Everything in life is supremely digital whether shopping for clothes, cosmetics, groceries or even medicine! Honestly, it’s no wonder that the internet even includes counselors or online shrinks who listen to all your problems. Enter, Type a Thought, a digital counseling platform which had us intrigued because we’ve never really released our issues into the deep, dark cyber void. Doesn’t one have to ‘talk it out’ to feel better? Apparently, not anymore!
So to try out its effectiveness, we decided to try it out ourselves, anonymously. Here’s what happened.
The beginning
The first step is to register, which is basically, keying in your email id and phone number. You’ll get a one-time password on your phone, which needs to be punched in to complete the registration. You are now eligible for a 30-minute free session with their in-house counselor. The site assures complete confidentiality of information.
Typing it out
My session was with Nitya, a certified counselor. Once I was convinced that I was talking to a real person, I decided to discuss an issue regarding heartbreak. I was totally surprised to see how well Nitya was listening and responding. 20 minutes later, I thanked Nitya for her support and left the chat.
The Pros
Nitya was quite understanding and prompt in offering sound advice. She was attentive and asked for details. Just what all of us need, right? A listening, non-judgemental ear. I’d actually consider talking to her if I really had no one around.
The cons
In those 20 minutes, I realised that typing out all your feelings on a chat is inconvenient. You have way more things to say then you can actuallt type, and both work very differently on a cathartic level. There’s a chance that what you’re talking about might be misunderstood, because while typing the counsellor can’t actually see your expressions (yes, the anonymity is a “pro”, too) or hear the tone of your voice. They, therefore, might get a completely different picture from what actually is going on.
Remember, the site mentions in bold letters that it isn’t a suicide helpline for immediate help, but simply a counselling site to help you deal and overcome emotional and mental trauma.
If you are going through a major crisis, which can’t be typed out in a chat session, you can call 91-22-39652998, which is available from 9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Saturday. The site also has an exhaustive list of experts, who you can speak to, chat with, ask a question or book an appointment with for a later date. The sessions are priced differently and each session costs anywhere from Rs. 60 – Rs. 700, depending on the expert’s experience.
