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Practice guides for therapists in India

Answers to the questions therapists in India ask about running a practice, each starting with the short answer and linking its sources.

• How long should therapists in India keep client notes?No Indian law fixes how long a psychologist or counsellor keeps session notes. What the DPDP Act, MHCA and tax law say, and how to choose a period you can defend.Guide · Clinical notes · Privacy & DPDP · Updated 23 October 2026
• Who in a therapy clinic should be able to read session notes?Who in a therapy clinic needs to read session notes, why the front desk should not, and whether shared documents and note apps are a safe place to keep them.Guide · Clinical notes · Privacy & DPDP · Updated 23 October 2026
• What should a therapy intake and consent form include in India?What to ask on a therapy intake form in India, what the consent part must explain under the DPDP Act, the limits of confidentiality, minors, and what not to collect.Guide · Clinical notes · Privacy & DPDP · Updated 23 October 2026
• Is it safe for therapists in India to use WhatsApp with clients?What Indian guidelines and WhatsApp's own business policy say about using WhatsApp with therapy clients, where the risks are, and rules for protecting client information.Guide · Privacy & DPDP · Scheduling · Updated 23 October 2026
• How do I start a private therapy practice in India?A checklist for opening a therapy or counselling practice in India: registration, GST, income tax, local licences, consent and records, and the tools to run it.Guide · Practice growth · Billing & GST · Updated 23 October 2026
• Do counsellors and psychologists in India need to be registered?Do counsellors need to be registered in India? Who needs RCI registration, what the NCAHP Act means for psychologists and counsellors, and where it stands.Guide · Practice growth · Updated 8 November 2026
• What is the best practice management software for therapists in India?The questions that decide which practice management software suits a therapist or clinic in India: private notes, DPDP contracts, GST invoices, reminders, UPI and price.Guide · Comparison · Updated 20 October 2026
• Is there GST on counselling and therapy services in India?GST on counselling services and therapy sessions in India: when they are exempt, when 18% applies, whether psychologists charge GST, and when to register.Guide · Billing & GST · Updated 8 November 2026
• How do I send invoices and collect payments as a therapist in India?What to put on a therapy invoice in India, when GST rules require a bill of supply or a tax invoice, how long to keep records, and how to take UPI and cash.Guide · Billing & GST · Updated 23 October 2026
• How should therapists in India store client notes under the DPDP Act?What the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and its 2025 Rules ask of therapists who keep session notes, when the duties start, and a practical checklist.Guide · Privacy & DPDP · Clinical notes · Updated 23 October 2026
• How do I reduce no-shows in my therapy practice?What the research says about reminders and missed appointments, and the steps that help a therapy practice in India keep its sessions full.Guide · Scheduling · Practice growth · Updated 20 October 2026
• How do I run online therapy sessions securely?Which Indian guidelines apply to online therapy, how to set up a video call so only your client can join, and a checklist for every session.Guide · Privacy & DPDP · Scheduling · Updated 20 October 2026