At Brilliant Read Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this, we invited Bandita Rath Sharma for an interview with Brilliant Read Media. To say further, Bandita is a Counselling Psychologist, Mental Health Professional and Founder of Bandita’s Healing Space. Let’s learn more about her background, inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Bandita:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
I come from Puri, Odisha — a land where culture speaks aloud and values are deeply rooted in everyday life. Being raised in such an environment shaped my sense of identity, community, and purpose early on.
From childhood, I’ve been naturally sensitive, emotionally aware, and thoughtful in how I connect with others. I’ve always been careful with words, mindful of people’s feelings, and grounded in empathy. That balance of feeling deeply yet holding space became the foundation of my personal and professional journey.
I’ve always valued relationships and bonds more than anything. I was active, expressive in my own way, and a higher-average student — but life still brought me face to face with judgments and comparisons. From being told I wasn’t beautiful enough, to hearing that I couldn’t achieve much — I absorbed the sting of those words, but never allowed them to define me.
For me, beauty was never about skin tone or perfection. It was always about how someone makes others feel — about kindness, sincerity, and depth of thought. And even when doubt clouded my self-image, I found my strength in redefining what beauty meant to me.
In adolescence, I became curious — Why do people behave so differently?Where do our thoughts come from?Why does one suppress while another lashes out? These questions led me to psychology. I started reading everything I could about the mind, emotions, and behaviour.
After my Bachelor’s, I got married — young and unaware of what that transition truly entailed. I was learning to be a wife, a daughter-in-law, and a woman in a whole new world. Though I stepped away from my books for a while, the essence of psychology — what I had once read — never left me. It stayed, quietly, in how I thought, felt, and observed the world.
Becoming a mother brought me even closer to the nuances of human development and emotional bonding. I learned that every stage of life is a lesson, and I began writing again, reflecting, and holding space for my own healing.
With time, and the support of my loved ones, I returned — not just to psychology, but to myself. I completed my Master’s, began practicing, and started supporting individuals through their own emotional journeys. Each person I’ve worked with has shown me something new — their pain, their courage, their patterns — and in every session, I heal a little too.
Today, I run “Bandita’s Healing Space”, a small but deeply intentional platform. It’s not just about counselling — it’s about making mental health accessible, humane, and less stigmatised. I educate, I create safe spaces, and I advocate for empathy and understanding.
I’m also pursuing my Ph.D. because learning about the mind is a never-ending journey — and I want to keep walking.
I may be soft, but I’m not fragile.
I’m gentle — yet unstoppable.
And I know this for sure: my purpose is to help others find light, even in their darkest hours.
How did you discover your passion?
My passion wasn’t a spark — it was a slow-burning flame that kept growing with time. From noticing subtle emotional shifts in others to quietly crying when someone else was in pain — I realised early that my life would always revolve around human connection.
When I started reading psychology, I felt like someone had finally translated my inner world into words. I was no longer alone in my curiosity — I had found my field, my people, my science.
Helping someone untangle their pain, guiding them toward clarity, or just holding space for them — that’s when I feel most alive.
“My passion is to heal what I once had to hold alone.”
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
There were days I thought I’d break — but I didn’t. There were days everything felt like a castle of cards, and when it fell, I would quietly start again… from zero.
What keeps me going?
a) Resilience — the kind built in silence, when no one’s watching.
b) Purpose — the fire that reminds me why I started.
c) Faith — in life, in healing, and most importantly, in myself.
I lost my father — a grief I carried mostly in silence. I’ve faced situations where people misunderstood me, or simply didn’t see me at all. But still, I showed up — because I never wanted to give up on myself. There’s a quiet power in refusing to quit, and that power is mine.
What are three important lessons you’ve learned in life?
You can evolve at any age or stage.
Your timeline is your own. Don’t compare.
Validation begins with self.
Clap for yourself — even when no one else does.
Resilience grows in the dark.
You become strongest in the moments you survive alone.
What advice would you give to students and young professionals who want to build a successful career?
Start with knowing yourself — your values, your fears, your emotional patterns.
Work on your communication, your presence, and your emotional vocabulary.
Respect every small opportunity — they shape you quietly.
And most of all:
Don’t rush. Don’t fear starting small.
There is no perfect plan. But God’s plan — that one is divine.
Trust it.
What about your journey makes it satisfying or exciting?
The fact that it’s mine.
Real. Raw. Unfiltered.
And still beautiful.
I’ve never seen myself as weak. I’ve felt deeply, faced storms, and yet, I’ve always rebuilt — with resilience and passion. Starting over has never scared me; it has shaped me.
What excites me is the purpose I bring to everything I do. Whether big or small, I give it my heart. If one door closes, I find another — because staying stagnant was never an option.
As a counselling psychologist, I’ve learned that healing doesn’t always mean big change — sometimes, it’s simply about being understood.
“Life isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about embracing the imperfections with grace.”
This is the truth I carry into every space I hold for others — and myself.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
