{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T20:21:51Z","timestamp":1783110111317,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782691200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782691200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine"],"abstract":"<jats:p>India\u2019s counseling psychology landscape features a mix of regulated professionals and supervised lay counselors in task-sharing models, alongside unregulated practice by unqualified individuals offering psychotherapy via online platforms and short courses amid a large treatment gap in mental health services. While supervised lay counselors play a constructive role in evidence-based task-sharing under specialist oversight, unregulated practice risks inconsistent quality and client harm. Statutory title protection, tiered workforce models, and enforcement against deceptive mental health services are urgently needed in India.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/02537176261461726","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T03:26:07Z","timestamp":1782789967000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Regulating Lay Counselor Practice to Safeguard Public Trust in Counseling Psychology in India"],"prefix":"10.1177","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-8043-0505","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abhishek","family":"Chakraborty","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dept. of Social Work, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, India."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Apurba","family":"Saha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dept. of Social Work, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, India."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_2","article-title":"Current status of counseling in India","author":"Gupta S","year":"2024","unstructured":"Gupta S. Current status of counseling in India. Int J Indian Psychol, 2024. Available from: https:\/\/ijip.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.01.344.20241202.pdf.","journal-title":"Int J Indian Psychol"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_2","article-title":"The murky, unregulated world of psychological counseling in India","author":"Minj N","year":"2025","unstructured":"Minj N. The murky, unregulated world of psychological counseling in India. Scroll.in\/Common Ground, 2025. Available from: https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/1077686\/the-murky-unregulated-world-of-psychological-counselling-in-india.","journal-title":"Scroll.in\/Common Ground"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_4_2","unstructured":"Matharu S. Everyone\u2019s a therapist in India influencers dentists homeopaths\u2026 it\u2019s the new epidemic. ThePrint 2023 Jul 4. Available from: https:\/\/theprint.in\/ground-reports\/everyones-a-therapist-in-india-influencers-dentists-homeopaths-its-the-new-epidemic\/1655337\/."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/09638237.2022.2091767"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_6_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/02537176211070427"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_3_3_7_2","first-page":"432","article-title":"A longitudinal study on the impact of pandemic on mental health in India: Comparing 2020 and 2025","volume":"2","author":"Dixit DN","year":"2025","unstructured":"Dixit DN. A longitudinal study on the impact of pandemic on mental health in India: Comparing 2020 and 2025. J Mark Soc Res, 2025; 2(5): 432\u2013441.","journal-title":"J Mark Soc Res"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_8_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cegh.2021.100736"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_9_2","article-title":"Bengaluru: Unqualified online psychotherapists thrive amid lax regulation","author":"Navya PK","year":"2022","unstructured":"Navya PK. Bengaluru: Unqualified online psychotherapists thrive amid lax regulation. Deccan Herald, 2022 Oct 22. Available from: https:\/\/www.deccanherald.com\/india\/karnataka\/bengaluru\/bengaluru-unqualified-online-psychotherapists-thrive-amid-lax-regulation-1155725.html.","journal-title":"Deccan Herald"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_10_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7189\/jogh.12.03047"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_11_2","unstructured":"American Psychological Association. Counseling psychology. Available from: https:\/\/www.apa.org\/ed\/graduate\/specialize\/counseling."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_12_2","unstructured":"American Psychological Association. Clinical psychology. Available from: https:\/\/www.apa.org\/ed\/graduate\/specialize\/clinical."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_13_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(16)30424-2"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_14_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2013.04.002"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_15_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(10)61508-5"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_16_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/MHSI-06-2024-0095"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_17_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(16)31589-6"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_18_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1192\/bjp.bp.114.161075"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_19_2","unstructured":"BioVoice News Desk. Grass-root mental health program reduces treatment gap for depression reveals new study. BioVoiceNews 2017 Jan 5. Available from: https:\/\/biovoicenews.com\/grass-root-mental-health-program-reduces-treatment-gap-for-depression-reveals-new-study\/."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_20_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/02537176221074253"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_21_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2471\/BLT.20.269050"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_22_2","unstructured":"Philip Z. Is the psychology profession in crisis after NEP 2020? Experts weigh in. The Hindu 2025 Nov 17. Available from: https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/education\/is-the-psychology-profession-in-crisis-after-nep-2020-experts-weigh-in\/article70253336.ece."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_23_2","unstructured":"Kasi A. It\u2019s delayed but finally here: The 2025 regulation to channelize mental health programs and the psychology profession. 2025 Sep 28. Available from: https:\/\/abilashkasi.wixsite.com\/abilashkasi\/post\/it-s-delayed-but-finally-here-the-2025-regulation-to-channelize-mental-health-programs-the-psych."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_24_2","unstructured":"Man held for using fake degree to get counselor\u2019s job. Times of India 2026 Feb 25. Available from: https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/chandigarh\/man-held-for-using-fake-degree-to-get-counsellors-job\/articleshow\/128791697.cms."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_25_2","unstructured":"Sinha J. Delhi: 5 men held for running fake degree racket. Hindustan Times 2025 Jun 20. Available from: https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/cities\/delhi-news\/delhi-5-men-held-for-running-fake-degree-racket-101750441139504.html."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_26_2","volume-title":"Mental Healthcare Act, 2017","author":"Government of India","year":"2017","unstructured":"Government of India. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. New Delhi: Government of India, 2017."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_27_2","volume-title":"National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021","author":"Government of India","year":"2021","unstructured":"Government of India. National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. New Delhi: Government of India, 2021."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_28_2","unstructured":"Counsel India. How the NCAHP Act 2021 supports psychologists in India. 2024 Nov 6."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_29_2","unstructured":"ePsychology. What is NCAHP registration? 2024 Nov 26."},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_3_3_30_2","first-page":"1712","article-title":"The struggles of Indian psychologists without a governing body: Need for registration and governing body in India for psychologists","volume":"13","author":"Thakur M","year":"2025","unstructured":"Thakur M, and Singh M. The struggles of Indian psychologists without a governing body: Need for registration and governing body in India for psychologists. Int J Indian Psychol, 2025; 13(1): 1712\u20131721. DOI: 10.25215\/1301.163.","journal-title":"Int J Indian Psychol"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_31_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/02537176231179920"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_32_2","unstructured":"CHW Central. A mental health training program for community health workers in India: Impact on knowledge and attitudes. 2014 Feb 20. Available from: https:\/\/chwcentral.org\/resources\/a-mental-health-training-program-for-community-health-workers-in-india-impact-on-knowledge-and-attitudes\/."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_33_2","volume-title":"Manual of mental health for social workers","author":"Gajendragad JM","year":"2016","unstructured":"Gajendragad JM, , Kiran M, , Pandian RD, and Deuri SP. Manual of mental health for social workers. NIMHANS, 2016."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_34_2","unstructured":"Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Training manual on mental neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders care for community health officer at Ayushman Bharat \u2013 Health and Wellness Centers. 2021. Available from: https:\/\/nhsrcindia.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-05\/MNS%20care%20Training%20manual%20for%20CHO.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_35_2","unstructured":"National Health Mission. Training manual for counselors. Available from: https:\/\/nhm.gov.in\/images\/pdf\/programmes\/RKSK\/Counsellors_Training_Manual\/Resource_Book_Counsellors.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_36_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0253717621997180"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_37_2","unstructured":"Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Customized crash course programme for COVID warriors. Available from: https:\/\/pmkvyofficial.org\/pmkvy3.0_healthcare_program\/images\/operational-guidelines\/english-guidelines-for-customized-crash-course-programme-for-COVID-warriors-under-PMKVY3-28-06-2021.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_38_2","unstructured":"National Council of Educational Research and Training. Guidelines for 50 hours of continuous professional development for teachers head teachers and teacher educators. 2022. Available from: https:\/\/www.ncert.nic.in\/pdf\/Guidelines50HoursCpd.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_39_2","unstructured":"Health and Care Professions Council. Standards of conduct performance and ethics. 2012. Available from: https:\/\/www.hcpc-uk.org\/standards\/standards-of-conduct-performance-and-ethics\/."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_40_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dittmann M. What you need to know to get licensed. American Psychological Association 2004 Jan. Available from: https:\/\/www.apa.org\/gradpsych\/2004\/01\/get-licensed.","DOI":"10.1037\/e389592005-019"}],"container-title":["Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/02537176261461726","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/02537176261461726","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/02537176261461726","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T19:46:57Z","timestamp":1783108017000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/02537176261461726"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"references-count":39,"alternative-id":["10.1177\/02537176261461726"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/02537176261461726","relation":{},"ISSN":["0253-7176","0975-1564"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0253-7176","type":"print"},{"value":"0975-1564","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"article-number":"02537176261461726"}}