Niharika Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at IILM University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Jamia Millia Islamia and a Master’s degree in Psychology from Panjab University, and completed her M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology from Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. She is UGC–NET qualified and holds a professional license from the Rehabilitation Council of India to practice as a Clinical Psychologist. Her training encompasses extensive experience in psychological and neuropsychological assessment, including intelligence testing, personality assessment, and projective techniques alongside more than 400 hours of conducting psychotherapy sessions. She has been trained in evidence-based therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems, etc. while also drawing upon narrative, psychodynamic and humanistic perspectives. Her clinical exposure spans diverse mental health settings, including psychiatric wards, paediatric clinics, neuropsychiatric clinics, rehabilitation centers, community psychiatric camps, and specialized clinics addressing marital, sexual, and gender-related concerns. She has also worked with children, individuals with personality disorders, severe mental illness patients, clients with mood disorders and clients from varied psychosocial backgrounds. In addition to her clinical work, she has contributed to community mental health initiatives through her association with the national NGOs like The Hans Foundation and Child Rights and Youth and has been contribued as a volunteer to support groups like "queer lifafa" and "queering in chandigarh". She regularly engages in professional development and has attended multiple Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) workshops and conferences, including those conducted by National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. Her academic and research interests lie broadly in clinical psychology and psychotherapy processes, with a particular focus on compassion-focused approaches to mental health, and she remains committed to integrating clinical insight, research, and experiential learning within psychological education.