Is it a good idea to go to a therapist who is younger than you?

When a situation in Rohini’s* family took a sour turn and began affecting her ability to work, she didn’t hesitate to admit she needed professional help. As a college student in the early 2000s, she had taken a few psychology courses that she’d loved, so there was no mental block about therapy. In any case, the mental health landscape had since evolved dramatically, with a growing number of professionals that were easier to access than ever. Even so, the path to finding the right fit wasn’t as straightforward as she would’ve liked.

“The first therapist I went to was recommended by a friend,” Rohini says. “There was a family member who was averse to the idea of taking psychiatric medication and the therapist said I would have to secretly medicate their water. That was a huge red flag because breaking someone’s trust when you’re trying to help them is the worst thing you could do.” The second therapist she saw couldn’t seem to wrap her head around the fact that the issues in Rohini’s family had nothing to do with inheritance. Finally, in a Goldilocks-like turn of fate, she was introduced to a professional who had just moved back after practising in the UK. She happened to be fairly close to Rohini in age, and unlike the older therapists she’d seen before, explained the logic behind her approach. She invited Rohini to speak up in the event that a particular line of treatment wasn’t working. “She took the time to understand the situation properly and respected that there were certain things I just wasn’t willing to do. At no point did she make me feel like there was only one solution, which was very refreshing.” Rohini says. “Since I have started seeing her, my productivity has gone up tenfold.”

Rohini’s roundabout journey to finding the right kind of help is unfortunately fairly common, with most people having to try a few therapists before coming across one that truly “gets it”. Interestingly, she is not alone in finding her match in a therapist who is closer to her in age, and who, despite having fewer years of professional experience, seemed to get a handle on her issues faster than older therapists did. In India, it’s slowly becoming the case that age and experience are not necessarily assets when it comes to therapy.