Family counselling is a session where more than one family member talks with the same counsellor. The aim is to help everyone say what matters to them and to hear each other, without the counsellor taking a side. Online, it works the same way, and it can be easier to arrange when family members live in different cities.
This page covers who it suits, how an online session with several people runs, how to choose a counsellor and what to expect. It is general information. If it is only you and your partner, the couple counselling guide is the closer fit.
Counsellors who help with parenting
See fees and open times. Book when you feel ready.
Chhavi Baid
5.0(1)Counselling psychologist3 yrsSurat, IndiaOnline sessions on video call and in-person sessions in Surat
Expertise
Languages
EnglishHindiGujaratiEarliest slot: Tomorrow, 6:00 pm
from ₹350 / session
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Jemishi Mehta
Counselling Psychologist1 yrsChennai, IndiaOnline sessions on video call
Expertise
Languages
HindiEnglishGujaratiEarliest slot: Tomorrow, 3:00 pm
from ₹1,000 / session
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Anannya Arora
Counselling PsychologistDelhi, IndiaOnline sessions on video call and in-person sessions in Delhi
Expertise
Languages
HindiEnglishEarliest slot: Tomorrow, 5:20 pm
from ₹1,500 / session
Book a sessionWho it suits
Parents and teenagers: arguments about screens, studies, friends or privacy, or a teenager who has stopped talking at home.
In-laws and daughters-in-law or sons-in-law: living together, different expectations, and decisions about money, children or roles in the house.
Siblings: strain over care for ageing parents, a shared business or inheritance, or an old rift.
Caregiving: a family looking after someone who is unwell or ageing, where everyone is tired and the load is uneven.
It does not suit every situation. If someone in the family is unsafe, individual support or other help may come first, and a counsellor can talk this through with you.
How an online session works with several people
Everyone joins the same video link, from one screen in one room or from separate devices in different places. Separate devices often work better, because each person has their own camera and can be heard clearly.
The counsellor usually sets ground rules at the start: one person speaks at a time, no interrupting, and nobody has to say more than they want to. Some counsellors also offer a short one-to-one conversation with each person. Ask about this when you book.
Choose a room where you will not be overheard, and agree beforehand that everyone can pause or leave if it gets too much. Check the connection and audio before the session starts.
Choosing a counsellor
Look for a profile that says the counsellor works with families or with the concern you have, such as parenting or teenagers. Not every counsellor offers family sessions, so read the profile and the session options before you book.
Check the language, since everyone in the room should be comfortable in it. Look at the session length and fee shown on the profile as well. Family sessions can need more time than a one-to-one session.
What to expect
The first session is mostly about listening. The counsellor asks what brought you together, what each person wants from the sessions and what has been tried. You may leave without a plan, and that is normal.
Over later sessions the counsellor may suggest ways of talking, ways of sharing tasks or ways of handling disagreements. Progress differs between families, and no counsellor can promise a result. Everyone attends by choice, and that matters more than who convinced whom to come.
What is said in a session stays between you and the counsellor, with exceptions for a serious risk of harm or a court requirement.
Leshya is not emergency care. In a crisis, call Tele MANAS on 14416.
If you're thinking about harming yourself, please talk to someone right now. Tele MANAS is free, confidential and always open: call 14416. You matter.
The counselors here can help with ongoing support, but right now a call is faster.
Common questions
No. Some families begin with the one or two members who are willing and add others later. A counsellor can help you decide who to invite.
