Dr. Nimisha Kumar is a pioneering Psychologist with extensive training and expertise in the Clinical sub-specialization. She is a thought leader and practitioner par excellence in the field of CBT and has over twenty years of experience as an academic, researcher, practitioner, trainer and entrepreneur who has fundamentally reshaped the trajectory of evidence-based mental health in India. As the Founder and President of the Indian Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (IACBT) and President of the Asian CBTs Association (ACBTA), she serves as a vital bridge between global scientific standards and local clinical excellence and stands at the forefront of a global movement to standardize and revolutionize psychological practice.
Driven by a mission to bridge the gap between academic theory and clinical excellence, Dr. Kumar founded the IACBT in January 2019 following her tenure as a Commonwealth Scholar at the University of Derbyshire, UK. Recognizing a critical void in professionalized training and supervision in India, she catalyzed the formation of a professional body that has since become a cornerstone of the international CBT community.
A defining moment in this journey was her strategic collaboration with Prof. Lata K. McGinn, the current President of the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (WCCBT). This partnership was instrumental in the IACBT's genesis; Prof. McGinn provided expert guidance in framing the association's by-laws and facilitated the IACBT's integration into the Asian CBT Association (ACBTA), where it became a permanent member in 2020. This alliance ensured that the IACBT was built on a foundation of international best practices from its very inception.
Dr. Kumar's work is characterized by a forward-thinking approach to Cultural Adaptation. With over 20 years of experience across prestigious institutions in Delhi NCR like AIIMS, MAMC, Sitaram Bhartia Institute, NIPCCD and Jamia Millia Islamia, she is not merely practicing a Western modality; she is innovating the science of CBT to ensure it is contextually relevant and effective for the Indian population. Her research and mentorship of doctoral candidates continue to push the boundaries of how cognitive therapies are integrated into diverse cultural frameworks.
A Commonwealth Scholar with a PhD from the University of Delhi and specialized training from the University of Derbyshire, UK, Dr. Kumar recognized early on the need for standardized, high-quality training in India. Her work goes beyond the traditional, focusing on the Cultural Adaptation of CBT. By refining therapeutic frameworks to resonate with the Indian context, she has ensured that CBT is not just a Western import, but a culturally nuanced tool for local transformation.
As the Founder-Director of Ascend-PsyCare, Dr. Kumar embodies the spirit of an "academic entrepreneur,"" translating high-level clinical research into accessible, real-world mental health solutions. Her leadership extends into the ethical governance of the field, having served as a Social Scientist on Ethics Committees for Max Healthcare, DIPSAR and Lady Hardinge Medical College.
From organizing the historic 1st International CBT Conference in India in 2015 at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to presiding over the 8th Asian CBT Congress in 2024, Dr. Kumar's career is defined by "firsts." She continues to mentor the next generation of therapists, ensuring that the future of mental health in Asia is grounded in rigor, ethics, and a relentless pursuit of innovation.
Dr. Kumar,s leadership reached a historic milestone in 2024, when she orchestrated the 8th Asian CBT Congress—the largest professional networking extravaganza of its kind in India. Under her guidance, this hallmark event brought together experts, practitioners, and students from 25 countries, transforming New Delhi into a global hub for psychological innovation. This achievement was not merely a conference; it was a demonstration of her ability to mobilize a diverse international community toward a shared vision of mental health progress.
From founding the IACBT in 2016 to leading it as a permanent member of the ACBTA and the World Confederation (WCCBT), Dr. Kumar is a tireless advocate for professionalizing therapy. Through her private practice, her role as a mentor to countless doctoral and masters’ candidates and training and supervising countless psychologists, counselors and other mental health professionals, she is actively cultivating the next generation of visionary psychologists and mental health workers equipped to meet the challenges of a modern, interconnected world.