Counselling is a space where you can talk about and unpack the things that are troubling you, with someone who’s trained to listen and help you make sense of what’s happening. Whether you’re dealing with stress, sadness, relationship struggles, or just feeling a bit lost, a counsellor is there to help you explore your thoughts and feelings, without telling you what to do or judging your choices.

The counsellor isn’t there to give you all the answers but to help you find your own way forward. They might ask questions to help you see things from a different perspective, or offer tools and strategies to help you cope better. It’s not about “fixing” you—because you’re not broken—it’s about helping you feel more in control, more understood, and more equipped to handle life’s challenges.

Counselling can be short-term, involving just a few sessions to tackle a specific issue, or longer-term if you need more time to work through things. It’s all about what feels right for you. Your first appointment usually involves describing what is troubling you and the counsellor asking some questions to understand you and your situation better. From this, the counsellor should be able to let you know what is happening for you and provide you with some ideas about things to try next.

Later consultations usually involve your counsellor giving you information and suggestions and helping you learn living or coping skills. We may ask you to practice these by completing homework tasks. It’s important that you leave each session able to do something about your problems. Counselling is not just a space to talk; it is directed toward achieving personal goals. In follow-up sessions, counsellors usually start by reviewing your progress so far, troubleshoot if needed, and then help you to go a bit further.

There are many ways we can do counselling. Counsellors use evidence-based interventions, the most common being cognitive-behavioural therapy. There are many different evidence-based interventions, and we encourage you to speak with your counsellor about alternative options if the one that’s being used doesn’t work for you.

To uncover the patterns of behaviour that may have contributed to your problem and to provide and practice coping strategies to help, counselling requires more than one session. Most people do not need many consultations. The average is about six sessions over two or three months, sometimes less, sometimes more, depending on the nature and seriousness of your problems. Counselling will be as effective as the work you, as the client, put into your wellness.

Counselling is primarily about talking and exploring your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It’s a space to process emotions, work through challenges, and develop coping strategies. If you’re dealing with stress, relationship issues, grief, anxiety, low self-esteem, or life transitions, counselling can be a great option. It’s also helpful if you just need someone to listen and support you without judgment.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have specialised training in mental health and deals with diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental health conditions. Psychiatrists look at the biological and medical aspects of mental health. If you’re experiencing symptoms that significantly impact your daily life—like severe mood swings, hallucinations, or intense anxiety—a psychiatrist can help diagnose the issue and recommend treatment, which might include medication.

In many cases, counselling and psychiatry complement each other. For example, someone with depression might see a psychiatrist for medication to manage symptoms and a counsellor for therapy to address underlying issues and develop coping skills. It’s all about finding the right combination of support for your needs!

As part of providing counselling, counsellors will need to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your current situation. This information is a necessary part of the assessment and treatment provided to you. All information and records regarding you will be kept strictly confidential.

Counsellors will not normally release any information about you to anyone else, unless you give a written and signed request to do so. There are some possible exceptions to this rule:

• If you report that you are going to hurt yourself.
• If you report that you are going to hurt someone else.
• If we have reason to suspect a child is at risk of harm.
• If we become aware of illegal activity, such as drug trafficking.
• If the information is subpoenaed for legal or court proceedings.

Counsellors may seek supervision or consult with other professionals for optimal care and professional development. Counsellors do not reveal the client’s identity during consultations or supervision.

If you are under 18 years of age, counsellors keep your parent(s) or guardian(s) informed of your progress, if they ask. But counsellors are not obliged to give them details of our discussions with you.

If you have a concern about the management of your personal information, please do inform your counsellor or the Bhutan Medical and Health Council. If you wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, or access to, your personal information, you may do so by completing the online form at https://hpms.bmhc.gov.bt/online/make-complain

The following regional referral hospitals have a clinical counsellor. To make an appointment, call the main switch and ask for the counsellor.

• CRRH in Gelephu, Sarpang
• ERRH, in Mongar
• Paro hospital 
• Phuentsholing hospital 
• Dagana hospital
• Punakha hospital 
• Samtse hospital 

Psychiatry services are available only in JDWNRH, Thimphu though Medical Officers in regional hospitals can call for consultation and medication management.

To make a psychiatry or counselling appointment at JDWNRH, call 77858806 and speak to reception. They have access to all counsellors’ calendars and can book appointments in available slots. It is possible to do online counselling sessions if you can’t make it into the hospital.

You can also go to the JDW psychiatric OPD reception (upstairs in the psychiatric ward) and register yourself.

The PEMA Secretariat also has clinical counsellors who can provide face to face, online or phone therapy. To make an appointment, call 1098 to be referred by a Phone Support Worker.