Ramya Tulasi Dega, Founder of Healing Circle USA, is on a mission to shift how we approach mental health from isolation and shame to connection and collective care.

Through expressive arts, mindfulness, and community workshops, Healing Circle USA creates safe, inclusive spaces where young people can come together to heal, share, and rediscover their inner strength.

Through the #MyPieceForChange campaign, we invite people to share their unique contributions to collective transformation. This series exists to honor their stories, amplify their voices, and connect them with a wider community of like-minded peers. Today, we’re honored to introduce our Changeworker of the Week: Ramya Tulasi Dega whom we had the pleasure of interviewing for this special spotlight.

What’s your piece for change?

My piece for change is rooted in compassion, connection, and creativity. Through Healing Circle USA, I’m committed to transforming the way we think about mental health—moving it from the shadows of silence to the center of human connection. At Healing Circle, our goal is simple yet profound: to create safe and inclusive spaces where young people can come together to heal, share, and rediscover their inner strength. We blend evidence-based wellness practices with creative expression, mindfulness, and community engagement to help students and young professionals navigate the pressures of modern life. For me, change begins when we stop viewing mental health as a problem to be fixed and start seeing it as a journey to be nurtured—with empathy, expression, and collective care.

What inspired you to begin this work or stay committed to it?

This work began from a place of deep personal loss. In 2019, I lost a close friend to suicide a moment that completely shifted my world and my understanding of mental health. The pain, PTSD, grief and confusion that followed revealed how much we, as a society, still struggle to talk about emotional well-being with openness and compassion. When I moved to the United States for graduate school, I carried that experience with me. It became my calling to transform pain into purpose. Healing Circle was born out of late-night chai conversations with my roommate and co-founder, Swetha, at Texas A&M University. Together, we realized that healing is not just individual it’s collective. Every workshop, every story shared, and every participant who leaves with a lighter heart keeps me grounded and inspired to continue. Our purpose is to bring more smiles and hope to our near and dear ones in the world.

What’s one hope or vision you hold for the future?

My vision is a world where every young person feels seen, supported, and safe to express their emotions without fear or stigma. I dream of a society where taking care of your mental health is as natural as brushing your teeth where mindfulness, art, and community connection are woven into everyday life. At Healing Circle, we envision campuses and workplaces where people wake up feeling energized rather than anxious, where they approach challenges with resilience, and where they build deep, authentic relationships. My hope is that someday, every person regardless of background, gender, or culture can say: 'I belong. I matter. And I have the power to shape my own story.'

What support or connection are you currently looking for?

As we expand our reach, we’re looking for collaborations that can amplify our mission. We hope to partner with universities, wellness centers, social impact organizations, and purpose-driven brands that share our vision for emotional well-being. We’re also seeking mentors, funders, and creative collaborators who can help us scale our programs, host community workshops, and bring accessible, culturally inclusive wellness resources to more young people across the U.S. and beyond. Each partnership helps us reach another student who may be silently struggling and that ripple effect is priceless.

What’s one thing about your field or topic you wish more people knew, considered, or acted on?

I wish more people understood that mental health isn’t only about crisis, it's about connection. Too often, we wait until someone is struggling before we act. But emotional wellness thrives in prevention, in daily habits of empathy, mindfulness, and creativity. I also wish people recognized that healing looks different for everyone. For some, it’s painting, for others, it’s walking in nature, meditating, or simply talking to a friend. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach and that’s the beauty of it. When we honor these diverse pathways to healing, we create communities where everyone can thrive.

What practices, tools, or resources have supported you most on your changework journey?

Mindfulness meditation has been my foundation. It reminds me to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with purpose. Expressive arts have also played a huge role; I often use creative journaling, painting, and poetry to process my emotions and find clarity. Some books that have deeply shaped my philosophy include The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, which taught me the strength in vulnerability, and Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, which reminded me that purpose can grow even from suffering. Our mother land “Nature” is another teacher. Taking pauses in this journey of building a community was the most essential factor. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a beach cleanup, or a 'walk and talk' healing session, being outdoors grounds me in gratitude and reinforces the truth that we are all part of something larger than ourselves.

Can you share a moment or experience that deeply shaped the way you approach change today?

The very first Healing Circle workshop at Texas A&M was a transformative experience. We had over 30 students attend each bringing their own stories, fears, and hopes. As we guided our fellow students through mindfulness and expressive arts activities, something magical happened: vulnerability turned into connection. Watching students open up to one another, express through art, and release emotions they’d carried silently for years reaffirmed why this work matters. That moment taught me that meaningful change doesn’t always start with big systems, it begins in small circles of trust, where people feel safe enough to show up as they are.

What collective shift do you believe is needed for meaningful change to happen, and what gives you hope that it’s possible?

We need to move from a culture of performance to a culture of presence from 'How are you doing?' as a formality to 'How are you really?' as a sincere invitation. Mental health must be seen not as a private battle but as a collective responsibility. Meaningful change will come when schools, workplaces, and communities prioritize emotional well-being as foundational to success not secondary. What gives me hope is seeing a generation of young people leading this shift. They’re unafraid to talk about their struggles, to build communities of care, and to demand systems that support their wholeness. That courage is contagious and it’s exactly what will make change possible.

How do you take care of your own energy or wellbeing while doing this work?

I try to live the practices I share with others. Meditation, gratitude journaling, and mindfulness are daily rituals for me. I light our Healing Circle wellness candles as a reminder to pause, breathe, and reconnect with myself. I also make time for movement and nature walking by the water, stretching, or simply sitting outside. Most importantly, I honor rest as part of the healing process. I’ve learned that I can’t pour from an empty cup, so recharging my energy is not a luxury, it's an act of sustainability and self-respect.

Where can people learn more about your work or connect with you?

• Website: www.healingcircleusa.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @healingcircleusa
• LinkedIn: Ramya Tulasi

The Parayma community is rooted in authentic, supportive relationships. 

If Ramya’s story resonates with you, reach out, reflect or connect to collaborate.

🌿 Thank you, Ramya, for sharing your #PieceForChange and for reminding us that emotional wellness is a collective practice of presence, creativity, and care.

Stay tuned for next week’s Changeworker feature, and if you’d like to be highlighted, join the campaign and tick the box to express your interest.