Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to your questions about psychological counseling and start your journey with peace of mind.
About Psychological Counseling
What is counseling?
Counseling is a professional service provided by licensed counselors who apply psychological theories and evidence-based techniques to establish a safe, confidential therapeutic relationship with clients. It addresses emotional challenges, interpersonal issues, self-identity concerns, and stress through structured guidance aimed at personal growth. Unlike casual conversation, its core principle is empowering individuals to help themselves.
What is the value of psychotherapy? What issues can it help me address?
Emotional Regulation: Guidance for negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, burnout, irritability, sadness, and fear. Interpersonal Relationships: Resolving conflicts in intimate relationships, parent-child disputes, workplace social dynamics, people-pleasing behaviors, and social anxiety. Personal Growth: Overcoming self-doubt, low self-esteem, confusion, life decisions, and healing from family-of-origin trauma. Stress Management: Coping with academic/work pressure, insomnia, exhaustion, post-traumatic stress, and adapting to major life changes. While counselors won't solve your real-world problems for you, they will help you clarify your thinking, adjust your mindset, learn emotional management skills, and enhance your ability to handle challenges independently.
When to seek counseling?
Negative emotions persist for more than 2 weeks without improvement, affecting sleep, appetite, work, or studies. Prolonged relationship distress with repeated conflict, self-doubt, and emotional exhaustion. Major trauma such as breakup, bereavement, workplace setbacks, or school bullying. Persistent self-denial, loss of pleasure, and lack of interest in activities. Unexplained long-term confusion, emptiness, and a desire to understand yourself and find inner balance.
Isn't consulting just chatting and giving advice?
No. Ordinary conversation lacks a professional framework and boundaries; psychological counseling is grounded in systematic theory. Counselors do not offer unsolicited advice or make decisions for you. Their core role is to listen, clarify your feelings, help you identify blind spots in your thinking, and guide you to discover solutions that work best for you—rather than simply imposing suggestions.
What should I bring to my first consultation?
No need to prepare a perfect script. Simply organize your thoughts around 3: ① Current concerns: When did the issue start, and how has it impacted your life? ② Past attempts: What coping strategies have you tried, and which ones worked or didn't work? ③ Counseling goals: Are you seeking short-term relief, or do you want to explore your family of origin and focus on long-term personal growth? For in-person sessions, bring paper and pen to jot down your feelings. For online sessions, ensure a quiet, private environment free from interruptions.
About Mental Health Counselors
How do I choose the right counselor to minimize the risk of a mismatch?
1. Check professional credentials: Ensure the counselor holds valid psychological qualifications and appropriate training. 2. Review areas of expertise: Prioritize counselors experienced in addressing your specific concerns (e.g., relationships, trauma, workplace issues). 3. Understand therapeutic approaches: Different modalities—such as CBT, psychoanalysis, or humanistic therapy—vary in style; choose one that aligns with your preferences. 4. Try a brief initial session: Schedule a short introductory consultation to assess the rapport and communication dynamic before committing to long-term counseling.
How do I know if I'm a good match with my counselor?
Match the right therapist by looking at three key points: ① Safety: You feel comfortable opening up, able to share without holding back or fearing judgment; ② Communication experience: The counselor truly understands your emotions, avoids invalidating, lecturing, or rushing to offer solutions; ⑥ Progress: Each session brings clarity and insight, not just venting—leaving you with fresh perspectives. If after 2–3 sessions you still feel unheard or suppressed, it's okay to switch counselors.
Can I contact my counselor regularly?
Consultations are available only during scheduled sessions. For non-emergencies, please avoid frequent private chats via WeChat or phone calls. In case of crises such as self-harm or harm to others, contact a counselor immediately through the platform's emergency channel for crisis intervention support.
Can I become friends with my counselor?
No. Psychological counseling operates within strict professional boundaries. Dual relationships (counseling + friendship) compromise the objectivity and neutrality essential to effective therapy and violate industry ethical standards. It is also not recommended to develop a personal friendship with a client after counseling ends.
User Privacy
Will the counselor keep my information confidential?
We strictly adhere to confidentiality: all disclosures and personal information will not be shared without your consent. Confidentiality exceptions (for safety reasons) include: 1) the client has a clear plan or intent to self-harm or commit suicide; 2) the client expresses a clear intent to harm others; 3) there is suspected abuse, neglect, or abandonment of children, elders, or vulnerable individuals; 4) a court order legally requires access to counseling records. In such cases, the counselor will prioritize initiating crisis intervention.
My question is very private. How do they keep it confidential?
Platform: Chat logs and consultation records are encrypted and stored securely, accessible only by the assigned counselor. Third parties cannot retrieve them without authorization. Counselor: Paper and digital records are kept separately. Counselors do not casually record or disclose client privacy. Records are sealed according to regulations after consultations end. Communication: Online sessions use end-to-end encryption; offline sessions take place in private rooms with no third-party observers. You can participate using a nickname—full identity details are not required.
About Fees
Why is counseling so expensive?
1. Learning Investment: Counselors require long-term systematic training, ongoing supervision, and continuous professional development, involving significant time and financial resources. 2. Time Commitment: Each session demands full focus, followed by case documentation and professional supervision. 3. Operational Costs: Platform maintenance, privacy security, physical space, and crisis intervention support all incur expenses. 4. Service Nature: Psychological counseling is a professional mental health service, with pricing logic similar to medical and educational services.
Can I get a refund if I end the consultation early?
Refund Policy by Platform: ① Full refund available for consultation packages not yet scheduled. ② For appointments made but not yet attended, cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance are eligible for a refund. No refunds will be issued for no-shows or late arrivals without valid reason. ③ For consultations partially completed and voluntarily terminated, unused sessions may be refunded according to platform rules; please refer to the platform agreement for details.
About the effects
Will this solve my problem in one go?
Not really. Psychological distress usually stems from long-term thought patterns and past experiences. A single session can only offer temporary emotional relief or clarify surface-level issues, but it cannot fundamentally alter deeply ingrained cognitive and behavioral patterns. Most concerns require ongoing, multiple sessions to achieve lasting improvement.
How long is a general inquiry valid?
Categorized by concern type: Short-term acute stress or single emotional setbacks: 3-5 sessions to significantly relieve distress; persistent anxiety, relationship conflicts, or workplace burnout: 10-20 sessions for gradual improvement; childhood trauma, long-term low self-esteem, or complex personality patterns: long-term therapy (6+ months) for incremental adjustment. If no insight or emotional progress is observed after 5 consecutive sessions, discuss adjusting the therapeutic approach with your counselor or consider switching therapists.
Is video consultation reliable?
Research shows that online video counseling is as effective as in-person sessions, making it ideal for individuals with limited mobility, those living far away, people avoiding social interaction, or those with fragmented schedules. Prerequisites: Ensure a private, quiet, and distraction-free space with stable internet. If severe depression, acute suicide risk, or serious mental illness is present, prioritize in-person psychiatric care.