is an important decision. I encourage you to take the time you need before deciding whether you would like to begin therapy with me. You are welcome to ask questions about my approach, the therapeutic process, practical arrangements or anything else that would help you make an informed decision.

Discovery Session

If you are new to my practice, you may choose to begin with a Discovery Session. This session is an opportunity for us to meet, understand what brings you to therapy, discuss your expectations, and explore whether my way of working feels like a good fit for your needs. A Discovery Session does not commit either of us to beginning long-term therapy. Sometimes we may decide together that another therapist or another form of support would be more appropriate. Good therapy begins not with certainty, but with an honest assessment of fit.

Consent and Intake

Before psychotherapy begins, you will be asked to complete an intake form and provide informed consent. The information you share helps me understand your background, current concerns, relevant medical or psychological history, and any practical considerations that may be important for our work together.

It is your responsibility to provide information that is accurate to the best of your knowledge and to inform me if there are significant changes in your health, medication, contact details or circumstances during the course of therapy. You may choose not to share certain information with me. However, when that information is relevant to our work, not sharing it may affect the therapeutic process. You are always welcome to let me know that there is something you do not wish to discuss, without having to disclose what it is.

I also request the contact details of an emergency contact before beginning ongoing therapy. These details are treated confidentially and are used only in exceptional circumstances where there is a serious concern about immediate safety.

Informed Consent

Psychotherapy is most effective when it is entered into freely and with a clear understanding of what it involves. By choosing to begin therapy with me, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to read this handbook, ask questions, and make an informed decision about whether my way of working feels appropriate for you. Your participation in therapy is entirely voluntary.

You are free to ask questions at any stage, to discuss concerns openly, and to decide whether you wish to continue or end therapy. Similarly, I will let you know if I believe another service or professional may be better placed to support your current needs.

Informed consent is not something that happens only before the first session. It is an ongoing conversation. As our work develops, there may be times when we discuss changes in therapeutic goals, frequency of sessions, referrals, or other aspects of our work together. I will endeavour to ensure that these decisions are made collaboratively and transparently.

Telehealth Consent

My practice is conducted primarily online.

Online psychotherapy offers flexibility and accessibility for many people. At the same time, it differs from meeting in the same physical space and has certain limitations that are important to understand.

By choosing online therapy, you acknowledge that:

therapy will be conducted using an agreed-upon secure video platform;
interruptions caused by internet connectivity or technology may occasionally occur;
although I take reasonable steps to protect confidentiality, no internet-based technology can guarantee absolute security;
you are responsible for choosing a private location where you feel comfortable speaking openly;
you will not record sessions without my prior knowledge and explicit agreement.

Online therapy can be deeply effective. Like all psychotherapy, however, it depends not only on technology but on the quality of attention that both of us bring to the work.

III. Working Together

Appointments

Psychotherapy works best when it develops a consistent rhythm.

Unlike many healthcare appointments that focus on a single problem, therapy builds gradually over time through an ongoing professional relationship. For this reason, I encourage clients to maintain a regular schedule wherever possible.

In Begin, clients attend therapy on a weekly basis, as that is the rhythm I find most suitable for the depth-based work that I offer. Ensuring consistency is a shared responsibility.

Monthly Booking

Therapy is a shared commitment. Booking appointments in a timely manner is your responsibility; offering a safe, thoughtful, and consistent therapeutic space is mine.

Appointments are released one calendar month at a time. Towards the end of each month, after we have discussed suitable dates, you may book all your sessions for the following month. Monthly booking should be completed by the 2nd day of the new month. The first session of the month also requires a minimum of two days’ advance booking.

I understand that circumstances sometimes make timely booking difficult. If you anticipate being unable to complete your booking by the 2nd, please let me know beforehand so that we can agree on an alternative arrangement. Bookings submitted after the 2nd without prior communication will not be processed, and the fee for the reserved session will still apply.

Booking your sessions together helps us maintain continuity while also allowing flexibility for planned leave and schedule changes. I recommend making bookings as early as possible. This is a solo practice, meaning I am managing administrative responsibilities as well as therapeutic responsibilities. To ensure that my capacity for both kinds of responsibilities remains available, I maintain a clear structure for these responsibilities. This will in turn ensure that my clients are getting the standard of care that they deserve.

Reserved Appointment Times

In Begin, clients attend therapy on the same day and at the same time each week. I make every effort to preserve this rhythm because consistency often supports the therapeutic process. If you need to take planned leave for up to two weeks, I will usually continue to hold your regular appointment time.

If absences become frequent or begin to interrupt the regular rhythm of therapy, we will discuss what is happening and whether the current arrangement continues to be workable. For longer absences, your regular appointment time may need to be released to another client. When you return, I will do my best to offer a suitable appointment, although I may not be able to guarantee your previous slot.

This policy allows me to balance continuity for existing clients with access for those who may be waiting to begin therapy.

Therapist Capacity and Self-Care

The quality of psychotherapy depends partly on the therapist’s capacity to be present, attentive and responsive. I therefore consider caring for my own physical, emotional and professional capacity part of my responsibility to the people I work with.

My practice is structured with 30–40 minutes between sessions for rest, reflection and regulation. I do not undertake professional work on Sundays, and approximately every four months I take two weeks of planned leave. During planned leave, I intentionally switch off from work. I also engage regularly in clinical supervision, personal therapy, professional consultation and ongoing training.

Before each session, I take responsibility for assessing whether I am sufficiently present and able to offer the quality of attention the work requires. If illness, exhaustion, emotional circumstances or other factors significantly compromise that capacity, I will not proceed with the session and will arrange an alternative appointment.

Additional leave may occasionally be necessary for illness, training, family circumstances or other events in life. Wherever reasonably possible, planned leave will be communicated in advance.

These structures are not separate from client care. They are part of how I protect my capacity to offer it.

Fees, Payment and Cancellation

Psychotherapy is not only an emotional commitment; it is also a practical one. Clear financial agreements help prevent misunderstandings and allow us to focus our attention on the therapeutic work itself.

Professional Fees

The fee for therapy is communicated before booking. Fees may be reviewed periodically as my practice evolves. If you are already engaged in ongoing therapy, I will provide reasonable advance notice before any fee revision takes effect.

The fee covers the scheduled therapy session itself. Professional services outside scheduled sessions, such as preparation of assessment reports, letters, extensive record requests, or other work are currently not offered.

Payment

Payment is made at the time of booking using the payment methods shared with you. An appointment is confirmed once payment has been received.

For ongoing clients, your regular weekly appointment time is reserved for you as part of our therapeutic arrangement. Not completing the booking or payment process does not automatically release you from the financial commitments associated with a reserved session. The booking, cancellation and rescheduling policies outlined in this handbook will continue to apply.

If you anticipate difficulty completing payment within the stipulated time, please let me know in advance so that we can discuss what is possible.

Cancellation and Rescheduling

Life is unpredictable, and there may be times when either of us needs to change a scheduled appointment. Clear notice wherever possible helps me manage reserved clinical time while maintaining continuity in our work.

If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please let me know at least two business days before the scheduled appointment. With less than two business days’ notice, the full session fee will ordinarily apply, as that time has been reserved for you. A session can be requested to be rescheduled only once and not more than that.

Medical Emergencies

There are occasions when circumstances are genuinely beyond anyone’s control. If you or an immediate family member experiences a medical emergency requiring hospitalization, I may choose to waive the usual cancellation policy. Supporting documentation may be requested where appropriate.

If I Need to Reschedule

If I need to cancel or reschedule a session, I will inform you as early as reasonably possible and offer an alternative appointment. Illness, family circumstances or other unforeseen situations may occasionally require me to cancel at short notice. If I am unable to provide a scheduled session, you will not be charged for it. Any payment already made will be adjusted against the rescheduled session or refunded, as appropriate.

Missed Appointments

I begin every session at the scheduled time. If you join late, our session will still end at its originally scheduled time so that appointments for other clients are not affected. If you have not joined within fifteen minutes of the scheduled start time and I have not heard from you, I will consider the session missed. Missed appointments are not refundable. Repeated missed appointments or frequent last-minute cancellations may interrupt the continuity of therapy. If this becomes a recurring pattern, I may invite us to explore what is happening. Sometimes practical difficulties are the reason. At other times, avoidance itself becomes an important part of the therapeutic work.

Online Therapy

My practice is primarily conducted online. Over the years, I have found that online psychotherapy can be as meaningful and effective as in-person work when both therapist and client are able to create an environment that supports presence, privacy and attention. To help us make the most of our time together, I ask that you consider the following before each session.

Choosing a space

Please attend your session from a quiet and private place where you are unlikely to be interrupted. Therapy often involves speaking about deeply personal experiences. Feeling confident that others cannot overhear the conversation or see you in a vulnerable state helps create psychological safety. If another person is present in the room, I ask that you inform me before we begin.

Technology

Please ensure that your device is charged and that your internet connection is reasonably stable before the session. Where possible, I recommend using headphones. They improve sound quality while also protecting your privacy.

Although I make every effort to ensure secure online sessions, no internet-based platform can guarantee complete security. By choosing online therapy, you acknowledge this limitation.

Technical difficulties

If either of us experiences technical difficulties during the session, we will make reasonable efforts to reconnect. If we are unable to continue after approximately fifteen minutes because of circumstances beyond either person’s control, we will mutually decide whether to continue through another secure platform or reschedule the session. Technology occasionally fails. Neither of us benefits from adding unnecessary stress when it does. If technical difficulties from my side prevent the session from continuing, I will offer an alternative appointment. If difficulties on your end make it impossible to continue despite reasonable attempts to reconnect, the session will be treated as a scheduled appointment and the usual session fee will apply.

Recording sessions

To protect the therapeutic relationship and the privacy of both therapist and client, therapy sessions may not be audio or video recorded without prior mutual discussion and explicit agreement. Likewise, I will never record any part of our work without your written consent.

Professional Boundaries

Psychotherapy is a unique relationship. It is often warm, deeply personal and emotionally significant. At times, you may tell me things that you have never shared with another person. You may feel understood, challenged, supported or deeply moved by our work together.

Although therapy is a genuine human relationship, it is not the same as friendship, family or partnership. The professional boundaries that shape therapy are not intended to create distance. They exist to protect a space where your needs remain at the centre of our work.

Unlike relationships in everyday life, therapy is intentionally one-sided. You are invited to speak about yourself, while I use my professional knowledge, training and experience to understand and support your process. This asymmetry allows therapy to remain focused on your wellbeing rather than becoming a relationship in which both people seek emotional support from one another.

For this reason, there are some boundaries that I maintain consistently. I do not enter into social, financial, romantic or other dual relationships with current clients. I also do not accept clients from my current personal social circle. I do not accept requests that would compromise the professional nature of therapy. I do not provide psychotherapy to family members of existing clients when doing so may create conflicts of interest. These boundaries are not a reflection of personal distance or lack of care. Rather, they help preserve the integrity of the therapeutic relationship.

Social Media

I do not accept friend requests or follow current clients on personal social media platforms. This protects both your privacy and the therapeutic relationship. Similarly, I request that therapy-related conversations are not initiated through social media messaging. If you wish to share an article, photograph, piece of writing or other material that feels relevant to therapy, you are welcome to bring it into our session or send it through email if appropriate.

Gifts

Your trust and willingness to engage in therapy are the greatest gifts you can offer. While I deeply appreciate gestures of kindness, I generally do not accept expensive or significant gifts from clients, as doing so may unintentionally influence the therapeutic relationship. Small tokens of appreciation may occasionally be accepted depending on the context, cultural significance and timing. When this happens, I will always consider whether accepting the gift serves the therapeutic relationship rather than my personal preferences.

Meeting Outside Therapy

Because I work online, this is less common, but it may occasionally happen that we encounter one another in public or at professional events. To protect your confidentiality, I will not initiate conversation or acknowledge you unless you choose to greet me first. If we do meet unexpectedly and the experience feels important to you, I welcome us to discuss it during a future therapy session.

IV. Privacy, Safety and Professional Care

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is one of the foundations of psychotherapy. Knowing that you can speak openly without fear of unnecessary disclosure allows therapy to become a place where difficult experiences, emotions and thoughts can be explored honestly. Everything you share with me during therapy is treated as confidential unless you provide written permission for me to share it or disclosure becomes necessary because of legal or ethical obligations. Confidentiality belongs to you. It is not something I give; it is something I am entrusted to protect. At the same time, confidentiality is not absolute. There are situations in which I may be ethically or legally required to disclose limited information. These situations may include:

when there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to yourself;
when there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to another person;
when required by a court of law or other legal authority;
where reporting is required under applicable law, such as concerns relating to abuse or neglect of vulnerable individuals.

Wherever possible, I will discuss such disclosures with you before they occur. If immediate action is necessary to protect life or safety, that may not always be possible. When disclosure is required, I will aim to share only the information that is reasonably necessary for that purpose.

Privacy

To provide psychotherapy safely and responsibly, I collect information that is relevant to your care. This may include your contact details, emergency contact information, intake forms, appointment history and brief clinical notes. This information is collected only for purposes directly related to providing psychological services, maintaining professional records and meeting ethical or legal obligations where applicable.

Your information is treated confidentially and is not shared with others without your explicit consent unless disclosure is required by law or is necessary to reduce an immediate risk of serious harm. I take reasonable steps to protect the privacy of the information you share with me. However, no electronic method of communication or data storage can guarantee absolute security. Where reasonably possible, I minimise digital storage of sensitive clinical information and keep identifying information separate or masked. If you have questions about how your information is stored or used, I encourage you to ask. Transparency is an important part of ethical practice.

Professional Records

As part of responsible professional practice, I maintain clinical records for every client. These records help me provide thoughtful, consistent and safe care over the course of therapy. Clinical records may include:

information provided during intake,
session notes,
relevant correspondence,
administrative records relating to appointments and payments,
documents that you choose to share with me as part of therapy.

My clinical notes are written primarily to support professional care rather than to function as a transcript of our conversations. For this reason, they may not always reflect every detail discussed during a session.

Access to records

Clinical notes are maintained primarily to support the therapeutic work and are not routinely prepared as reports, transcripts or documents for external use. I do not currently offer the preparation, compilation or reproduction of clinical records as a separate professional service.

If you would like to understand or discuss something from your clinical record, I recommend that we review it together during a therapy session. This allows the information to be considered in context and gives us an opportunity to discuss anything that may be unclear or difficult.

This recommendation is intended to support thoughtful engagement with the material rather than to withhold information. As a solo practitioner, I also have limited administrative capacity and have chosen to keep that capacity focused on providing clinical care.

Consultation with Other Professionals

Psychological wellbeing is sometimes best supported through collaboration with other healthcare professionals. Depending on your needs, I may recommend consulting a psychiatrist, physician, neurologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist or another healthcare provider.

Such recommendations are made only when I believe they may contribute meaningfully to your overall care. If you would like me to communicate with another professional involved in your treatment, I will always seek your explicit written consent before sharing any confidential information, unless disclosure is required by law or necessary to prevent serious and immediate harm.

Working collaboratively with other professionals does not mean that responsibility for your care is transferred. Rather, it allows different areas of expertise to complement one another while keeping your wellbeing at the centre.

Attendance Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Therapy requires sufficient awareness and emotional presence to be safe and meaningful. If you attend a session while significantly affected by alcohol or non-prescribed substances, I may decide that it is not clinically appropriate to continue the session. If this happens, I will explain my concerns and discuss how we should proceed. This policy exists to protect both your wellbeing and the therapeutic process. It does not apply to medications prescribed by your treating physician and taken as directed.

Respect and Safety

Therapy often involves strong emotions, including anger, disappointment and frustration. These experiences are welcome within therapy. Threats, intimidation, harassment, discrimination or abusive behaviour towards me or towards anyone involved in my practice are not. If behaviour compromises safety or makes it impossible to continue working together professionally, I may decide to pause or end therapy. Whenever possible, I will discuss concerns with you before reaching that decision. My intention is always to preserve the therapeutic relationship where it remains safe and ethically possible to do so.

Diversity, Identity and Accessibility

Every person arrives in therapy carrying a unique history, culture and way of making sense of the world. I recognise that our identities influence how we experience relationships, belonging, trauma, discrimination, privilege and psychological distress. I strive to create a therapeutic space in which differences can be spoken about openly rather than ignored. I welcome conversations about culture, language, religion, spirituality, disability, neurodivergence, gender, sexuality, caste, class, family structures and any other aspects of identity that feel meaningful to your experience. I also recognise that I cannot fully know another person’s lived experience simply because I have read about it or worked with others who share similar identities. Curiosity, humility and openness are therefore central to my practice. If I misunderstand something important about your experience, I hope you will feel able to tell me. Repairing misunderstandings is often an important part of therapy itself. If you require reasonable adjustments because of disability, neurodivergence or communication differences, I encourage you to discuss these with me before or during therapy. Wherever reasonably possible, I will work collaboratively with you to create conditions that support your participation.

Crisis and Emergencies

My practice is not a crisis intervention service. I do not provide twenty-four-hour availability, emergency counselling or immediate psychological support outside scheduled appointments. If you believe that you or another person is in immediate danger, or you require urgent psychiatric or medical assistance, please contact your local emergency services, visit the nearest emergency department, or seek support from an appropriate crisis service without waiting for my response. If I become seriously concerned that there is an immediate and significant risk to your safety or the safety of another person, I may need to contact your emergency contact or relevant emergency services. Wherever possible, I will discuss this decision with you first. However, protecting life and safety will always take precedence over confidentiality.

V. The Therapeutic Journey

Communication Between Sessions

Therapy does not require you to disappear between appointments. Many clients notice important thoughts, memories or questions during the week and wish to share them. I welcome brief administrative communication relating to appointments, scheduling or practical matters. If you would like to note something that feels important before our next session, you are also welcome to send it by email. While I will read such communication whenever possible, I may choose to respond during our next scheduled session rather than through email. This is not because your message is unimportant. Rather, many conversations deserve the time, attention and emotional space that only a therapy session can provide. Therapeutic work is most effective when it happens within the protected boundaries of the session itself. For this reason, I do not provide ongoing therapy through email, text messages or social media.

If Life Changes During Therapy

Life rarely remains unchanged while we are in therapy. Relationships begin and end. People move cities or countries. Employment changes. Physical health changes. Medication changes. New diagnoses emerge. These changes often become part of the therapeutic work itself. I ask that you keep me informed of significant developments that may influence your psychological wellbeing, safety or the way we work together. Likewise, if there are important changes in my practice that may affect your care—such as extended leave, changes in availability or modifications to practice policies—I will communicate these to you as early as reasonably possible.

A word about difficult moments

Not every difficult moment is a crisis. There may be times when you leave therapy feeling emotionally stirred, uncertain or vulnerable. This does not necessarily mean that something has gone wrong. Psychotherapy sometimes asks us to stay with experiences that have been avoided for a long time. Part of my role is to help ensure that this happens at a pace that is emotionally manageable, while recognising that meaningful psychological work is not always comfortable. If something about our work feels overwhelming, confusing or ruptured, I encourage you to bring it into therapy. Some of the most important moments in psychotherapy begin with a conversation that starts, “Something didn’t feel right last session.” Those conversations are not interruptions to therapy. They are therapy.

Ending Therapy

Every therapeutic relationship comes to an end. Sometimes that ending is planned. Sometimes it arrives unexpectedly. Occasionally, therapy pauses for a period before beginning again. Whenever possible, I believe endings deserve the same care and attention as beginnings. Ending therapy is not simply the final appointment. It is an opportunity to reflect on what has changed, what remains unfinished, and how you wish to carry your learning forward. There are many reasons why therapy may come to an end. You may feel that you have reached your goals. Your needs may change. You may decide to continue your work with another therapist. Life circumstances may make ongoing therapy difficult. Or we may decide together that another form of support would be more appropriate. None of these possibilities necessarily represent failure. Sometimes ending therapy is itself a sign of growth.

Planned Endings

Whenever possible, I encourage us to discuss ending therapy rather than simply stopping. Even if you feel ready to finish, I usually recommend one or more closing sessions. These sessions provide space to reflect on your journey, notice the changes that have taken place, acknowledge any remaining questions, and prepare for the transition beyond therapy. Many clients are surprised to discover that endings themselves become meaningful therapeutic experiences.

If You Decide to Stop Therapy

You are free to end therapy at any time. I ask only that, whenever possible, you let me know rather than disappearing without communication. This is not because I require an explanation or justification. It is because therapy is a relationship, and relationships deserve endings that acknowledge one another. If you decide not to continue, I genuinely hope our work has offered something of value to you, however brief our time together may have been.

If I Believe Therapy Is No Longer Helpful

There may be occasions when I believe that continuing therapy in its current form is unlikely to benefit you. This may happen for several reasons, including:

your needs have changed and fall outside my area of competence;
another service would be better suited to your current circumstances;
repeated disruptions like absence make meaningful therapeutic work difficult;
the professional boundaries necessary for therapy can no longer be maintained;
circumstances arise that create an unavoidable conflict of interest.

If this occurs, I will discuss my concerns openly with you whenever possible. Where appropriate, I will support you in identifying alternative sources of care or making a referral. Ending therapy is never a decision I take lightly.

Feedback, Questions and Concerns

Psychotherapy is a collaborative relationship. Although I bring professional training and experience, I do not assume that I always understand your experience correctly.

If something I say feels unhelpful…

If you disagree with my understanding…

If you feel misunderstood…

If something in our work leaves you feeling hurt, frustrated or disappointed…

I hope you will tell me. These conversations are not interruptions to therapy. They are often among the most important conversations we can have. Repairing misunderstandings, reflecting together on difficult moments, and understanding the emotional responses that arise within the therapeutic relationship can become valuable parts of the work itself. You never need to protect me from your honest experience. I will not always get everything right. What matters most is whether we can become curious together about what happened.

If You Have a Complaint

If you have concerns about any aspect of my professional conduct, I encourage you to raise them directly with me in the first instance whenever you feel able. Many concerns can be understood and resolved through open conversation. If you do not feel comfortable discussing the matter with me directly, or if your concern relates to professional ethics, you may also seek guidance from the relevant professional or regulatory body governing psychological practice in India.

VI. About This Practice

Educational Resources, Writing and Social Media

Alongside psychotherapy, I may share educational material through my website, newsletters, articles, workshops or social media. The purpose of these resources is to increase psychological understanding and make mental health knowledge more accessible. These materials are educational in nature. They are not psychotherapy. They are not a substitute for assessment, diagnosis or treatment by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Reading an article, following my social media, subscribing to a newsletter or attending a public talk does not establish a therapeutic relationship between us. Likewise, comments made on social media or responses to public questions should never be understood as personalised psychological advice. Your therapy, if we work together, remains confidential and separate from any public educational work that I undertake.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Tools

Technology is becoming an increasingly common part of everyday life, including mental healthcare.

I do not use artificial intelligence to conduct psychotherapy or make clinical decisions about your care. From time to time, I may use secure digital tools to support administrative work, writing or other non-clinical aspects of my practice. If such tools are ever used in ways that involve client information, I will take reasonable steps to protect your privacy and confidentiality and keep you informed.

You may also choose to use journals, note-taking applications or artificial intelligence tools to organise your thoughts between sessions. These tools can sometimes support reflection. However, they cannot replace psychotherapy. Artificial intelligence does not know your history, the therapeutic relationship we are building, or the broader context of your life in the way that an ongoing therapeutic process can. If you use AI-generated reflections or summaries during therapy, you are welcome to bring them into our conversations. We can think about them together, just as we would any other journal entry, letter or personal reflection.

Website Use

This website exists to provide information about my professional practice, psychotherapy services, educational resources and related offerings. The information provided on this website is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on this website should be interpreted as psychological, psychiatric or medical advice for your individual circumstances. Reading this website does not establish a therapeutic relationship. A therapeutic relationship begins only after we have mutually agreed to work together and the necessary intake and consent procedures have been completed.

Eligibility

By using this website, you confirm that you are legally capable of entering into these Terms of Use. If you are under 18 years of age, please use this website only with the involvement of a parent or legal guardian.

Professional Information

Every effort is made to ensure that the information published on this website is accurate at the time of publication. Psychology is an evolving field, and information may change as professional knowledge develops. For this reason, I do not guarantee that all material will remain complete, current or applicable to every individual situation.

Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, all content published on this website—including written material, illustrations, graphics, photographs, logos and other original content—is the intellectual property of Begin Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services. You are welcome to read, download and share links to publicly available material for personal, non-commercial use. You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, publish or commercially use any part of this website without my prior written permission. If you wish to reference or quote material from this website, I appreciate appropriate attribution.

External Links

This website may occasionally contain links to third-party websites or resources for your convenience. I am not responsible for the content, accuracy, privacy practices or availability of external websites. The inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement of the views, products or services offered by another organisation.

Limitation of Liability

While I make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided on this website, I cannot guarantee that it will be free from errors, omissions or interruptions. Your use of this website is at your own discretion. To the extent permitted by applicable law, I shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this website or reliance upon its content. Nothing in these Terms of Use excludes liability where such exclusion is not permitted by law.

Privacy

The collection and use of personal information through this website are governed by the Privacy Policy. If you choose to contact me or book an appointment, your information will be handled in accordance with that policy.

Changes to these Terms

These Terms of Use may be updated from time to time. The most current version will always be published on this website. Your continued use of the website after changes have been made constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Governing Law

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising from the use of this website shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts having jurisdiction over my principal place of practice, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

Contact

If you have questions regarding these Terms of Use, you are welcome to contact me through the contact details provided on this website.

Changes to My Practice

Like any professional practice, Begin continues to evolve. From time to time, I may revise my policies, fees, booking systems or other aspects of how my practice operates as well as be mindful of evolving professional standards or changes in legal requirements. When these changes have a direct impact on ongoing clients, I will communicate them with reasonable advance notice wherever possible. The most current version of this document will always be available through my website.

A Closing Note

Choosing to begin therapy is an act of hope. It is a decision to turn towards your own experience with greater honesty, even when certainty is not possible. I do not see psychotherapy as a process of fixing broken people. Rather, I see it as an invitation to become more deeply acquainted with yourself—to understand the patterns that have shaped your life, to develop greater freedom in how you respond to them, and to discover ways of living that feel more aligned with who you are. My commitment is to meet you with professionalism, curiosity, respect and care. I cannot promise that therapy will always be easy. I cannot promise that every session will feel insightful. I cannot promise particular outcomes. What I can promise is that I will approach our work thoughtfully, ethically and with genuine respect for your humanity.

Thank you for taking the time to read this handbook. Most of the policies described here exist quietly in the background. Their purpose is not to create distance, but to provide the consistency, clarity and safety that allow meaningful therapeutic work to unfold. You are not expected to remember everything you have read. If you choose to begin therapy with me, we will return to these conversations whenever they become relevant. No handbook can anticipate every situation or answer every question. What matters most is that we remain able to talk together—with honesty, curiosity and respect—as our work develops.

I look forward to meeting you.

Let’s Begin.

Animals and plants working together in a night landscape

Ready to Begin?

Whatever brings you here, you do not have to carry it alone.

Every conversation begins somewhere.

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