Saumya Garg
Psychotherapist
- Referred by a therapist
Hi, I'm Saumya! Psychology found me through a school subject that most people forget by the end of term. I didn't. I often say it was my first relationship and unlike most others, it has never ended. For the first few years of my practice, I worked the way most therapists are trained to work, cognitively, with insight and awareness at the centre. And clients were getting there. They could name what was happening, trace where it came from, and understand the pattern. But something wasn't moving. I kept hearing the same thing: I know all of this, but I don't know what to do with it. That gap stayed with me. It pushed me toward somatic work, toward the body, toward what Bessel van der Kolk and others were pointing at. And when I found it, I understood what had been missing, not just for my clients but for myself.
I have my own history of being disconnected from my body. I know what it feels like to be asked where you feel something and have absolutely no answer. That experience is not incidental to how I work. It is central to it. I believe the body holds a kind of wisdom that conversation alone cannot always reach, and I have seen, in my own life and in my clients', how much can shift when that layer is finally included.
Outside the therapy room, I have been building something I care about just as much. A community around body image, sharing circles, workshops, writing, spaces where women can show up as they are and feel genuinely seen. It started from the same belief that drives my clinical work: that healing happens in relationships, and that sometimes the most powerful thing is simply not being alone with it.
2430+ 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.
4+ years of in-depth, practical training in psychotherapy post masters
- 3+ years (and ongoing) of advanced training in Transactional Analysis from International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA)
- 1+ year of training in Somatic Experiencing from internationally accredited Somatic Experiencing International
Educational Qualifications
- B.A. in Applied Psychology, Vivekananda College, University of Delhi
- M.A. in Applied Psychology (Counselling Specialisation), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (BALM)
Few therapists in India are building serious depth across both relational talk therapy and body-based trauma work simultaneously. Saumya is doing exactly that, trained in Transactional Analysis under the global body that sets the standard for this approach, and in somatic work under internationally accredited faculty from the gold-standard for Somatic Experiencing training.
I've been privileged to work with clients ranging from corporate professionals to youngsters navigating life, to people experiencing existential crisis, covering a wide variety of issues.
You are in the right place if you are not primarily seeking relief from autism or psychosis.
Approaches I Use
- Transactional Analysis (TA)
- Somatic Experiencing (SE)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Trauma Focused Therapy
Most of what keeps people stuck lives in two places at once, in the patterns formed early in a relationship, and in what the body has been quietly holding ever since. Saumya's work addresses both, helping clients understand where their patterns come from while also working with the physical layer of experience that talking alone cannot always reach.
What sessions with me feel like
The first session is rarely about going deep straight away. We map the landscape together, what is happening across your relationships, work, body, and inner world. By the end I can usually point to some patterns I am noticing, we check whether that lands, and from there we pick a direction. I also make sure you leave with something practical, a small somatic tool you can use in your week. Most of life happens outside the fifty minutes we spend together.
The early sessions are less structured, we are finding our rhythm. As that settles, a gentler structure comes in, not around topics or agendas but around the practices we are building. You can bring something completely new and we will follow it fully, while also finding ways to bring what we have already been working with in your body into that conversation.
I bring in different things depending on what is needed, body-based work, parts work, a resource to read or watch. I pay attention to what is happening between us in the room as well and will name it when it feels useful. I lean toward nurturing and supportive, especially early on.
Challenge comes in as trust builds, and when it does it is never abrupt. Sessions close with a concrete takeaway in the early stages so you feel oriented in the process. Over time, as you settle into the work, that becomes more fluid.
Session Basics
Languages
Fluent in English and Hindi
Location
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Mode
Online only
Duration
50 minutes
Available for
Individual Therapy
Rescheduling/Cancellation Policy
24-hour notice required
Outside therapy
I am someone who experiences art more than I make it. Music, theatre, dance, paintings, I will show up for all of it. There is something about witnessing someone else's world and feeling it intersect with your own that I find endlessly moving. I also find myself drawn to nature in a way that gets philosophical very quickly. Something about how animals and ecosystems simply coexist, without performance or pretence, gives me a kind of grounding I cannot always find elsewhere. These are the things that fill me back up.
What clients say
"I am on my journey with Saumya since few months now, and I am enjoying it, she is like a friend who you can trust and share everything and with her next phrases and questions, you get a lot of clarity and start looking at things in a different perspective. Overall, she has helped me a lot coping up with my issues and being a better person and I am very glad I got her as my therapist."
Female, 32
"She has been incredible as a therapist, helping me discover myself, my beliefs, my identity, and so much more. Therapy sessions can be really daunting, but Saumya provided that safe space for me to open up and always guided me as an expert. She is a fantastic Google Maps :) I am in a much better headspace as compared to when I joined here. With all the self-discovery and learnings from the sessions, I will be able to navigate better in life going ahead."
Male, 35
"Saumya has been nothing short of remarkable in guiding me through my mental health journey and I'm so grateful! It's been as easy as speaking to a trusted friend - I feel safe, heard and cared for, in a very profound manner. I couldn't be more relieved to have stumbled upon... Saumya, when I needed help the most."
Female, 25
"Taking therapy from Saumya... was one of the best decisions I made. I went to Saumya as a broken, depressed guy with crippling social anxiety a few months back. From then to now, Saumya was nothing but amazing in hearing my issues, understanding them, and offering help and comfort without any judgment. I've become a much better person over these months and keep on improving day by day. I would recommend Saumya.. in a heartbeat, anytime, any day!"
Male, 23
I've been referred to Mindbun by 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 work primarily with Transactional Analysis and Somatic Experiencing, while also integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and trauma-focused approaches. This allows us to explore patterns at both the cognitive and body level, supporting deeper and more lasting change.
What languages do you offer sessions in?
I offer sessions in English and Hindi.
What type of people may not be the right fit for you?
I may not be the right fit if you are primarily seeking support for autism or psychosis, as these concerns often require more specialised or multidisciplinary care.
Are your sessions more structured or exploratory?
My sessions are fluid and responsive rather than rigid. I bring gentle structure to keep the process grounded, while allowing space for exploration, reflection, and what naturally emerges for you.
Will I get exercises or reflection work between sessions?
Sometimes. I may suggest reflections, tools, or small practices to carry forward when helpful, but there is no fixed homework.
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.