When giving gifts, it is usually the giver’s opinion that counts. However, this new trend takes the thoughts of the recipient into account.
With increased awareness of mental health following the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused many people to both stay at home and stay indoors, giving the gift of therapy as a way to show one’s care seems to be gaining traction.
Instead of the usual spa day, you can gift an hour in a safe, judgment-free space or a four-session package delivered instantly to their inbox. Want something bigger? Opt for a holistic wellness family package that covers everything from your teen’s relationship woes to your spouse’s burnout and your parents’ age blues. Therapy gift packages range from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000. The RocketHealth app, for example, offers a four-session package for Rs 3,999, their customers’ most popular gift choice, valid for four months and customizable with a personal message.
“Gifting therapy is simply a way to show that you care about a person’s emotional well-being,” says Ankita Sharma, co-founder of Talk to Angel, which has facilitated 1,000 gifted counseling sessions since 2021. “We started our ‘Gift of Care’ program after receiving requests for therapy bookings for parents, friends and even family members during the pandemic, especially from NRIs who wanted to support their loved ones from afar. The pandemic has made isolation and separation more common, and many are hesitant to seek counseling due to stigma or financial constraints. This helps bridge that gap.” After a successful Raksha Bandhan campaign, Talk to Angel is now gearing up for a Diwali therapy package drive, according to Sharma.
Suresh Bhasin, co-founder of Manochikitsa, which also launched the service during the pandemic, says millennials are the main givers and recipients of these gifts. More than 1,500 e-gift cards have been given out so far. “Most of the sessions focus on mental health issues like anxiety, depression, anger management and burnout,” says Bhasin. “People see it as a supportive gift rather than an intrusiveness because the gift givers don’t have to specify the type of therapy.” Recipients, he says, can choose the issue they want to address and book a session with the relevant expert, with confidentiality ensured – not even the gift giver knows which session they have opted for.
This trend seems to cut across all age groups, says Bharathi Anandan, a freelance counsellor at Manochikitsa in the Nilgiris. “I have observed that people in their 20s often gift counselling sessions to their peers to help them cope with stress at work or the transition from college to work. People in their 30s usually focus on solving relationship problems.”
Bharathi adds that many people now gift sessions to their parents to help them cope with the loss of a partner, or to spouses struggling with post-retirement anxiety. People in their 40s are often gifted sessions to discuss marital problems. “Many are willing to try therapy if given the gift, especially if they are reluctant to talk openly about their problems.”
Sharada N (name changed), a client of Bharathi’s who received a session as a gift from her sister, says the voucher came at a pretty difficult time in her marriage. “At first I was hesitant to redeem it because I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to try therapy. But just having someone who listened to me without judging was a relief,” she says.
A word of warning, though. Therapy sessions are fragile gifts that need to be handled with care. “Some may see them as a positive gesture for mental well-being, but therapy is a personal choice and gifting it can sometimes be perceived as intrusive or even offensive,” says Chennai-based psychologist Cindhu Menaka. “It can also be misused, especially by older teens or those of college age, as a form of bullying. However, for those facing financial constraints, especially considering that counselling is not covered by mental health insurance, it offers an affordable step towards emotional support.” But, says Menaka, while there are limitations, she believes the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks. “It’s a positive sign that people are willing to seek help and encourage others to do the same. I am not sure if therapy gift packages are the best approach, but it is a good start to overcome the stigma,” says city-based psychiatrist Dr. Janani S.
