India, Oct. 9 -- For a first-timer, a therapy session may seem unsettling. They wonder how to open up to the mental health professional; after all, opening up about your feelings and thoughts is not an easy thing to do. Doubts about whether you will be judged are common and hold people back.

Identifying what to expect and how to proceed aids in getting the necessary clarity. Ahead of World Mental Health Day 2026 on October 10, let's answer some common doubts. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Devyani Todi, senior psychologist at Amaha, discusses expectations for the first therapy session.

We first asked, why do people struggle to report their mental health problems in a therapy session, when they can do so easily with a physician regar...