Ira Khan talks about ‘Graduating Therapy’: Can someone really complete it?

Mental health is increasingly taking centre stage mdash from boardrooms to classrooms While conversations around seeking therapy have become far more open there is still limited discussion about what unfolds during or after the process Healing does not follow a fixed timeline and understanding what progress looks like beyond the first few sessions remains an important yet often overlooked part of the journeyRecently Bollywood actor Aamir Khanrsquos daughter Ira Khan revealed that she had ldquograduatedrdquo from therapy prompting a wider debate on whether one can truly reach such a conclusion As one of the few public figures who openly discuss mental health her statement has spotlighted the evolving understanding of emotional wellbeing and recoveryTo explore this further midday spoke with Dr Dhara Ghuntla mdash psychologist and independent practitioner affiliated with Sujay Hospital Seven Hills Hospital and Criticare Hospital mdash and Dr Rita Mendonca Founder and Head Psychologist at My Mind Gains a governmentregistered mental health clinic and training hub in Mumbai They shared insights on what ldquograduatingrdquo from therapy really means and the signs many people tend to overlook in their mental health journeyIs it actually possible to complete therapyDr Ghuntla ldquoTherapy does not follow a linear trajectory with a fixed endpoint What individuals can lsquocompletersquo are specific therapeutic goals mdash such as resolving a distressing event learning coping mechanisms or enhancing selfregulation Psychological growth however is ongoing Many clients return to therapy at different life stages to address emerging needs or developmental challengesrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoTherapy isnrsquot something you finish itrsquos something you outgrow I often tell my clients about the three Drsquos of emotional work mdash Disorder Dysfunction and Development Disorder is about managing symptoms like anxiety or depression until life feels liveable again Dysfunction deals with situational pain mdash heartbreak grief burnout mdash and rebuilding coping skills Development is about growth improving communication overcoming blocks and reaching your potential So yes maybe Ira graduated mdash not from therapy but from an old version of herself Therapy doesnrsquot end it evolvesrdquoWhy do people take up therapy Has that changed over timeDr Ghuntla ldquoHistorically therapy was primarily sought during periods of acute distress or dysfunction mdash for anxiety depression or trauma In recent years its scope has expanded to preventive and developmental goals building emotional intelligence improving communication setting boundaries or enhancing selfconcept Therapy has evolved from a crisisintervention model to a tool for psychological maintenance and personal growthrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoA decade ago people came to therapy to fix something today they come to understand themselves Therapy has shifted from crisis management to growth mdash from lsquofix mersquo to lsquohelp me make sense of mersquo Itrsquos now seen as mental fitness My goal is to help each person become their most authentic self mdash not the most healed or positive but the most realrdquoHow long does therapy take Does it differ from person to personDr Ghuntla ldquoTherapeutic duration varies widely Shortterm models may focus on specific issues across 8ndash12 sessions while psychodynamic or traumafocused therapies can extend over months or years Factors such as client motivation symptom chronicity and the complexity of underlying patterns influence the length and depth of the processrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoTherersquos no fixed timeline for therapy mdash it ends when your insights start sounding like your own voice For some thatrsquos six sessions for others six months Shortterm therapies like CBT show results quickly while deeper identity or trauma work takes longer Therapy isnrsquot a sprint itrsquos strength training mdash you stay until you can hold your own weightrdquoAre more Gen Z individuals opting for therapy nowDr Ghuntla ldquoYes Gen Z demonstrates higher psychological literacy than previous generations They approach therapy not merely as a corrective measure but as a pathway to selfunderstanding resiliencebuilding and stress management in an uncertain worldrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoGen Z is the most selfaware generation yet mdash they name their emotions understand attachment styles and openly say lsquoI need helprsquo For them therapy isnrsquot about meltdown but maintenance Itrsquos not lsquoIrsquom brokenrsquo its lsquoIrsquom learning emotional fluencyrsquordquoWhat about millennials Are they seeking therapy more than beforeDr Ghuntla ldquoIncreasingly so Millennials now in their 30s and 40s are seeking therapy to address burnout relationship strain and unresolved emotional issues from earlier life stages Many are shifting from a survival mindset to one that prioritises mental health and longterm sustainabilityrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoMillennials are entering therapy for recovery not discovery After years of hustle theyrsquore confronting the emotional toll mdash anxiety loneliness disconnection Many start by saying lsquoI donrsquot know who I am outside of workrsquo Therapy helps them slow down set boundaries and redefine success as peace over productivityrdquoWhat are the most common misconceptions about therapyDr Ghuntla ldquoA common misconception is that therapy is only for severe mental illness or that therapists lsquogive advicersquo Therapy is actually a structured evidencebased process aimed at building insight emotional regulation and adaptive functioning It empowers clients to develop internal resources rather than depend on external instructionrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoTherapy isnrsquot just for those struggling mdash itrsquos for anyone who wants to grow smarter softer and stronger Therapists donrsquot give advice they hold up mirrors Crying isnrsquot weakness itrsquos release And if therapy didnrsquot work once it doesnrsquot mean it never will mdash the right fit matters Therapy isnrsquot about changing who you are but remembering who you were before the world told you otherwiserdquoHas celebrity openness helped increase awarenessDr Ghuntla ldquoAbsolutely Public figures discussing their therapeutic journeys helps reduce stigma and promotes helpseeking behaviour It reframes therapy as an indicator of psychological maturity rather than vulnerabilityrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoWhen public figures share their mental health stories they give language to feelings many people suppress But awareness must go beyond hashtags mdash therapy isnrsquot casual selfcare itrsquos structured emotional work Still voices like Ira Khan and Deepika Padukonersquos help normalise conversations about pain Change begins not with perfection but with honestyrdquoWhat symptoms do people often ignore that indicate they may need therapyDr Ghuntla ldquoPersistent mood disturbances heightened anxiety irritability sleep disruptions emotional numbness difficulty concentrating or loss of interest in meaningful activities If these persist or impair functioning therapy is recommendedrdquoDr Mendonca ldquoYoursquore always tired but never rested You replay arguments You feel invisible You canrsquot remember the last time you felt joy instead of relief These arenrsquot flaws mdash theyrsquore signals asking to be heardrdquoTherapy isnrsquot something that ends mdash itrsquos an ongoing conversation with yourself It may begin in distress but over time it builds resilience emotional literacy and a deeper sense of self that extends far beyond the therapy room