M.Phil Clinical Psychology
Psychologist · Director & Managing Director · Researcher
A career that uniquely bridges the science of human behaviour with the demands of institutional leadership — through clinical practice, pioneering research, and a decade of leading people and organisations.
Every experience, every challenge, and every breakthrough throughout this journey has been a lesson — one that has shaped not only her practice but her deeper sense of purpose.
Divyani Sharma is a Psychologist, researcher, and organisational leader whose career uniquely bridges the science of human behaviour with the demands of institutional leadership.
Holding an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology, she began her professional journey as a practising Clinical Psychologist (2013–2016) before founding and serving as Director and Managing Director of an educational organisation from 2017 to 2024.
A dedicated researcher, she is notably the first researcher in India to have conducted research on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in 2013, a third-generation psychological intervention, marking a pioneering contribution to the field.
Her work across clinical practice, research, and leadership reflects a sustained commitment to advancing psychological wellbeing at both the individual and organisational level.
As a practising Clinical Psychologist, Divyani worked directly with individuals and couples, applying evidence-based therapeutic approaches to address a wide spectrum of psychological concerns.
This foundational clinical experience deeply informed her subsequent work in organisational leadership and human development — the bedrock from which all subsequent work has grown.
Pioneering Research in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Divyani holds the distinction of being the first researcher in India to conduct a study on the Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in 2013, contributing to the early body of knowledge around third-generation behavioural therapies in the country.
International Research Journal of Interdisciplinary & Multidisciplinary Studies (IRJIMS), 2016
Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 2016
M.Phil Research — India's first study on ACT in OCD
Grazia Magazine (Online)
Read ArticleAs Director, Managing Director, and Psychologist, her leadership has consistently been driven by a deep understanding of human behaviour, organisational dynamics, and the psychology of performance.
In high-stakes and abrupt situations — including navigating the organisation through the COVID-19 crisis — she applied crisis psychology principles to guide decisive, calm, and strategically sound responses. Every critical decision was anchored in long-term organisational vision rather than immediate reactive impulse.
She designed and led targeted interventions for employees experiencing performance deficits, drawing on behavioural and cognitive frameworks to rebuild motivation, competence, and psychological resilience — cultivating a workforce equipped not merely to recover, but to grow stronger through adversity.
By applying behavioural and motivational psychology, she fostered a culture of mindful resource utilisation — achieving greater operational efficiency and reduced expenditure without compromising output or employee engagement.
Employee wellbeing was never treated as peripheral. Structured psychological support and wellness practices were embedded into the fabric of the organisation, ensuring sustained mental health, morale, and productivity across all levels.
Her psychological expertise directly informed branding and marketing strategy — shaping institutional identity, understanding audience cognition, and crafting communication that influences perception and drives meaningful engagement within the educational sector.
She cultivated trust-based relationships between employees, students, parents, and senior leadership through intentional communication strategies rooted in social and relational psychology — fostering alignment, reducing conflict, and strengthening organisational cohesion.
When employee misconduct threatened organisational integrity, she employed a structured, psychologically informed approach — ensuring swift corrective action while managing the broader impact on team dynamics, culture, and institutional reputation.
Divyani's current work is rooted in a deeply integrative approach, drawing on the rich confluence of clinical insight, evidence-based therapeutic frameworks, and the science of human potential. Her focus centres on guiding individuals toward meaningful self-awareness, helping them develop a clearer understanding of their thoughts, emotions, and behavioural patterns as a foundation for lasting change.
Central to her practice is the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a third-generation psychological intervention she has studied and championed since 2013. ACT helps individuals build psychological flexibility and live values-aligned lives — even in the face of difficult thoughts and feelings.
Alongside ACT, she incorporates Mindfulness-Based approaches to help individuals cultivate present-moment awareness, reduce psychological distress, and build a more compassionate relationship with themselves — grounded in evidence and deeply human in practice.
Her work is further enriched by Positive Psychology, offering a strengths-based lens that moves beyond symptom management toward the active cultivation of wellbeing, resilience, and purpose. This combination of clinical rigour and positive, forward-focused methodology allows her to meet people where they are, and support them in becoming who they wish to be.
Purpose & Vision
Every experience, every challenge, and every breakthrough throughout this journey has been a lesson."Every experience, every challenge, and every breakthrough throughout this journey has been a lesson — one that has shaped not only her practice but her deeper sense of purpose."
The knowledge and insight gathered across years of clinical practice, research, and leadership now serve a singular mission: to guide and support people in meaningful, lasting ways. Through articles, written works, and shared perspectives, Divyani is committed to making psychological wisdom accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance.
If even one person finds clarity, strength, or direction through her work, that, above all, is the purpose fulfilled.