A word of warning here for those who have been sexually abused in childhood and as adults would consider approaching counselling. Since these are specialists, they tend to be overwhelmed with the work load; please do not feel betrayed or any less strong if they put you on a kind of waiting list.

Parents whose children have been sexually abused must also see what they can achieve at home instead of simply rushing the child off to a counsellor. As Anita Ratnam explains it, ‘Unless it is a tough or complex case, why should parents not be dealing with it themselves and at home? The problem is in the house, surely the most sensible resolution must also arise from within on what is best for the child?’ She gives the example of a persistent flasher. ‘Supposing there is a man constantly exposing his genitals to the child outside the school or building. There should be an environment within the house that the child can speak about if it disturbs her or him. Then, the parents while appearing to be natural, should carefully choose words to explain the situation, after which they should take adequate measures against the persistent flasher. Why should it even come to a point where the child is so distraught by this sexual abuser that she, or he, needs professional counselling?’

Those are words of wisdom for practicable, albeit somewhat alarming, reasons as well. As points out Dr Vijay Nagaswami, ‘There is no licensing procedure for counsellors in our country. Psychiatrists are the only ones who have to be licencees by the state medical council.’

In the light of such less accountability, how, then, to reach the right assistance?

Foremost, let us de-mystify the differences between mental health professionals. (Psychoanalysis is not being included in these broad differentiators.) According to Dr Nagaswami, ‘Psychotherapy is a set of interventions offered by a psychotherapist or therapist who is intensively trained in one particular theoretical orientation, such as psychodynamic, systemic, gestalt, cognitive-behavioural and so on. Counselling is a more generic process, although some counsellors are affiliated to a particular theoretical orientation. A psychiatrist is a medical professional, an MBBS, who undertakes postgraduate training in psychological medicine. A psychiatrist would hold either an MD degree, a DPM (Diploma in Psychological Medicine) or a DNB (Diplomate of the National Board) and is licensed to prescribe medication.’

Dr Vijay Nagaswami, is all three—a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and counsellor. However, since a large number of psychiatrists in India work only with mental disorders, it is a good idea to carefully scrutinize the educational and medical degrees which are attached to that person’s name before you decide to opt for their professional services. For example, it wouldn’t be incorrect to call all those who have done their masters degree in psychology as psychologists. But for the purposes of this helpline, the identification requires a clinical or counselling psychologist. Which would mean the person would need to have a minimum of an MPhil in clinical or counselling psychology from a recognized university. Or an MA in counselling psychology from a recognized institute, e.g. TISS.