Dr Mallika Sharma

Before joining Buckinghamshire New University in 2022, I was Senior Lecturer CBT at Canterbury Christ Church University teaching the High Intensity programme in CBT. I also worked as Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and was Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at University of Hertfordshire at the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme. I have also worked at University of Reading and taught at High Intensity programme within the Charlie Waller Institute. Prior to my academic career I have worked as a Senior CBT Therapist in Berkshire NHS and have over 20 years of clinical experience globally since qualified as a Clinical Psychologist.

I have studied abroad and in England. I completed my Clinical Psychology qualifications in India prior to moving to England and then studied at the University of Reading and Buckinghamshire New University. My specialist area of interest is cultural adaptations in CBT for non-western cultures. CBT has historically been a western psychotherapy, its application in non-western cultures has limited research evidence. The current population of the UK is diverse hence there is a need to cater the local population and accommodate their diversity.

I am a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) I am a member of British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies(BABCP) and accredited as a CBT therapist.

My specialist knowledge has led me to speak at international events, such as the ninth World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, Berlin, July 2019, the 50th EABCT Congress, September 2020 and 2023 and BABCP annual conference 2023.

During my time within NHS I have been involved in various projects e.g. working with long term conditions, perinatal support, cultural supervision, supervision of interpreters, mental health workshops in schools, training other professionals and many outreach events.

I provided mentoring on the RISE programme which was introduced by NHS to address EDI in psychological professions, including specifically to develop leadership coaching and mentoring opportunities.

I am the first winner of the Equity and Inclusion Award form BABCP in 2023. I am actively involved with BABCP. I am part of BABCP’s Special Interest Group(SIG) for Higher Education. Previously I have been the Treasurer of the Women & Gender Minorities SIG (WOMGENE) and Liaison with the Equality and Culture SIG. I have also nominated for the chair of Equality and Culture SIG.

I am interested in research and currently supporting various research projects. I am an active therapist and supervisor.

I was nominated for Impact Awards for teaching in 2022 and for Public Engagement award by BABCP in 2023. My greatest accolade is testimonials from my students and I am thankful for this:

“Dr Mallika Sharma is a very humble, pleasant and a nice human being, who has worked hard to bring the CBT course back on track. Since joining Bucks as a course director, she has made number of changes to the course and arranged good teaching facilities for the students. Her own lectures are precise, concise, and detailed. She is very approachable and gives constructive feedback to the students. She exhibits a high degree of openness and objectivity to the views of others. Mallika’s attitude towards her workplace and her relationship with the students are extremely professional without being cold or unapproachable. It is a great pleasure to have her as a course director.”

“I would like to address my gratitude towards your support during my studies. I understand the pressure that you were also battling but still reassured me and grounded me to push through to the finish line. From your consistency and guidance and even pointing me to the right direction and going out of your way to get the necessary things done to complete the course. I feel grateful that I can look at things from a different perspective now as a testimony, because at a point I did not see that I would get to the end of the course with a qualification.

• Programme Director