Therapies

Non-pharmacological therapies

Psychiatric care is not only prescriptions. Talking, behavioural and family-based approaches are a large part of it — sometimes as the main treatment, sometimes alongside medication, and sometimes as what makes stopping medication possible later. This page explains the approaches in plain language so you know what is being suggested and why.

Book an appointment Conditions we treat

Which approach suits you is a clinical decision, not a menu choice. No therapy works for every condition, and none of them guarantees an outcome. The consultation is where the options, and the reasons behind them, are discussed with you.

At this clinic

Therapies offered here

These are provided at Maruthi Hospital and Diagnostics, Guntur, where the assessment indicates they are appropriate.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Offered at the clinic

A structured, practical talking therapy that looks at the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and at the patterns that keep a difficulty going.

Sessions focus on noticing unhelpful thinking habits, testing them against evidence, and building alternative responses. It is usually time-limited, with work to practise between sessions.

Commonly used for

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Panic disorder
  • Phobias
  • OCD
  • Insomnia and sleep difficulties

Family Therapy
Offered at the clinic

Sessions involving family members alongside the patient, looking at how a difficulty affects the household and how the household can support recovery.

Family members learn what the condition is and is not, how to respond during difficult periods, and how to look after their own wellbeing while caring.

Commonly used for

  • Schizophrenia and psychosis
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Substance use disorders
  • Child and adolescent concerns

Couple Therapy
Offered at the clinic

Joint sessions for partners where relationship difficulties are part of the picture, or where a mental health condition is affecting the relationship.

Work focuses on communication, shared understanding of the condition, and practical agreements that reduce conflict.

Commonly used for

  • Relationship difficulties
  • Sexual health concerns
  • Depression and anxiety affecting a relationship

Other approaches

Approaches that may be recommended or referred

These are part of psychiatric practice and may form part of your care. Where an approach is not provided at the clinic itself, a referral can be arranged — the consultation will tell you which applies.

Psychoeducation
May be recommended or referred

Structured explanation of the condition, its course, the treatment options and the early warning signs, given to the patient and usually to family too.

Understanding what is happening tends to reduce fear, improve participation in treatment and make relapse easier to catch early.

Commonly used for

  • Almost every condition, as part of the consultation

Behavioural Therapy
May be recommended or referred

Approaches that change what a person does rather than working first on thoughts — for example gradually re-engaging with avoided activities or situations.

Useful where avoidance, inactivity or a specific habit is maintaining the problem.

Commonly used for

  • Depression
  • Phobias
  • OCD
  • Habit-related difficulties

Supportive Psychotherapy
May be recommended or referred

Regular sessions focused on emotional support, problem-solving and maintaining day-to-day functioning, rather than on a specific technique.

Often appropriate during a difficult period, while a person is stabilising, or alongside other treatment.

Commonly used for

  • Adjustment difficulties
  • Chronic conditions
  • Periods of high stress

Motivational Interviewing
May be recommended or referred

A conversational approach that helps a person explore their own reasons for change, rather than being told what to do.

Particularly suited to situations where someone feels two ways about changing a behaviour.

Commonly used for

  • Alcohol and tobacco dependence
  • Other substance use
  • Lifestyle change

Stress Management
May be recommended or referred

Practical training in relaxation, breathing, routine and workload strategies.

Reduces the physical arousal that accompanies stress and builds a more sustainable daily structure.

Commonly used for

  • Stress-related difficulties
  • Anxiety
  • Somatic symptoms

Sleep Hygiene & Behavioural Sleep Interventions
May be recommended or referred

Changes to sleep timing, environment and pre-sleep habits, and behavioural methods for persistent insomnia.

Often tried before considering any medication for sleep, and used alongside treatment of an underlying condition.

Commonly used for

  • Insomnia
  • Sleep difficulties in depression and anxiety

Social Skills Training
May be recommended or referred

Structured practice of conversation, everyday interaction and self-care skills.

Supports a return to study, work and social life where a condition has affected confidence or day-to-day functioning.

Commonly used for

  • Schizophrenia
  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Social anxiety

Relapse Prevention & Recovery Support
May be recommended or referred

Identifying personal triggers and early warning signs, and agreeing a plan for what to do when they appear.

Usually involves family, and is planned once the acute phase has settled.

Commonly used for

  • Substance use disorders
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Recurrent depression
  • Schizophrenia

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about therapy, how it fits with medication and what is available at the clinic.

Is therapy an alternative to medication?

Sometimes, and sometimes not. For some concerns a talking or behavioural approach is the main treatment; for others medication is what makes therapy possible in the first place; often the two are used together. It depends on the condition, its severity and the individual assessment, so it is not something this page can answer for you.

Which of these therapies are available at the clinic?

Cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy and couple therapy are offered here. The other approaches described on this page may be recommended as part of your care, and where they are not provided at the clinic a referral can be arranged.

How many sessions will I need?

That is decided case by case. Structured therapies such as CBT are usually time-limited and reviewed as they go; supportive work may continue for as long as it is useful. Nobody can give you a number before an assessment, and any promise of a fixed course of treatment before then should be treated with caution.

Can family members be involved?

Yes, and for several conditions it is actively useful. Family therapy and psychoeducation involve relatives directly. Even in individual work, family members are often included in explaining the condition and in planning for difficult periods.

Is what I say in a session confidential?

Sessions are treated as confidential medical information, in line with professional practice and applicable law. If you have questions about what is recorded or shared, you are welcome to ask at the start.

Appointments

Discuss which approach fits your situation

Dr. Manchikalapudi Tirumala Babu consults at Maruthi Hospital and Diagnostics, Guntur. Call the clinic to request an appointment and talk through the options.

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Consulting hours are Monday to Saturday, 6:00–9:00 PM, by appointment. This website does not confirm bookings on its own — the clinic confirms a time with you.