Dr. Richa Malhotra |
|
|---|---|
| Highest Degree | PhD Psychology Jamia Millia Islamia (India) |
| Position | Assistant Professor |
| Faculty | School of Health Sciences and Psychology |
| Department | Department of Psychology |
Position Assistant Professor
Email Richa.malhotra@cud.ac.ae
Highest Degree PhD Psychology
Jamia Millia Islamia (India)
Faculty School of Health Sciences and Psychology
Department Department of Psychology
Biography
I am an interdisciplinary psychologist, educator, and researcher with more than a decade of experience across academic, clinical, and community settings in Canada and India. My work is grounded in trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive approaches to psychological practice and education. Currently, I serve as an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the School of Health Sciences and Psychology at Canadian University Dubai, where I teach and mentor undergraduate students through experiential, research-informed, and compassion-driven learning environments.
At the heart of my professional journey is a deep passion for teaching, advising, and mentorship. I see education as a transformative, collaborative process—one that encourages students to think critically, reflect on their experiences, and act with integrity and empathy. My goal as an educator is to create inclusive, reflective, and intellectually engaging spaces where students feel supported, valued, and inspired to reach their potential.
My interdisciplinary background bridges psychology, counselling, education, and mental-health services, guided by values of equity, social responsibility, and holistic well-being. I hold a PhD in Psychology from Jamia Millia Islamia University, where my doctoral research examined the effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in strengthening self-concept, self-esteem, and adjustment among bullied adolescents. This work was recognized internationally by the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) for its contribution to adolescent well-being and applied intervention research.
Before joining CUD, I taught in the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology program at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Canada, where I also served on the Research Ethics Board (Psychology) and the Program Advisory Committee. My work in Canada extended beyond academia—supporting immigrant and international students navigating cross-cultural adjustment, academic stress, and mental-health challenges. Earlier in my career, I served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi and as a Child and Adolescent Psychologist, leading school-based initiatives focused on bullying prevention, resilience building, and family engagement.
My current research continues to examine peer victimization, youth well-being, and solution-focused approaches to resilience through cross-cultural and applied perspectives. I am also an organizing member of the 2025 International Conference on Solution-Focused Practices, to be held in Canada, November 2025. Through my teaching and research, I remain committed to advancing evidence-informed, strengths-based frameworks that integrate theory, empirical inquiry, and practice. My work aims to contribute to the global discourse on adolescent mental health and psychological education by promoting innovative, contextually grounded approaches that strengthen individual and community resilience.
Areas of specialization
- Adolescent Mental Health and Resilience
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Peer Victimization and School-Based Interventions
- Cross-Cultural Psychology and Student Well-Being
- Trauma-Informed and Strengths-Based Practice
Recent and Ongoing Research (2022–2025)
- Exploring the Efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Managing Antenatal Anxiety and Fear of Childbirth among Primigravida Women (Ongoing research, 2025).
- Exploring Mental Health Challenges in Special Education: A Case Study of Stakeholders’ Perspectives in a School Community (Research in progress, 2024–2025).
- Peer Victimization, Youth Well-Being, and Solution-Focused Approaches to Resilience: Cross-Cultural and Applied Perspectives (Continuing project, 2022–2024).
- Organizing Member, International Conference on Solution-Focused Practices (November 2025).
Projects
- Recipient of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) Research Award (2017), for outstanding research contribution on adolescent well-being and strengths-based therapeutic interventions.
I am an interdisciplinary psychologist, educator, and researcher with more than a decade of experience across academic, clinical, and community settings in Canada and India. My work is grounded in trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive approaches to psychological practice and education. Currently, I serve as an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the School of Health Sciences and Psychology at Canadian University Dubai, where I teach and mentor undergraduate students through experiential, research-informed, and compassion-driven learning environments.
At the heart of my professional journey is a deep passion for teaching, advising, and mentorship. I see education as a transformative, collaborative process—one that encourages students to think critically, reflect on their experiences, and act with integrity and empathy. My goal as an educator is to create inclusive, reflective, and intellectually engaging spaces where students feel supported, valued, and inspired to reach their potential.
My interdisciplinary background bridges psychology, counselling, education, and mental-health services, guided by values of equity, social responsibility, and holistic well-being. I hold a PhD in Psychology from Jamia Millia Islamia University, where my doctoral research examined the effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in strengthening self-concept, self-esteem, and adjustment among bullied adolescents. This work was recognized internationally by the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) for its contribution to adolescent well-being and applied intervention research.
Before joining CUD, I taught in the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology program at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Canada, where I also served on the Research Ethics Board (Psychology) and the Program Advisory Committee. My work in Canada extended beyond academia—supporting immigrant and international students navigating cross-cultural adjustment, academic stress, and mental-health challenges. Earlier in my career, I served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi and as a Child and Adolescent Psychologist, leading school-based initiatives focused on bullying prevention, resilience building, and family engagement.
My current research continues to examine peer victimization, youth well-being, and solution-focused approaches to resilience through cross-cultural and applied perspectives. I am also an organizing member of the 2025 International Conference on Solution-Focused Practices, to be held in Canada, November 2025. Through my teaching and research, I remain committed to advancing evidence-informed, strengths-based frameworks that integrate theory, empirical inquiry, and practice. My work aims to contribute to the global discourse on adolescent mental health and psychological education by promoting innovative, contextually grounded approaches that strengthen individual and community resilience.
Areas of specialization
- Adolescent Mental Health and Resilience
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
- Peer Victimization and School-Based Interventions
- Cross-Cultural Psychology and Student Well-Being
- Trauma-Informed and Strengths-Based Practice
Recent and Ongoing Research (2022–2025)
- Exploring the Efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in Managing Antenatal Anxiety and Fear of Childbirth among Primigravida Women (Ongoing research, 2025).
- Exploring Mental Health Challenges in Special Education: A Case Study of Stakeholders’ Perspectives in a School Community (Research in progress, 2024–2025).
- Peer Victimization, Youth Well-Being, and Solution-Focused Approaches to Resilience: Cross-Cultural and Applied Perspectives (Continuing project, 2022–2024).
- Organizing Member, International Conference on Solution-Focused Practices (November 2025).
Projects
- Recipient of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) Research Award (2017), for outstanding research contribution on adolescent well-being and strengths-based therapeutic interventions.