The Alternative Story Review
The Alternative Story is worth considering if you want therapy that takes your wider circumstances seriously. Its queer-affirmative approach considers identity and social context, with private counselling and group support available. Subsidised and free individual places can make therapy more affordable. Those places are limited each month, so the lowest advertised price is not available with every therapist or appointment.
The verdict on The Alternative Story
What works
- Pay-what-you-want and free slots reduce the cost barrier for financially marginalised clients.
- You can select a therapist or request help with matching.
- Support groups offer a separate way to connect with others alongside private counselling.
Worth knowing
- Concession and free slots have a limited monthly allocation.
- The standard individual fee is higher than the subsidised starting figure.
Choose The Alternative Story if
You want therapy that considers your identity, relationships and social circumstances. If cost is a barrier, you can consider a concession place when one is available.
Who are The Alternative Story’s therapists?
The Alternative Story’s therapists take identity and social circumstances into account. Its therapists receive feminist, queer-affirmative, trauma-informed and anti-caste training. Individual approaches include person-centred work, CBT, narrative therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
- Minimum qualification stated by the practice: A postgraduate degree related to counselling or psychology.
Practitioner profiles
- Arpita: Master’s in Psychology with a clinical specialisation. Uses a person-centred framework and CBT principles.
- Monazza: Master’s in Applied Psychology from Jamia Millia Islamia. Combines person-centred work with cognitive behavioural approaches.
- Arunita: MSc in Psychology with a clinical specialisation from Montfort College. Draws on person-centred therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
What happens after you book?
- Choose a therapist or use the matching service.
- Select an appointment category and arrange an online or Bengaluru session.
Is The Alternative Story good value for money?
The concession scheme can make regular therapy considerably more affordable.Standard individual counselling costs ₹1,999, while conjoint or family sessions cost ₹2,499. Pay-what-you-want individual places start at ₹700, and free places are also offered for financial need. These have limited monthly availability. Group support is priced separately.
Cancellation & Refunds
The linked cancellation policy is unavailable, so the notice period and refund conditions remain unclear.
What The Alternative Story offers
Services
Specializations
Languages
How The Alternative Story scores
The Alternative Story scores 3.9/5, with a weighted total of 75/100. How we score.
Meet the founders
Paras Sharma, Rashi Vidyasagar
Paras Sharma and Rashi Vidyasagar built The Alternative Story around accessible mental-health support and an awareness of social inequality. Sharma trained in counselling at TISS and works in therapy and training. Vidyasagar’s background combines psychology, criminology and work supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
The Alternative Story vs the alternatives
Compare these options for related services. Check the specific therapist, appointment type and ongoing fee before choosing.
| # | Platform | OTI score | Price | Experience | Services | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mind VoyageMumbai | 4.8/5 | ₹1,599starting price | 5 yrs | Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy +2 | Review |
| 2 | Beautiful MindsBengaluru | 4.2/5 | ₹2,500per session | Not stated | Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy +3 | Review |
| 3 | SirayaMumbai | 4.1/5 | ₹1,050per session | 2.5 yrs | Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy +4 | Review |
The Alternative Story FAQ
Answers to common booking and comparison questions. Need a correction? Ask us directly.