Why an online consultation helps
For some people, the hardest part of seeing a psychiatrist isn't the conversation itself — it's the drive across the city, the waiting room, the chance of running into someone you know. An online consultation removes those specific barriers. You can speak from a quiet room at home, during a lunch break at work, or from another city entirely, without any of it being visible to anyone else. For many, that added layer of privacy makes it easier to actually start the conversation they've been putting off.
This isn't a lesser version of psychiatric care — it's the same clinical assessment, the same standards of confidentiality, and often the same treatment plan, delivered over video instead of across a desk.
How an online consultation works
Reach out
Message on WhatsApp or call to say you'd like an online consultation. No forms, no referral — just a message.
Get the link
You'll receive a secure video call link and a suggested time. No special app is usually needed — a phone or computer with a camera is enough.
The consultation
An unhurried, confidential conversation — Dr. Heena listens, asks questions, and discusses what might help next, exactly as she would in person.
Follow-up
Ongoing sessions, medication reviews, and check-ins can continue online, or shift to in-person visits whenever that's a better fit for your care.
Privacy — what actually happens to what you share
Video consultations are conducted over a secure, private connection — never recorded or shared without your explicit consent. The same confidentiality standards that apply to an in-person session apply here: what you say stays between you and Dr. Heena, with the same narrow, ethics-guided exceptions for genuine safety concerns that would apply to any psychiatric consultation, in-person or online. If you're consulting from a shared living space, it's worth choosing a time and room where you can speak freely — Dr. Heena can also suggest ways to manage that if privacy at home is a genuine concern.
What can — and can't — be handled online
| Situation | Usually fine online | Better in person |
|---|---|---|
| First assessment | Yes, for most concerns | Preferred if symptoms are severe or a physical exam is relevant |
| Ongoing therapy sessions | Yes | — |
| Medication follow-up / dosage review | Yes, for stable, established treatment | Preferred when starting certain medications that need closer initial monitoring |
| Acute crisis or safety concern | No | Always — go to the nearest hospital or call emergency services (112) rather than wait for an online slot |
| Complex or unclear presentation | Can start online | May be advised to follow up in person for a fuller assessment |
When not to rely on an online consultation
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, feels unable to stay safe, or is in acute crisis, please don't wait for a scheduled online appointment — this situation needs immediate, in-person help.
- Emergency — 112, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department
- Tele-MANAS — 14416 (also 1-800-891-4416) — national, 24/7, English & regional languages
Who chooses an online consultation
People reach out for an online consultation for many reasons — living outside Surat but wanting continuity of care with the same psychiatrist, a busy work schedule that makes an in-person visit hard to fit in, mobility or health limitations, or simply feeling more comfortable having the first conversation from a familiar, private space before deciding whether to continue in person. All of these are entirely reasonable, and none require justification when you reach out.
About Dr. Heena Khanna
Dr. Heena Khanna, MBBS, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Heena Khanna is a Consultant Psychiatrist practising at Mahavir Health Campus, Ring Rd, Athwa Gate, Surat. She holds an MBBS and an MD in Psychiatry, and is a member of the Indian Psychiatric Society and the Indian Medical Association. She offers both online and in-person consultations, covering anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, panic disorder, insomnia, stress, and related concerns. No referral is required to book a first session, online or in person.