When your child is struggling, it can be hard to know whether it’s a phase, something about your parenting, or something that needs professional help. A child psychologist can help you make sense of what is happening and what to do next. On Mindara you can start with an online consultation for yourself, then book sessions for your child through a verified parent profile.
Does my child need a psychologist?
Every child has hard days. It may be worth talking to someone when a change lasts several weeks, or gets in the way of home life, school or friendships. For example, your child:
- seems sad, irritable or withdrawn most days, or has lost interest in things they used to enjoy;
- worries a lot, has strong fears, or avoids school, people or places;
- has frequent outbursts that seem much bigger than other children of the same age;
- has trouble paying attention, sitting still or waiting their turn, in more than one setting (see ADHD in children);
- struggles with reading, writing or maths despite good teaching (see our guide to learning disability assessment);
- has delays in speech or social connection, or very fixed routines and interests (see autism support for parents);
- has changes in sleep or eating, or frequent stomach aches or headaches with no medical cause found;
- is going through something hard, such as bullying, a death in the family, parents separating, a move, an accident or abuse;
- spends so much time on screens that sleep, studies or family life are suffering.
Trust your instincts. Asking for an opinion is not overreacting, and a good psychologist will tell you honestly if they think things are within the normal range for your child’s age.
Child psychologist, child psychiatrist or someone else?
| Professional | What they do |
|---|---|
| Clinical psychologist | Assesses emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties, often with standardised tests, and provides therapy. Must be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). |
| Child counsellor or psychotherapist | Talking, play-based and family support for emotional and behavioural difficulties. |
| Child and adolescent psychiatrist | A medical doctor who diagnoses conditions such as ADHD, depression or anxiety, and can prescribe medicine when needed. |
| Developmental paediatrician or paediatric neurologist | Checks development, growth and medical causes, and is often involved in autism and ADHD assessments. |
| Special educator, speech therapist or occupational therapist | Hands-on help with learning, speech and language, and everyday skills, usually in person. |
Many families start with a psychologist or counsellor, who can then suggest a psychiatrist or paediatrician if needed.
How a child’s online session works on Mindara
- You go first. The first session is often with the parent alone. Book it as yourself. You can talk openly about your concerns, your child’s history and what you have tried, without your child overhearing.
- Add your child’s profile. Under “Family members you manage”, add your child’s name, date of birth and how you are related. Then confirm that you are their parent or legal guardian by uploading an ID document. Our team usually checks it within one to two working days.
- Book for your child. Once you are confirmed, you can book sessions for your child with providers who see children. Some features are switched off on under-18 profiles to keep them safe.
- Sessions with your child. With younger children, sessions are shorter and use play, drawing and games, often with you nearby or joining part of the time. Teenagers usually have more time alone with the psychologist, with regular check-ins with you.
- Doctor consultations. If your child sees a psychiatrist online, a parent or guardian must be present for the whole consultation, in line with India’s Telemedicine Practice Guidelines (2020).
Preparing your child for an online session
- Explain it simply. For a young child: “This is someone whose job is to help children with big feelings. You can talk, draw or play.” For a teenager, be honest about why you booked it and ask what they would like to get from it.
- Don’t use it as a threat. Avoid “If you don’t behave, you’ll have to see the psychologist”. Sessions work best when they feel like help, not punishment.
- Set up the space. A quiet room, a charged device, headphones for older children, and paper and crayons for younger ones.
- Pick a good time. Avoid slots straight after school, when children are tired or hungry.
- Give teenagers a say. Let them help choose the provider, for example by gender or language. Feeling involved makes them more likely to engage.
Teenagers
Teenagers often refuse at first, or say “I’m fine”. It can help to suggest just one session to see what it’s like, or to start with your own session so the psychologist can advise you on how to bring them in. Common reasons teenagers come include exam pressure, friendship and relationship problems, bullying online or offline, low mood, anxiety, anger, body image and questions about identity. If your teenager talks about self-harm or suicide, don’t wait for them to agree to therapy; get help the same day.
Privacy and your child
Children and teenagers open up more when they trust that not everything they say will be repeated. Most child psychologists agree the rules with you and your child at the start: you will hear about progress and anything that affects safety, but not every word. If your child is at risk of harm, or someone is hurting them, the psychologist will act to keep them safe. As the parent, you give consent for your child’s care, and you can ask how information is stored and who can see it.
What works online, and what needs a clinic
Online sessions work well for:
- parent guidance on behaviour, routines, sleep and screen time;
- therapy for anxiety, low mood, anger and school stress, especially with older children and teenagers;
- support after a difficult event;
- follow-ups after an in-person assessment.
Some things usually need an in-person visit:
- formal autism and learning disability assessments, which rely on standardised testing and observation in person;
- checks of hearing, vision and physical health, which should come first when there are speech or learning concerns;
- very young children, who may find it hard to engage through a screen;
- any situation where your child isn’t safe at home.
Approaches a child psychologist may use
- Parent training: practical ways to encourage the behaviour you want, set calm limits and reduce daily battles.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): helps children notice worried or angry thoughts and face fears in small steps, adapted to their age.
- Play therapy: uses play, the natural language of younger children, to work through feelings.
- Family sessions: help the whole family change patterns, not only the child.
How many sessions?
It varies. Parent guidance on a specific issue may take a few sessions. Therapy for anxiety, low mood or behaviour usually runs over a few months, weekly or every two weeks, with reviews along the way. Your psychologist should agree goals with you and check progress regularly.
Questions to ask a child psychologist
- How much of your work is with children of my child’s age?
- Will the first session be with me alone, with my child, or both?
- What will you tell me about my child’s sessions, and what stays private?
- How will we know if things are improving, and when will we review?
- If you think my child needs an in-person assessment or a doctor, where would you suggest we go?
How to choose a child psychologist on Mindara
- Age group: check the profile for experience with children or teenagers of your child’s age.
- Language: children often express feelings best in their first language. Each card lists the languages a provider speaks.
- Registration: clinical psychologists should be registered with the RCI, and psychiatrists with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council.
- Fee and first session: fees are on every card. Some providers offer a free first session to eligible new clients, which you can use yourself to check whether they are a good fit.
Fees and free options
Each provider sets their own fee; the current range for this topic is shown near the top of this page. See what therapy costs in India for fees across Mindara. Free and low-cost help includes:
- Tele-MANAS (14416): the Government of India’s free mental health helpline, open 24 hours, for parents and young people.
- District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs): run at district hospitals under the government’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), they screen and support children with developmental concerns, including autism, ADHD and learning disorders, at no cost to the family.
- Your child’s school counsellor, and child guidance or psychiatry services at government hospitals and medical colleges.
Support for you as a parent
Worrying about a child is exhausting. If the strain is affecting your sleep, your temper or your relationship, parenting counselling is support for you, not only for your child.
When to get urgent help
If your child talks about wanting to die, harms themselves, or you believe someone is hurting them, act today. Call 112 in an emergency, Tele-MANAS on 14416 for mental health support at any time, or the Child Helpline 1098, which is free and open 24 hours. More numbers are on our crisis help page.
