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IDENTIFICATION AND EXPLORATION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL BARRIERS IN THE PROCESS OF THERAPY & COUNSELLING PROCESSES
Speaker: Sohini Mukherjee
Topic: What is Hindering the Counselling Process? - Identification and Exploration of Psychosocial Barriers in the Process of Therapy.
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 11:30am – 1:00pm
Venue: Room 220, Loreto College
Department of Psychology [UG & PG]
A lecture session under the Alumnae Lecture Series “From Campus to Career: Alumnae Talks in Psychology” was conducted on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in Room 220 for the Department of Psychology [UG & PG], Loreto College, Kolkata. The session was delivered by Psychologist Sohini Mukherjee, it focused to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the various factors that influence the effectiveness of counselling and psychotherapy.
The session began with an introduction to counselling as a structured process that facilitates insight into thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. However, it was emphasized that therapy often encounters multiple barriers that hinder progress. These included psychosocial factors such as lack of trust, social stigma, fear of judgment, and cultural or familial pressures. Additionally, barriers within the therapeutic relationship, such as weak therapeutic alliance, miscommunication, and lack of empathy, were discussed as critical elements that can disrupt engagement. Internal psychological barriers, including denial, defense mechanisms, fear of introspection, and cognitive distortions, were also highlighted as natural yet significant obstacles in the therapeutic process.
A major focus of the lecture was on the neurobiological aspects of therapy. It was explained that heightened emotional arousal, associated with increased cortisol and adrenaline levels, can impair higher-order cognitive functioning by activating the amygdala and suppressing the prefrontal cortex. In such states, individuals may struggle with reasoning, self-reflection, and emotional regulation, thereby limiting the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Furthermore, severe neurochemical imbalances observed in conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis were identified as situations where psychiatric intervention becomes necessary to stabilize the individual before engaging in therapeutic work.
The lecture concluded by emphasizing the importance of an integrated treatment approach, where psychotherapy and medication work together to produce optimal outcomes. While medication helps regulate neurochemical functioning, therapy facilitates cognitive restructuring, emotional processing, behavioural change, and relapse prevention. Additional concepts such as treatment resistance, rehabilitation, and the RUC model (Rapport, Understanding, Changing) were discussed, along with the role of family counselling in improving mental health outcomes. Overall, the session provided a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in counselling and highlighted the need for a flexible, multidimensional approach to effective psychological intervention.
The session focused on understanding the barriers encountered in counselling along with the role of psychiatric intervention in enhancing treatment outcomes. Counselling was introduced as a structured process aimed at helping individuals understand their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours; however, it was emphasized that therapy does not always progress smoothly due to various psychosocial, relational, and internal psychological barriers.
