#316 Beyond the Boxes — Aditi Bhalla

Aditi Bhalla's story reads like a cautionary tale about high achievement. A specialist prosthodontist who ticked every box—academic success, specialist training, teaching positions—she found herself breaking down in surgery in 2018, asking the question so many high achievers eventually face: is this it? 

After developing De Quervain's tenosynovitis from repetitive movements and stress, Aditi was forced to step away from dentistry. What followed was an unexpected journey into spirituality, meditation, and ultimately, retraining as an integrative psychotherapist. 

Now she works predominantly with dentists and other professionals who've achieved everything they thought they wanted but still feel lost, anxious, and burnt out. Her transformation from perfectionist dentist to spiritual guide offers a roadmap for those struggling with the same questions she once faced.

In This Episode

00:02:15 - High achievers feeling lost

00:03:10 - The perfectionism plateau

00:04:10 - Growing up as the brainy kid

00:06:35 - School captain to dental specialist

00:08:15 - Choosing prosthodontics

00:10:20 - Breaking down in surgery

00:11:45 - Discovering spirituality

00:14:30 - The spiritual awakening path

00:21:00 - Retraining as a psychotherapist

00:28:00 - Meditation fundamentals

00:32:25 - Breathwork techniques

00:42:00 - Self-compassion versus weakness

00:44:00 - Contentment and ambition coexisting

00:46:20 - The wrist injury that changed everything

00:57:15 - Therapy versus dentistry

01:00:00 - Understanding spirituality

01:03:10 - Blackbox thinking

01:12:10 - The Wellbeing Hub

01:14:35 - Fantasy dinner party

01:16:20 - Last days and legacy

About Aditi Bhalla

Aditi is a former specialist prosthodontist who trained in India before completing her specialist training at King's College London. She lectured for both King's and Health Education England, teaching occlusion and toothwear, whilst working in multiple practices across the Southeast.

After developing Dequervain's tenosynovitis—a repetitive strain injury that left her unable to continue clinical work—she embarked on a spiritual journey that transformed her career. Now an integrative psychotherapist, life coach, and wellness advocate, she works predominantly with dentists, bankers, and medical professionals experiencing burnout and existential questioning despite their professional success.