ABOUT
Dr. Reena Sharma, Ph.D
Founder | Psychologist | Rehabilitation & Forensic Psychologist | Criminologist
A Safe Space to Begin
The decision to seek help is often the hardest step. At The Mind Practice, that step is met with respect, confidentiality, and care - no matter what brings you here. Whether you are an individual dealing with anxiety or depression, a couple trying to find your way back to each other, a parent worried about your teenager, an older adult adjusting to life’s changes, or someone navigating grief, trauma, or addiction - this is a space where you will be heard without judgement.
Dr. Reena Sharma founded The Mind Practice on a simple belief: that compassionate, evidence-based psychological care should be accessible to everyone. Over two decades, she has worked with people from every walk of life, from corporate professionals managing burnout to families in crisis, from adolescents finding their identity to individuals rebuilding after loss.
Who I Work With
Dr. Sharma provides individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy for adults, adolescents, children, and older adults. Common concerns she helps people navigate include:
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Anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and stress-related conditions
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Depression, low mood, and emotional overwhelm
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Relationship difficulties, communication breakdowns, and trust repair
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Couples therapy — whether you are trying to reconnect, resolve conflict, or decide your path forward
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Family dynamics, parenting challenges, and adolescent mental health
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Grief, loss, and life transitions (retirement, relocation, separation, empty nest)
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Self-esteem, confidence, and emotional regulation
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Workplace stress, burnout, and career-related anxiety
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Trauma, PTSD, and recovery from abuse
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Addiction, substance use, and behavioural change
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Personality disorders and long-standing emotional patterns
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Elderly mental health — loneliness, cognitive changes, adjustment, and caregiver stress
You do not need a diagnosis to begin therapy. If something feels off, that is reason enough.
How I Work
Dr. Sharma draws on a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, tailored to what each person or couple actually needs — not a one-size-fits-all protocol. Her clinical toolkit includes:
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — for anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and behavioural patterns
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) — for emotional regulation and distress tolerance
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — for building psychological flexibility and values-based living
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Motivational Interviewing (MI) — for addiction, ambivalence, and readiness for change
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Gottman Method & The Couples Institute approaches — for relationship repair and strengthening
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Trauma-informed and integrative approaches — adapted to each individual’s history and pace
She has received advanced clinical training through the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, CBT Australia, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and The Couples Institute. Every session is grounded in current research and shaped by decades of clinical experience.
Beyond the Therapy Room
What sets Dr. Sharma apart is the depth and breadth of her experience. In addition to her clinical practice, she has spent years working in spaces most psychologists never enter — inside India’s prisons, alongside law enforcement, and at the frontlines of criminal justice reform.
She designed and leads Samarth: Breaking Barriers, India’s first forensic CBT and positive criminology programme, currently operating across Gujarat’s four central prisons (Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot). The programme works with incarcerated individuals and prison staff to restructure harmful thinking patterns, develop prosocial skills, and provide mental health support including suicide prevention. Since its inception, Samarth has served thousands of participants.
Her work in correctional reform is documented in her book Transforming Lives Behind Bars: Forensic CBT and Systemic Reform in Indian Prisons (Routledge, 2025).
Why does this matter if you’re coming for couples therapy or anxiety? Because it means Dr. Sharma has worked with people in the most complex, high-stakes psychological situations imaginable — and she brings that same composure, insight, and skill to every conversation in her clinic.
Qualifications & Training
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PhD in Criminology
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MPhil in Forensic Psychology
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Diploma in Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy
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MBA in Human Resource Development
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Advanced CBT training (Beck Institute) — depression, personality disorders, anxiety, and BPD
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Forensic CBT certification (CBT Australia)
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy & The Couples Institute
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Certified Trainer: Reasoning & Rehabilitation Programme (Cognitive Centre of Canada)
Collaborations & Teaching
Dr. Sharma has served as a consultant psychologist with Tihar Jail (New Delhi) and Bhondsi Jail (Haryana), and continues to work with law enforcement agencies in Gujarat on criminal profiling, investigative psychology, and victim support. She designed a Victim Support Programme for Ahmedabad City Police.
She is a visiting faculty member at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), and GLS University, teaching clinical psychology, forensic psychology, biopsychology, and criminology.
She also founded Indrishti, a registered trust (est. 2013) promoting mental wellness across NGOs, corporate organisations, schools, and rehabilitation centres.
Samarth: Breaking Barriers
A landmark initiative under The Mind Practice, Samarth: Breaking Barriers operates in Gujarat’s four central prisons (Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, and Rajkot). This first-of-its-kind program in India provides therapeutic interventions for both inmates and prison staff, regardless of gender or criminal background.Rooted in Forensic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Positive Criminology, Samarth focuses on restructuring antisocial behavior patterns, promoting prosocial decision-making, and providing mental health support, including suicide prevention initiatives. It marks a significant step toward rehabilitative reformation in the Indian criminal justice system.
Recognition
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Recognised among Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs (All-India), NITI Aayog, 2019
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Women’s Planet Pride Award for Mental Health and Social Work, Gujarat, 2018
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Best Paper Award category: “Awareness on White Collar Crime”
Professional Affiliations
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Indian Society of Criminology (ISC) — Lifetime Member
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South Asian Society of Criminology and Victimology (SASCV) — Lifetime Member
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Indian Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (IACBT) — Lifetime Member
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Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists (IACP) — Life Associate Member
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Indian Journal of Criminology (IJC) — Lifetime Member
Selected Publications
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Sharma, R. (2025). Transforming Lives Behind Bars: Forensic CBT and Systemic Reform in Indian Prisons. Routledge.
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Sharma, R. (2019). Samarth – Breaking Barriers: Therapeutic Intervention Program Rationale and Effectiveness in Sabarmati Central Prison. Indian Police Journal, 16(4).
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Sharma, R. (2019). Criminogenic Needs of the Offenders: A Systematic Review. Administrative Development: A Journal of HIPA, Shimla, VI(2).
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Sharma, R. (2020). Analyzing the Impact of Therapeutic Models Based on CBT and Treatment Readiness Among Violent Offenders. Indian Journal of Criminology, 48(1).
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Sharma, R. (2020). Understanding De-radicalisation and Possible Interventions: A Systematic Review. Indian Police Journal, 67(2).
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Upadhyay, S.K. & Sharma, R. (2021). Occupational Stress Among Armed Police: Causes & Effects. Indian Police Journal, 68(2).
Dr. Sharma’s work has also been featured in The Times of India, LiveMint, Ahmedabad Mirror, DNA Gujarat, Dainik Bhaskar, and other national and regional publications.
Vision & Commitment
Dr. Sharma is on a mission to normalize mental health awareness and accessibility, ensuring that psychological support is evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and seamlessly integrated into society. Through her pioneering work, she continues to shape a future where mental wellness is not just an option but a priority for all.
