PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELLING IN LAHORE
Psychotherapy That Helps You Understand Yourself and Move Forward
Professional, confidential talk therapy at Dr. Maham Iqbal - Consultant Psychiatrist, Lahore.
Sometimes we need more than advice from friends or family. Psychotherapy gives you a safe, private space to talk with a trained professional, make sense of what you are going through, and learn practical ways to cope and change. At Dr. Maham Iqbal - Consultant Psychiatrist, our qualified psychologists and psychiatrists offer evidence-based therapy for mental health conditions, relationship difficulties and life's challenges, in a respectful, warm and confidential setting, at a pace that suits you.
Therapy Is for Everyone, Not Only for Serious Problems
Many people believe therapy is only for those with severe mental illness, or worry about what others will think if they see a psychologist. Others feel they should be strong enough to handle everything alone, or that talking about problems outside the family is wrong. As a result, they carry stress, sadness or conflict for years longer than necessary.
In reality, psychotherapy is one of the most effective treatments available for a wide range of mental health conditions, and it also helps people who are simply going through a difficult time. Seeking therapy is a sign of self-awareness and strength. Research shows that most people who attend therapy feel better and cope more effectively than those who do not.
Our psychotherapy service is built on three commitments:
A safe space
You can speak freely without being judged, interrupted or told what you should feel.
Evidence-based methods
We use therapies with strong research support, tailored to your goals.
Strict confidentiality
What you share stays between you and your therapist, except in rare situations involving serious risk.
What Is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy or counselling, is a structured process in which you work with a trained mental health professional to understand your thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and to make positive changes. Unlike an ordinary conversation, therapy follows proven methods and is guided by clear goals that you agree on together. Your therapist is trained to listen carefully, notice patterns you may not see, and help you develop new ways of thinking and responding.
Therapy can be used on its own or alongside medication. It is offered in different formats, depending on what will help most:
Individual therapy
One-to-one sessions focused entirely on you, your experiences and your goals.
Couple and family therapy
Sessions with a partner or family members to improve communication and resolve conflict together.
Group therapy
Small groups led by a therapist, where people with similar challenges learn and support each other.
Your therapist will recommend the format that suits your situation, and it can change as your needs change. For example, some people begin with individual sessions and later invite a partner or family member to join.
Signs Therapy Could Help You
You do not need a diagnosis to benefit from therapy. It may be time to speak to a therapist if you recognise any of the following in yourself, even if you are still managing your daily responsibilities:
Your feelings
- Feeling sad, anxious, angry or empty for weeks
- Feeling overwhelmed by stress or responsibilities
- Struggling with guilt, shame or low self-worth
- Difficulty controlling emotions or reactions
- Feeling stuck, lost or without direction
- Experiencing intrusive memories of a painful event
- Losing interest in things that once mattered to you
Your relationships and life events
- Frequent conflict with a partner, family or colleagues
- Difficulty trusting or getting close to people
- Coping with divorce, bereavement, migration or job loss
- Adjusting to a serious illness or disability
- Recovering from abuse, violence or trauma
- Feeling isolated or lonely
Your habits and behaviour
- Using alcohol, drugs or food to cope
- Avoiding situations because of fear or worry
- Anger that damages relationships
- Sleep problems linked to stress or worry
- Repeating the same unhelpful patterns despite wanting to change
When to start therapy
If a problem has lasted for several weeks, keeps returning, or is affecting your work, studies, relationships or health, therapy can help. Starting early often means fewer sessions are needed, and you do not have to wait until things become unbearable. Therapy can also be helpful during a calm period, to prepare for challenges ahead.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or self-harm, or is in immediate danger, contact emergency services or go to the nearest hospital emergency department right away. Once you are safe, therapy can support your longer-term recovery.
Types of Therapy We Offer
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings and actions are closely connected. It helps you notice unhelpful thought patterns, such as expecting the worst or being overly self-critical, test them against reality, and replace them with more balanced thinking and healthier behaviour.
CBT is practical, structured and focused on the present. Sessions usually include learning new skills, such as spotting thinking traps or breaking tasks into steps, and practising them between appointments. It is one of the most thoroughly researched therapies, with strong evidence for many conditions, and it usually involves a set number of sessions with clear goals.
Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, OCD, insomnia, stress, anger problems and low self-esteem. Specialised forms of CBT are also used for trauma and eating problems.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a form of therapy developed for people who experience emotions very intensely. It combines acceptance, being understood and validated, with change, learning new ways to respond. DBT teaches four sets of skills: mindfulness, managing distress, regulating emotions and handling relationships.
DBT often includes both individual sessions and skills training groups, where skills are taught step by step and practised together. It helps people who feel overwhelmed by emotions to respond more calmly, reduce crises and make choices that support their long-term goals. Many people describe it as learning skills they were never taught.
Borderline personality disorder, self-harm, intense mood swings, impulsive behaviour, anger and relationship difficulties, as well as some forms of addiction.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT helps you stop struggling with painful thoughts and feelings and instead make room for them, while taking steps towards what matters most to you. Rather than trying to remove difficult emotions, you learn to hold them more lightly so they no longer control your choices.
ACT focuses on clarifying your personal values, such as family, faith, health or growth, and committing to small, regular actions that reflect them. Many people find it helpful when problems cannot be changed quickly, such as long-term illness or loss, or when years of fighting difficult feelings have only made them stronger.
Chronic stress, anxiety, depression, long-term illness and pain, caregiver burnout, and difficult life circumstances that cannot be changed quickly.
Psychodynamic and Interpersonal Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy explores how past experiences, especially early relationships, shape the way you feel and relate to others today. By understanding these patterns, often for the first time, you can make choices that are less driven by old hurts and fears.
Interpersonal therapy is a shorter, structured approach that focuses on current relationships and life changes, such as conflict, role changes, grief or isolation, and helps you build stronger, more supportive connections. Both approaches are often helpful when the same difficulties keep returning in different relationships.
Recurring relationship problems, grief, depression, low self-worth, major life transitions and long-standing emotional patterns.
Conditions and Concerns Therapy Can Help With
Psychotherapy is effective for a wide range of difficulties, for adults, couples and families, including:
- Anxiety conditions, such as generalised anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and OCD
- Depression, including low mood after childbirth or loss
- Trauma and PTSD, following accidents, abuse or violence
- Addiction, as part of recovery from drugs or alcohol
- Personality difficulties, including intense emotions and unstable relationships
- Relationship and family problems, including marital conflict
- Stress and burnout, from work, studies or caring responsibilities
- Adjustment to illness, such as diabetes, cancer or chronic pain
Supportive therapy and problem-solving therapy are also available for people facing practical life challenges.
Each plan is matched to your concern, so the type and length of therapy suit what you are facing, whether that is a recent crisis or a long-standing difficulty.
Not sure which therapy is right for you?
You do not need to choose. Your therapist will recommend the best approach after your first session.
How We Match You with the Right Therapy
A good match between you, your therapist and the therapy method is one of the strongest predictors of success. Here is how we ensure it from the very first contact:
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STEP 1
Understanding your concerns in an initial assessment, including what brings you to therapy and what you hope to change.
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STEP 2
Reviewing your history, including your health, family, life circumstances and any previous therapy or treatment, and what did or did not help.
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STEP 3
Checking for medical needs, and involving our psychiatrist if medication may also help, or if symptoms suggest a condition that needs medical treatment.
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STEP 4
Choosing the approach and format, such as individual, couple or group therapy, and the most suitable method.
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STEP 5
Agreeing on clear goals, so you and your therapist can measure progress together, using simple questionnaires where helpful.
You are always welcome to ask questions about your therapist's qualifications, approach and the plan for your sessions.
What Happens During Therapy
Therapy is a collaborative process. Here is what to expect from beginning to end, so there are no surprises along the way.
Your first session
The first session is mainly about getting to know you. Your therapist will ask about your concerns, background, current life and goals, and you can ask about how therapy works, what to expect and how progress will be measured. It is normal to feel nervous, and you only share what you are comfortable sharing. Many people feel a sense of relief simply from being heard without judgement. By the end of the session, you should have a clearer idea of how therapy can help you.
Setting goals and a plan
Together, you agree on what you want to achieve, the type of therapy, how often you will meet and roughly how many sessions you may need. Clear goals keep therapy focused and help you see progress. Goals might include sleeping better, arguing less, feeling calmer at work or returning to activities you have been avoiding.
Regular sessions
Sessions usually last around 45 to 60 minutes and take place weekly or every two weeks. You talk through your experiences, explore patterns, reflect on what has changed since the last session and learn new skills, at a pace that feels manageable. Some sessions may feel emotionally demanding, and your therapist will help you process difficult feelings safely.
Practice between sessions
Much of the change happens between sessions, when you apply new skills to real situations. Your therapist may suggest practical tasks, such as:
- Keeping a journal of thoughts, moods or triggers
- Practising skills, such as relaxation or problem-solving
- Small, planned steps towards situations you have been avoiding
- Reading or exercises that reinforce what you learn
Reviewing progress and ending well
Progress is reviewed regularly, using your goals and simple measures, and the plan is adjusted if something is not working. As your goals are met, sessions are spaced out and therapy ends with a plan to maintain your progress, with the option to return if needed. Many people book occasional follow-up sessions to stay on track during stressful times.
Why Choose Dr. Maham Iqbal - Psychiatrist for Psychotherapy?
Qualified therapists
Clinical psychologists with recognised degrees, supervised experience and training in evidence-based therapies.
Psychiatrist support
Access to psychiatrists under the same roof when medication or medical assessment is needed alongside therapy.
A range of therapies
CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic, interpersonal, couple, family and group therapy, so you receive the approach that suits you.
Personalised approach
Therapy adapted to your goals, culture, faith, values and daily life, never a one-size-fits-all programme.
Complete confidentiality
Sessions and records are kept strictly private, in a discreet and comfortable setting.
Online and in-person sessions
Choose the option that suits you best.
Urdu and English
Therapy in the language you feel most comfortable expressing yourself in.
Getting the Most from Therapy
Therapy works best as a partnership. These simple steps help you get real, lasting results from your sessions:
- 1 Be open and honest. The more your therapist understands, the more effectively they can help.
- 2 Attend regularly. Missing sessions, especially when you feel low or unmotivated, can slow your progress.
- 3 Practise between sessions. Using new skills in everyday life is where change happens.
- 4 Be patient. Some changes take time, and difficult feelings may surface before things improve. This is often a sign that therapy is working.
- 5 Give feedback. If something is not helping, tell your therapist so the approach can be adjusted. Honest feedback strengthens the therapy relationship.
Common Myths About Therapy
Therapy is only for people who are mentally ill.
Therapy helps anyone facing stress, relationship problems, loss or life changes, not only those with a diagnosis. Many people use therapy to prevent problems from growing.
Talking cannot change anything.
Structured therapy teaches practical skills and leads to measurable changes in mood, behaviour and wellbeing. Research shows its benefits often last longer than medication alone.
Going to therapy means I am weak.
Seeking help takes courage and self-awareness. Many successful people use therapy to manage stress, make better decisions and grow.
Therapy lasts for years.
Many therapies are short-term, with noticeable progress in a few weeks or months. Longer therapy is used only when it is genuinely needed.
Therapy is just talking about the past.
Many therapies focus mainly on the present and on practical skills for the future, looking at the past only where it helps.
The therapist will tell me what to do.
Your therapist guides and supports you, but you remain in charge of your choices and goals. Therapy helps you find your own answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Psychologists specialise in assessment and therapy. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can also prescribe medication. Many people benefit from both working together.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your concerns, goals and how quickly you progress. Some people need six to twelve sessions, while long-standing difficulties may need longer. Your therapist will discuss this with you early on.
Can I have therapy and take medication at the same time?
Yes. For many conditions, combining therapy and medication works better than either alone. Our psychologists and psychiatrists coordinate closely when both are used.
Is everything I say confidential?
Yes. Your sessions and records are protected, except in rare cases where there is a serious risk to your safety or someone else's, or where the law requires disclosure.
Can my family members join sessions?
Yes, with your agreement. Family or couple sessions can be very helpful for many concerns, especially conflict, addiction and supporting a loved one with a mental health condition.
Are online sessions as effective as in-person sessions?
For many people, online therapy works just as well, and it saves travel time and can feel more comfortable.
What if I do not feel comfortable with my therapist?
A good connection matters more than almost anything else in therapy. Let us know, and we will help you find a therapist who is a better fit, without any awkwardness.
What should I talk about in my first session?
Whatever feels most important to you. Your therapist will guide the conversation with gentle questions, so you do not need to prepare anything special.
How much does therapy cost?
Fees depend on the type and length of sessions. Please contact us for current fee details.
Do you offer therapy for children and teenagers?
Please get in touch to confirm the age groups we work with.
Take the First Step Towards Feeling Better
Whatever you are facing, whether it is a recent crisis or a struggle you have carried for years, you do not have to work through it alone. Therapy can help you understand yourself, heal from the past and build a more balanced, fulfilling life.
Our therapists at Dr. Maham Iqbal - Consultant Psychiatrist are ready to listen without judgement and support you, one session at a time. Book your first confidential session today.
Psychotherapy is not an emergency service. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or self-harm, or is in immediate danger, please contact emergency services or go to your nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
More Services
- Anxiety Treatment
- Panic Attack Treatment
- Personality Disorder Treatment
- Depression Treatment
- Drug Addiction
- OCD Treatment
- Sleep Disorder Treatment
- Bipolar Disorder Treatment
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment
- Psychotherapy
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Schizophrenia Treatment
- PTSD Treatment