Source: # Counselling, therapy and psychiatric medicines explained What happens in counselling and psychotherapy, how psychiatric medicines work, common myths about them, and how to choose the right help. ## Chapters on this topic ### Chapter 14: Counselling and Psychotherapy A room is not a method : Therapy is collaborative work with goals. It is not chatting with a friend. - [14.1 What are counselling and psychotherapy?](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#what-are-counselling-and-psychotherapy/) - [14.2 How therapy works](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#how-therapy-works/) - [14.3 Common types](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#common-types-1/) - [14.4 What to expect](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#what-to-expect/) - [14.5 How to choose a therapist](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#how-to-choose-a-therapist/) - [14.6 Myths](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#myths-2/) - [14.7 Culture, faith, values, and online work](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#culture-faith-values-and-online-work/) - [14.8 When therapy alone is not enough](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#when-therapy-alone-is-not-enough/) - [14.9 Which therapy is best for what?](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#which-therapy-is-best-for-what/) - [14.10 How long does it take?](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#how-long-does-it-take/) - [14.11 What therapists do and do not do](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#what-therapists-do-and-do-not-do/) - [14.12 Getting the most out of therapy](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#getting-the-most-out-of-therapy/) - [14.13 Self-help and guided self-help](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#self-help-and-guided-self-help/) - [14.14 A simple story](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#a-simple-story-7/) - [14.15 One companion verse](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/14#one-companion-verse-9/) ### Chapter 15: Medicines and Medical Treatment Chemistry as care, not a verdict : Medicines support recovery. They are not magic and not a character flaw. - [15.1 Why medicines are used](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#why-medicines-are-used/) - [15.2 Who can prescribe](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#who-can-prescribe/) - [15.3 Antidepressants](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#antidepressants/) - [15.4 Anti-anxiety medicines](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#anti-anxiety-medicines/) - [15.5 Mood stabilisers](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#mood-stabilisers/) - [15.6 Antipsychotics](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#antipsychotics/) - [15.7 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), sleep, and substance-use medicines](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder-adhd-sleep-and-substance-use-medicines/) - [15.8 How they work, side effects, special groups](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#how-they-work-side-effects-special-groups/) - [15.9 Myths](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#myths-3/) - [15.10 Working with your doctor](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#working-with-your-doctor/) - [15.11 When hospital treatment is needed](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#when-hospital-treatment-is-needed/) - [15.12 Stopping medicines safely](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#stopping-medicines-safely/) - [15.13 Overdose and emergencies](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#overdose-and-emergencies/) - [15.14 Evidence and honesty](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#evidence-and-honesty/) - [15.15 Alternatives and add-ons](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#alternatives-and-add-ons/) - [15.16 A simple story](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#a-simple-story-8/) - [15.17 One companion verse](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/chapter/15#one-companion-verse-10/) ## Stories from real life (11) - [The Waiting Room](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/the-waiting-room-56/) – Priya, 26, a software tester in Pune, has avoided therapy for a year. She fears being called mad, being judged, and having to spill… - [Two Kitchens, One Quarrel](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/two-kitchens-one-quarrel-57/) – Hamid and Salma have been married six years, living with his parents in Hyderabad. Every small matter becomes a fight: who cooks, how money… - [When Words Alone Were Not Enough](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/when-words-alone-were-not-enough-58/) – Luca, 41, a chef in Rome, has had panic attacks for three years. His heart pounds, his chest tightens and he fears he will… - [Neha, Age 29](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/neha-age-29-169/) – Neha, twenty-nine, was always exhausted. On the outside she was the perfect friend, daughter and employee: always smiling, always agreeing, never saying no. Inside,… - [Day Ten of the Little White Tablet](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/day-ten-of-the-little-white-tablet-59/) – Sunita, 38, a teacher in Jaipur, began a prescribed medicine for depression ten days ago. She feels slightly nauseous and sleepy, and nothing seems… - [Neha Asks About the Baby](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/neha-asks-about-the-baby-60/) – Neha, 31, has lived with bipolar disorder for eight years, steadied by a regular medicine and her doctor's plan. She and her husband Rishi… - [The Boy Who Could Finally Finish His Homework](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/the-boy-who-could-finally-finish-his-homework-61/) – Aarav, 9, in Bengaluru, cannot sit still. He loses his books, interrupts, and his homework takes three hours of tears. His teacher says he… - [Mr Fernandes and the Sleeping Strip](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/mr-fernandes-and-the-sleeping-strip-62/) – Mr Fernandes, 74, a retired clerk in Goa, has taken a sleeping tablet every night for years, first prescribed after his wife died. Lately… - [When the House Cannot Hold the Storm](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/when-the-house-cannot-hold-the-storm-63/) – Joseph, 27, a delivery rider in Kochi, has barely slept for five days. He talks fast, says he has been chosen for a special… - [Kabir Age 28](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/kabir-age-28-170/) – Kabir was highly intelligent, but his daily life was a chaotic storm. At work, his desk was buried under half-finished projects. He would constantly… - [Anita, Age 42](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/story/anita-age-42-171/) – For months, Anita found herself sinking into a darkness she could not control. It was not just a temporary low mood; her physical body… ## Shloks (2) - [Bhagavad Gita 4.34](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/shloka/bhagavad-gita-4-34-23/) – Know that by approaching with respect, by questioning, and by service. Those who see reality will teach you. - [Bhagavad Gita 2.47](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/shloka/bhagavad-gita-2-47-24/) – Your claim is to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not make the fruit the motive, and do not cling to inaction. ## More topics - [What is mental health? A simple guide to the mind and who can help](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/mental-health-basics/) - [The brain, hormones and body chemistry behind your moods](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/brain-and-body/) - [Emotions, anger and mood swings – understanding your feelings](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/emotions/) - [Stress – causes, symptoms and how to reduce stress at work and in exams](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/stress/) - [Anxiety, panic attacks and fear – signs, causes and what helps](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/anxiety/) - [Depression and low mood – signs, causes and the way back](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/depression/) - [Trauma, grief and loss – healing at your own pace](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/trauma-grief/) - [Children, teenagers and parents – mental health at home and school](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/children-parents/) - [Sleep problems, food and daily routine for a healthy mind](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/sleep-food-routine/) - [Helping a loved one with mental illness – family and relationships](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/family-relationships/) - [Mental health crisis and suicide prevention – what to do](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/safety-crisis/) - [The five senses, the five elements and the mind](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/senses-elements/) - [Bhagavad Gita, yoga and Indian wisdom for mental peace](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/spiritual-wisdom/) - [Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, drugs and gambling – signs and recovery](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/addiction/) - [Phone addiction, social media and screen time – digital well-being](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/digital-life/) - [Ageing well, memory loss and dementia – caring for elders](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/topic/later-life/) [myadvisorfriend@gmail.com](mailto:myadvisorfriend@gmail.com) · [Contact](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/contact/) · [About](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/about/) · [Privacy](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/privacy/) · [Disclaimer](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/disclaimer/) --- *Psychology for Everyone – A Mental Well Being Series* by Satish Zope · free to read · Contact: [myadvisorfriend@gmail.com](mailto:myadvisorfriend@gmail.com) · [About](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/about/) · [Privacy](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/privacy/) · [Disclaimer](https://poonam.myadvisorfriend.com/disclaimer/)