How do you find an affordable therapist in India, and what should you expect?

Costs vary widely — private sessions in metros often run 1,000 to 3,000 rupees, while government hospitals, medical college psychiatry departments and several NGOs offer far cheaper or free services. Online platforms have brought prices down and expanded access outside big cities. Check credentials: a clinical psychologist holds an RCI registration, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe. Expect the first two or three sessions to be assessment rather than solutions, and expect that not every therapist will suit you — changing after a few sessions is normal, not rude.