Pooja Sahitya Choudhary
Psychotherapist
- Referred by a therapist
Hi, I'm Pooja! Psychology was never a distant interest for me, it was something I kept returning to, even while my professional life moved through different spaces. Before moving fully into psychotherapy, I spent over a decade working closely with senior leaders, managers, and high-performing professionals, an experience that deeply shapes how I understand workplace pressure, identity, and emotional resilience today. Over the years, I worked across varied roles and environments, including the corporate world, gaining firsthand exposure to pressure, ambition, interpersonal dynamics, and the quiet emotional costs that often remain unspoken. While those experiences shaped me, they also clarified something important: my strongest affinity had always been toward understanding people, not just processes.
That pull eventually led me back to psychology, this time with intention. I chose to pursue formal psychotherapeutic training so that my curiosity could be held by theory, ethics, and depth. Training gave me language for what I had intuitively noticed for years: how early experiences shape present patterns, how relationships mirror internal worlds, and how much healing depends on feeling truly seen.
Today, my work is informed by both lived experience and structured therapeutic learning. Having navigated different professional and personal contexts myself, I find it easier to meet clients from varied walks of life without assumptions, whether they come from corporate roles, transitional phases, or quieter inner struggles that don’t always have clear labels.
In therapy, I offer a space that is thoughtful, grounded, and collaborative. I listen not just to what is being said, but to what sits underneath, the emotions, contradictions, and patterns that want understanding rather than correction. My intention is to support clients in making sense of themselves with clarity and compassion, so they can move forward feeling more aligned, resilient, and connected to who they are becoming.
3100+ hours of work in therapy
I didn't stop learning after my masters, I have been continuously investing in practical case-based training, client work, and my own personal therapy.
We show therapy sessions so you can better understand a therapist's real-world experience.
Two therapists may both have five years in practice, yet one might have completed 500 sessions while another has completed 3,000. This depends on whether they practice part-time or full-time and how consistently they see clients. Session counts make that difference visible.
Just as you would not trust a surgeon who has only read about the human body but never operated, therapy cannot be mastered through textbooks alone. While many master's programs in India are heavily theory-driven, practical training develops the real skill of therapy - learning how to ask the right question, when to hold silence, when to challenge, and how to respond in complex emotional moments.
Therapists are human, and they carry their own histories. When a client's experiences resemble their own, old patterns can get activated.
For example, if a therapist grew up with a highly critical parent and a client shares a similar experience, that old pattern can get activated. They may unconsciously over-identify, rescue, or react instead of staying objective. Personal therapy helps therapists recognise their own triggers and patterns so they can respond thoughtfully and continue to hold a non-judgemental space. Nobody is born non judgemental, it takes a lot of personal work to get there.
6+ years of in-depth, practical training in psychotherapy post masters
- 6+ years (and ongoing) of advanced training in Transactional Analysis from International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA)
- Training in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies with Linda Thai
- Certification in Psychodrama with Sulabha Abhyankar
- Certification in The Missing Pieces of Attachment Theory: A Decolonized Approach with Linda Thai
- Workshop on Inner Child Healing with Haseena Abdulla (TSTA), ITAA recognised TA trainer
- Training in Gestalt Therapy with Anil Thomas
- Training in Grief Therapy with Aruna Gopakumar (TSTA), ITAA recognised TA trainer
- Course in Couples Counseling from Flourish Foundation
- Certification in Theory & Practice of Group Psychotherapy with Aruna Gopakumar
- Workshop on Life Scripts with Aruna Gopakumar (TSTA), ITAA recognised TA trainer
- Certification in Working with Emotions in Psychotherapy & Counseling with Aruna Gopakumar (TSTA), ITAA recognised TA trainer
- Training in REBT (Basic & Advanced) with Dr. Debbie Joffe Ellis, internationally recognised psychologist and professor
- Certification in Personality Adaptations with Aruna Gopakumar (TSTA), ITAA recognised TA trainer
Educational Qualifications
- B.A. in Psychology from SIES College, Mumbai University
- M.A. in Psychology from IILM University
- B.Com in Banking & Insurance from SIES College, Mumbai University
- M.Com in Management from R.A. Podar College, Mumbai University
✨ Pooja has trained with both senior ITAA-accredited and internationally recognised faculty, reflecting sustained depth shaped by global psychotherapy standards.
I work with adults in individual and couples therapy. A large part of my practice includes professionals and senior leaders navigating high-responsibility roles and complex relational dynamics. Having spent many years training and coaching executives, I understand the inner pressures that often sit behind performance and leadership.
I am not the right fit for cases requiring intensive psychiatric care, active suicidal ideation, severe addiction, or neurodivergence.
Approaches I Use
- Transactional Analysis (TA)
- Inner Child Healing
- Psychodrama
- Gestalt Therapy
- Somatic Experiencing
✨ Pooja blends structured talk therapy with somatic and experiential awareness. She helps you understand where your patterns come from, how long-standing attachment themes shape your relationships, and ensures your nervous system feels supported rather than overwhelmed as you work through them.
What sessions with me feel like
My sessions begin with a simple but grounding question: "how are you feeling as you come in today?". I pay close attention to what shows up in your body, emotions, and tone, trusting that these often guide us to what needs care the most. Rather than following a fixed agenda, I work at your pace and intensity, offering choice, consent, and agency at every step. Some clients come in wanting structure, clarity, and direction; others need space to explore gently and be held. I adapt to both. When structure is helpful, we co-create it together. When exploration feels safer, we stay with what emerges. I integrate emotional work, reflective conversation, and body awareness, always checking in on readiness and capacity.
A key part of my work is ensuring you leave sessions feeling more settled than when you arrived. I consciously reserve time to help regulate, reflect, and anchor any insights or lightness that emerges, so the work doesn’t feel overwhelming. Between sessions, reflections or practices are offered only if they feel supportive to you. At the heart of my work is safety. I believe healing happens when you feel deeply listened to, respected, and not rushed. My role is not to push insight, but to stay fully present with you until your system feels ready to move forward.
Session Basics
Languages
Fluent in English, Hindi & Sindhi;
Understands Punjabi, Gujarati & Marathi
Location
Mumbai, India
Mode
Online only
Duration
60 minutes
Available for
Individual Therapy & Couples Therapy
Rescheduling/Cancellation Policy
24-hour notice required
Outside therapy
I’m a complete foodie, good food can instantly lift my mood. When I’m not exploring flavours, you’ll find me spending time with family, reading, or writing. Punjab holds a special place in my heart and feels deeply grounding to me. My Sundays are reserved for spiritual reflection and service, which help me stay rooted, steady, and present. I believe deeply in safety, grace, and the idea that at our core, we are all essentially okay.
What clients say
"Many thanks to Pooja for patiently hearing me out over the past few sessions. Being able to voice things out has been quite cathartic by itself."
Male, Early 30s, Bangalore
"Therapy can change one’s life! Thanks to Pooja, I can say that about mine. I am now much more in control of my actions and life. I understand myself better and slowly releasing myself from the patterns I was stuck in. Every step of the way, Pooja was with me. The world needs more of you Pooja - all the best!"
Male, Early 30s, Mumbai
"Pooja has been a thoughtful partner as I unravel my patterns and inner workings. She’s helped me challenge, gently, some long held assumptions."
Male, 28, Mumbai, Product Manager
I've been referred to Mindbun by therapist Bhumi and approved for practice by my trainer, Haseena Abdulla (TSTA), ITAA recognised TA trainer.
Therapists know what good therapy feels like. That's why this referral is stronger, and why you can trust it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What approaches do you work with?
I primarily work with Transactional Analysis, Inner Child Healing, Psychodrama, Gestalt Therapy, and somatic-informed approaches, integrating both reflective and experiential methods.
What languages do you offer sessions in?
I offer sessions in English, Hindi, and Sindhi. I also understand Punjabi, Gujarati, and Marathi.
What type of people may not be the right fit for you?
I may not be the right fit if you are seeking support for psychosis, active suicidal ideation, conditions requiring psychiatric medication, or neurodivergence.
Do you have experience working with clients outside India? Which countries?
Yes. I have worked with clients across multiple countries through online therapy, including the UK, US, and Singapore.
Are your sessions more structured or exploratory?
My sessions can be both. I adapt to your needs, offering structure and clarity when helpful, and exploration when that feels safer and more supportive.
Will I get exercises or reflection work between sessions?
Sometimes. I may suggest reflections or gentle practices, but only if they feel supportive. There is no pressure on you to do those.
What if I disagree with you?
I genuinely welcome disagreement in our work together. If something I say doesn't sit right with you, I encourage you to share it openly. Therapy is a collaborative space, and your voice matters deeply here. Often, moments of disagreement lead to powerful insights, about patterns, boundaries, needs, or past experiences. Exploring these moments together can become an important part of your therapeutic growth and help us build a more honest, trusting relationship.
What if it doesn't feel like it's working after a few sessions?
Let's talk about it openly. Therapy is a collaborative process, and it's important that you feel safe sharing if something doesn't feel right. Sometimes, naming what isn't working can lead to meaningful shifts in the work itself. You are always free to pause, take a break, or explore a different therapist if that feels better for you. We can have that conversation together first, or you can also reach out to the Mindbun team for support in finding a better fit. Your comfort and growth matter more than pushing through something silently.