Why Evidence-Based Care Matters: Choosing Science Over Opinion

In a culturally rich place like Dharamshala, people carry deep traditions, wisdom, and community knowledge. These values are important and meaningful. At the same time however, when it comes to health including mental health care and early intervention for disabilities, decisions based on opinion, hearsay, or superstition can unintentionally delay recovery, worsen symptoms, or cause real harm. 

At our clinic, we believe that care should be compassionate, culturally sensitive, and scientifically grounded. This is why we practise evidence-based care. 

What Does “Evidence-Based” Actually Mean? 

Evidence-based practice means that assessments and treatments are chosen because they are supported by: 

• Scientific research conducted across representative groups of people 

• Clinical expertise from trained professionals 

• The individual needs, values, and life context of the person 

It does not mean ignoring culture, faith, or family beliefs. It means ensuring that what we recommend has been proven to be safe, effective, and ethical. 

In contrast, advice based purely on opinion – “this worked for someone I know” – or superstition – “this happened because of planetary positions or curses” – has no reliable way of being tested, or corrected when it fails. 

The Real Risks of Opinion-Based or Superstitious Care 

In the Indian context, we frequently see people who have: 

• Delayed therapy because symptoms were attributed to weak willpower or past-life causes 

• Avoided medical or psychological treatment due to fear, stigma, or misinformation 

• Spent years and significant money on unverified remedies with no improvement 

While traditional beliefs can offer comfort or meaning, they cannot replace diagnosis, structured intervention, or monitoring of outcomes—especially in conditions involving child development, learning difficulties, trauma, anxiety, depression, or neurological change. 

Evidence Protects the Most Vulnerable 

Evidence-based care is especially important for: 

• Children, whose developing brains need timely and appropriate support 

• Survivors of trauma, who may be blamed or shamed instead of helped 

• Elderly individuals, where memory or behavioural changes may be missed or misinterpreted 

• Families, who deserve clarity rather than confusion or guilt 

When care is based on science, we can answer essential questions honestly: 

• Is this treatment helping? 

• How do we know? 

• What should we change if it isn’t? 

Superstition offers certainty without accountability. Evidence offers accountability, transparency, and hope. 

“But Science Feels Cold – We Want Human Care” 

This is a common concern, and an understandable one. 

Good evidence-based care is not mechanical or impersonal. In fact, it allows us to be more humane – because we are not guessing. 

At our clinic, evidence guides: 

• How we assess difficulties 

• How we plan therapy 

• How we track progress 

• How we involve families 

Empathy tells us how to care. Evidence tells us what works. The two are strongest when they work together. 

Respecting Culture Without Sacrificing Care 

We do not dismiss culture, spirituality, or family values. We do, however, believe that: 

• Cultural explanations should not replace medical or psychological assessment 

• Faith should support healing, not block it 

• Tradition should evolve when new knowledge protects lives and futures 

Choosing evidence-based care is not a rejection of tradition – it is a commitment to responsibility and integrity. 

Our Commitment as a Clinic 

In Dharamshala and the surrounding regions, access to reliable, ethical, and scientifically grounded care is still uneven. Our clinic exists to change that. 

We commit to: 

• Using validated assessments and therapies 

• Staying updated with current research 

• Explaining recommendations clearly and respectfully 

• Partnering with families rather than judging them 

Health and healing should never depend on chance, fear, or untested belief. 

Choosing Care That Stands on Truth 

When you choose evidence-based care, you are choosing: 

• Clarity over confusion 

• Progress over stagnation 

• Accountability over guesswork 

• Hope grounded in reality 

If you or your family are seeking support, we invite you to choose care that is compassionate, ethical, and proven to help. 

Because your well-being deserves more than opinion. It deserves evidence.