Iqra Qureshi is a Counseling Psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and around three years of experience. She specializes in supporting young adults through challenges related to anxiety, self-worth, trauma, and relationships. With a compassionate and culturally sensitive approach, she offers therapy through her initiative Nafsiyat and collaborates with platforms like Manastha, Spring Health, and Address Health. Psych-Qureshi is committed to making mental health care more human, relatable, and reflective.
In an interaction with THIP Media, Ms. Qureshi shared how health literacy act as a game changer for patients.
When a patient explains to you about their health problems, what are the most common mistakes they make in their communication?
One of the most common challenges I notice when clients open up about their mental health is the tendency to come in with self-diagnosed labels—often influenced by social media or online content. While this reflects growing awareness, it can also cause confusion or steer the therapeutic process in the wrong direction. Many clients have been misdiagnosed in the past or hold on to clinical labels that don’t truly reflect their lived experiences.
Another recurring issue is the limited emotional vocabulary, especially within Desi culture. We often lack both the language and the safe spaces to express our feelings. Clients aren’t unwilling to share—they simply haven’t been taught to name emotions beyond broad terms like “stress” or “tension.” As a result, many struggle to articulate complex emotions like grief, guilt, shame, or emotional numbness.
A big part of my work, then, involves helping clients unlearn these patterns, gently reframe their understanding, and expand their emotional vocabulary. I aim to create a non-judgmental space where they can feel seen, heard, and validated—without the pressure to get the words exactly right.
What does health literacy mean to you, and why is it important in patient care?
For me, health literacy is really about empowering people to understand what’s happening with their mind and body—and knowing how to respond. It’s not about complicated medical terms or heavy diagnoses. It’s about making sense of your own experiences, feeling confident to ask questions, and being able to make informed choices about your care.
In therapy, I often see how a lack of understanding holds people back. Many clients don’t know what kind of support is available or how therapy actually works. Some believe they need a ‘serious’ issue to seek help, or they tell themselves, ‘I should be able to handle this alone.’ That’s where health literacy becomes crucial—it helps people realize that it’s okay to ask for help early, that therapy is a journey, and that healing doesn’t follow a straight line.
When people are informed, they engage differently. They come in more open, more curious, and more committed to their own progress. That shifts everything—because therapy is most effective when it’s a shared, collaborative process. So to me, health literacy isn’t about big words—it’s about understanding, access, and feeling safe enough to take control of your own mental well-being.
If a patient is knowledgeable about the basics of their health condition, how helpful is it for the overall treatment procedure?
When a patient understands the fundamentals of their health condition, it can significantly improve the entire treatment journey. With a clear grasp of what’s happening, they tend to feel less anxious and more assured about the next steps. It also makes communication smoother—they’re able to ask meaningful questions and express their experiences more clearly. This understanding plays a big role in treatment adherence too, as they recognize the importance of specific strategies or medications. Ultimately, it builds a stronger, more collaborative client-therapist relationship, which is essential for meaningful healing and personal growth.
How much can medical misinformation impact treatment procedures?
Medical misinformation can really disrupt the treatment process. When someone has been misdiagnosed or comes across inaccurate information online, it can heavily influence how they view themselves—even before we’ve had the chance to properly explore what’s really going on.
I once worked with a client who had been given a misdiagnosis and later dove deep into online content about that condition. She started identifying with every symptom she read about—even those she hadn’t originally experienced. Over time, she unknowingly began reinforcing those symptoms in her everyday life, almost as if she was trying to “match” the diagnosis. It wasn’t deliberate—she was simply trying to understand herself—but it ended up complicating her progress, because we first had to unravel what truly reflected her experience and what was shaped by the label.
That’s the real harm of misinformation—it doesn’t just confuse, it can distort a person’s sense of self. That’s why I always emphasize approaching these situations with care and sensitivity.
What are the most common myths or misinformation you see your patients falling prey to?
There are several mental health myths that clients often grapple with. One of the most common is the belief that “going to therapy means something is seriously wrong.” Because of this, many people wait until they’ve hit a breaking point before seeking help. I try to explain that therapy isn’t just for crises—it can also be preventive and a space for ongoing support.
Another widespread myth relates to self-diagnosis. Clients often say things like, “I have OCD because I like things neat,” or “I must be bipolar because my mood shifts a lot.” These ideas often come from what they’ve seen online. While it’s good that awareness is growing, social media tends to oversimplify complex conditions, which can lead to misunderstanding.
In Indian households, there’s also the deep-rooted notion that “strong people don’t need help.” This can create a lot of guilt or shame around reaching out for support. As a mental health professional, part of my role is to gently challenge these beliefs and help clients see that seeking help is actually a sign of strength, not weakness.
What is your most common advice to patients to stay away from health misinformation online?
The most common advice I give to my clients is: “It’s okay to be curious, but don’t rely on Internet or social media to diagnose yourself.” While there’s a flood of mental health content online today—though some of it are genuinely helpful—a lot of it is even misleading. People often come across symptom lists and instantly assume they have a particular disorder, which can lead to unnecessary worry or confusion.
I always urge clients to check the source of what they’re reading. Is it coming from a licensed mental health professional? Is it grounded in research, or just someone’s personal opinion? Most importantly, I encourage them to bring that content into our sessions so we can explore and unpack it together. It’s much healthier to process that information in a safe, informed setting rather than drawing conclusions in isolation.
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