Dr Mallika Sharma

Before joining Buckinghamshire New University in 2022, I was Senior Lecturer CBT at Canterbury Christ Church University and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology (EDI Lead) at University of Hertfordshire on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme. Prior to that I worked in NHS as a Senior CBT Therapist.  

I did my CBT training at Buckinghamshire New University and before that, completed my clinical psychology training in India. 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. I am passionate about racial equity at the workplace as well as in the psychotherapeutic setting.

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 and the 50th EABCT Congress, September 2020. Closer to home, I provide 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 received the Equity and Inclusion award at the 2023 annual conference of BABCP. This award was for the skills class I provided at the conference which focussed on delivering effective outcomes for Hindu clients presenting depression and anxiety. It has been recognised as the pioneering work in this field. I was nominated for the Impact Award for Teaching in 2022 and Public Engagement award of BABCP.

I am actively involved with BABCP on a number of fronts. I am part of BABCP’s Supervision Working Committee; I am Treasurer of the Women & Gender Minorities Special Interest Group (WOMGENE) and WOMGENE’s Liaison with the Equality and Diversity SIG.

I am passionate about my ongoing research work on the efficacy of culturally adapted CBT. It is important to support trainees to become more culturally competent so that, ultimately, they can improve the outcomes for their clients.

• Programme Director