Therapy is still a taboo topic in many Indian households. It is hard to bring up without feeling emotionally cornered or ridiculed. A common misconception about therapy is that it is only relevant when someone experiences severe mental or emotional distress. But it can also help you manage everyday stressors, from work pressure to relationship difficulties, especially when they repeatedly interfere with your daily functioning.
How to convince your parents you need therapy?
We asked an expert why some parents hesitate to consider therapy for their children. Even if teenagers or adult children show initiative, what makes them so reticent and dismissive of its value? You need to approach the conversation by debunking their misconceptions and highlighting your needs. Rita Aggarwal, consulting psychologist and chair of the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives, walked us through parents’ perspective and the misunderstandings behind it. “For many Indian parents, therapy is still associated with something being seriously wrong with a person, weakness, or ‘mental illness. Her insights suggest that this reluctance may stem from concerns about family and social judgement. And this is true: often parents get defensive, thinking that there is something wrong. In fact, the psychologist also addressed the tendency to present a picture of perfection and view talking about problems with a therapist as a sign that they have done something wrong. They make it about themselves or reject the problems, believing that spiritual practices, such as praying to God, or physical activities, such as going for runs, will resolve the mental distress . She further reinforced the point with some common examples: “Indian parents like to present a picture of perfection, and if there is something wrong with your physical and mental health, they will discourage their children from talking about it in public. ‘Never tell anyone you have dyslexia, or that you stammer or that you have anger issues’. The list is long. You may encounter negative comments or jokes when you first bring up therapy. It may make you want to give up considering therapy altogether. But finding a way to explain your need and address your parents’ misconception may make them more receptive to the idea. The psychologist shared these tips to help you start the conversation:
‘Don’t tell anyone you have asthma from childhood, nobody will marry you’, advises a mother to a young 10-year-old girl.
Culturally, there is a fear of social judgement: ‘What will people say?” she said, drawing attention to the fundamental reason why parents may hesitate to seek counselling for their children.
But the caveat is that when the problem is brushed aside, it only worsens, contrary to the belief held by some parents, as the expert noted, that it will go away with time.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
