Prekshya Saraf Maharana
Psychotherapist
- Referred by a therapist
Hi, I'm Prekshya! My path to therapy was not a straight line. I spent 15 years in corporate life after an MBA from XLRI, navigating high-pressure environments, building a career, and learning what it costs to keep showing up at full capacity when your body and your life are asking for something different. I have lived through the kind of exhaustion that does not show up on any performance review, and I know what it means to hold it together professionally while quietly falling apart in other ways.
One of the things that shaped me most was navigating endometriosis through the middle of an active career. It is the kind of experience that sits at the intersection of physical pain, invisible struggle, and the pressure to keep performing anyway. That experience gave me a particular sensitivity to what working women carry that rarely gets named, let alone addressed.
I have also lived through multiple transitions myself, from one city to another, from one career to the next, and now settled in Singapore, far from where I started. I understand the particular weight of building a life in a new country, of re-learning how to belong, how to work, how to relate, and how to hold onto your sense of self when everything around you has changed. That experience is not background noise for me. It is something I bring directly into the room.
What drew me to therapy specifically was the work of going deeper into personal struggles. I came in with my own patterns to work through, including a long-held sense of not being good enough, particularly around people who seemed more senior or more certain than I was. That work changed how I see myself and how I sit with clients. I work especially well with people navigating confidence, self-worth, and the particular kind of doubt that builds quietly under a capable exterior.
790+ hours of work in therapy
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.
5+ years of in-depth, practical training in psychotherapy
- 5+ years and ongoing Advanced Training in Transactional Analysis from International Transactional Analysis Association
- Diploma in Transactional Analysis from International Transactional Analysis Association
The ITAA is the gold standard for TA psychotherapy training globally, and Prekshya has been in ongoing advanced training through them for over five years. That kind of sustained commitment to a single modality is uncommon.
I've been privileged to work with working professionals navigating the pressures of demanding careers, life transitions, and the quieter struggles that build underneath a capable exterior, as well as individuals finding their footing through grief, relationships, and significant life changes.
You are in the right place if you are not primarily seeking support for suicidal ideations, personality disorders, neurodivergence or psychosis.
Approaches I Use
- Transactional Analysis (TA)
- Relational Therapy
✨ Prekshya's work helps clients understand the gap between how they show up in the world and what they are actually carrying underneath. She works with the patterns and beliefs quietly driving that gap, using clear frameworks and honest, timely challenges to make what is complex easier to see and work with.
What sessions with me feel like
Sessions begin with what is coming up for you right now. If something new has emerged since we last spoke, we follow that. At some point I will gently bring back what we have been working on, but only when it feels right, never as an imposition. Goals matter to me so we will try to agree on what you are working toward, not as a rigid contract but as a shared direction. We will revisit these goals regularly to know whether the work is actually moving, and when something shifts, we name it and we agree on the new direction together.
I use frameworks various from Transactional Analysis actively in sessions, which clients often find surprisingly useful because they make something that felt murky suddenly visible. I share resources and tools when I think they will help, and I encourage clients to read and reflect when it adds to what we are doing in the room. I also pay close attention to what I see, not just what is being said. If you are describing something painful in a very controlled, matter of fact way, I will name that. I have found that naming what is visible in the room, the emotion that is present but not yet spoken, often gives people permission to actually feel it. I do this carefully and at the right moment, never to shame, always to open something up and grow in your personal journey.
Sessions end with what you are taking away. I ask what stayed with you, what shifted, what you are still sitting with. Occasionally I will suggest something to reflect on or work on between sessions, but only when I genuinely believe it will add something, not as a routine.
Session Basics
Languages
Fluent in English, Hindi & Odia
Location
Singapore
Mode
Online only
Duration
60 minutes
Available for
Individual Therapy
Rescheduling/Cancellation Policy
24-hour notice required
Outside therapy
Every year when I was in India, we would make it to at least one national park. Kanha, Bandhavgarh, somewhere with space and quiet and animals doing their thing completely unbothered by human schedules. That kind of travel resets something in me that nothing else quite does. When I am not planning the next trip, you will usually find me cooking or pottering around with plants. Singapore has been a new chapter and I am still discovering it, one neighbourhood and one good meal at a time.
What clients say
"Working with Prekshya has been a truly transformative journey for me. She helped me get clarity about my personality and helped me look at myself inside out. Through her guidance, I’ve learned to be more confident, to love myself, and to use my words in ways that bring a positive outlook to my life. Her support has extended beyond just personal growth, she has helped me in managing my team better, which has led to stronger outcomes at work. What I appreciate most is that even today, she continues to check in on me, making sure I’m on track with my self-love and growth."
Female, 28, Bangalore, Marketing Professional
"Prekshya supported me through a recent career move, which was quite a stressful period for me. She is patient, thoughtful, and completely non-judgmental in her approach. Through her insightful questions, she helped me pause, reflect, and think more clearly for myself. She gently guided me to discover what felt right for me."
Female, 30, Singapore, Product Manager
I've been referred to Mindbun by therapist Swati Ramgopal.
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 work primarily with Transactional Analysis and relational therapy.
What languages do you offer sessions in?
I offer sessions in English, Hindi, and Odia.
What type of people may not be the right fit for you?
I may not be the right fit if you are primarily seeking crisis intervention or support for personality disorders, neurodivergence, bipolar disorder, or psychosis, as these concerns often require more specialised or intensive care.
Do you have experience working with clients outside India? Which countries?
Yes. I have worked with NRI clients through online therapy, including individuals based in the USA, UAE, and India.
Are your sessions more structured or exploratory?
My sessions balance structure with exploration. We may set clear goals and work on specific concerns, while also allowing space for emotions, patterns, and insights that emerge in the moment.
Will I get exercises or reflection work between sessions?
Occasionally. I may suggest reflections or small steps to think about between sessions when helpful, but there is no fixed homework. Any between-session work is collaborative and tailored to what feels supportive for you.
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.