Expert Panel - ChildrenPlus

Team Expert

Meet Our Dedicated Team at Childrenplus

Prof. Nimisha Kumar

Senior Consultant Psychologist, President of the Indian Association for CBT

Dr. Nimisha Kumar is a Senior Consultant Psychologist and trained Cognitive Behavioural Therapist based in New Delhi. She has a Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Delhi and an MSc in CBT as well as a PG Cert in Clinical Supervision from the University of Derbyshire, UK.

Dr. Kumar is the Founder-President of the Indian Association for CBT (www.iacbt.org), President-

Elect of the Asian CBT Association (www.acbta.org) and Founder-Director of Ascend-PsyCare

(www.ascendpsycare.in), a private mental health enterprise based in Delhi. She is also an Associate

Professor at the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, SGT University, Gurugram.

Dr. Kumar has over 15 years of experience in clinical practice, teaching, and research at prestigious institutions in New Delhi. She has written papers in Indexed and refereed Journals, presented papers at National and International conferences, and mentored a number of Masters and Doctoral research dissertations. One of the special focus areas of research for her has been the Cultural Adaptation to CBT in the Indian context.

Dr. Kumar is available for telehealth appointments.

Emily Farren

Principal Psychologist, Farren Psychology, Australia. www.farrenpsychology.com.au

Emily is a psychologist in Australia who works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She has extensive experience in the mental health and alcohol and other drug sectors with clinical experience within the community/outpatient, emergency department, acute inpatient units, and private practice.

Emily specialises in the assessment and treatment of complex presentations with co-morbidities, complex trauma, personality disorders and eating disorders. She has a particular strength in building rapport with difficult to engage young people, and their families. In individual therapy, Emily predominately uses dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Her practice Farren Psychology runs group programs including DBT and Circle of Security.

Vandana Kotapally

Behaviour Analyst, USA

Vandana is a board-certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Specialist in the state of Pennsylvania, USA since 2018. She has experience in working with children in managing behavioral disorders and teaching appropriate skills and techniques to deal with these behaviors. She has worked in various settings and provided services both in-home and school

settings to help students reach their potential and achieve their goals. Applied Behavior Analysis has been proven effective in managing behaviors and teaching skills to children and adults with autism and other disabilities such as emotional disorders and ADHD.

Hina Khan

Special Educator, India

Hina Khan is a passionate educator specializing in supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Equipped with a B.Ed. in Special Education and over 5 years of teaching experience, she combines expertise in ASD education with effective communication skills in English, Hindi, Arabic, and Urdu. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, evident

through internships, volunteer work, and active participation in workshops and conferences. Notably, she presented at the National Health Fest and served as a panelist on World Autism Awareness Day, demonstrating her commitment to raising awareness and promoting inclusion. This well-rounded background, coupled with her computer skills and relevant certifications, positions Hina as a valuable asset in any setting dedicated to nurturing the potential of children with special needs.