Dr. Sonia Malhotra — Expert Author
Child Psychiatrist - Children First & Amaha - MBBS, MD Psychiatry · 13 years of experience
Quick Facts
Credentials -
- •Name: Dr. Sonia Malhotra
- •Qualifications: MBBS, MD (Psychiatry)
- •Registration No: DMC-109991
- •Specialisation: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- •Experience: 13 years
- •Age Group Treated: Individuals up to 25 years
- •Additional Training: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Neuro-Dramatic Play Therapy
- •Current Role: Head of Psychiatry Service & Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Children First
- •Practice Locations: Children First — Gurugram; Children First — Safdarjung, Delhi
About Dr. Sonia Malhotra
I am a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with additional training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Neuro-Dramatic Play Therapy. Over the past 13 years, I have worked closely with children, adolescents, and young adults, along with their families, to help them understand what they are going through and find a way forward that fits their life. I completed my MBBS at B.J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, and my MD in Psychiatry at Sawai Mansingh Medical College, Jaipur, followed by a residency in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Early in my career, I practised as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Pune, working across the full range of psychiatric care initially and then soon enough, choosing to focus specifically on children and young people. Since 2022, I have practised at Children First, where I currently head the Psychiatry Service. My strength lies in taking a holistic view of the concerns a child, adolescent, or young adult brings to me, and their family's concerns alongside them. I do not start from a label or a diagnosis. I start from what the person in front of me is actually experiencing, and work outward from there, using medication where it genuinely helps and psychotherapy and family involvement wherever they can do the work instead. I offer psychiatric services for individuals up to the age of 25, across in-person sessions at Children First's Gurugram and Safdarjung centres, and via video consultation.
The right support, at every stage
From early childhood to young adulthood, we offer care that adapts as your child grows. Our specialists collaborate closely with each other and with you to build a personalised plan that supports real, everyday progress.
My Clinical Philosophy
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is not my profession or job, it is my passion. I love growing up with my children and young persons and keeping the journey of learning, unlearning, and relearning alive within me. My practice deepens me as a person and fills my heart with the love and kindness that all my children bring in. That is the greatest joy of being a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. In practice, this means a few things stay constant across every case I take on: • I look at the whole picture — the child's temperament, the family system, the school environment — before I look at a diagnosis. • I would rather help a family understand what is happening than hand them a label and move on. • Medication is one tool among several, not the automatic first step. • Every treatment plan is built with the children and family, not handed down to them.
Types of clients I work with
I work with children, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 25, and with their families throughout the process. Many of the young people I see come to me through a parent's concern; some, particularly older adolescents and young adults, reach out directly. Either way, my first conversation is always about understanding what is actually going on for them, in their own words wherever possible.
Concerns I Can Help With
Families and young people come to me for a wide range of reasons. Some of the most common include: • Persistent low mood, sadness, or feeling emotionally numb • Severe anxiety or panic attacks • Feeling helpless, worthless, or unsafe • Intense or hard-to-control emotions • Difficulty focusing on schoolwork or daily tasks • A sense of not fitting in, or feeling like a social misfit • Being on long-term medication and wanting a second opinion • Parents noticing their child "isn't doing fine," without knowing why • Sudden or unexplained changes in a child's behaviour • Social withdrawal and isolation • Families struggling to understand or manage a child's behaviour
The right support, at every stage
From early childhood to young adulthood, we offer care that adapts as your child grows. Our specialists collaborate closely with each other and with you to build a personalised plan that supports real, everyday progress.
Treatment Approaches I'm Trained In
‣ Solution-Focused Brief Therapy - A structured, present-and-future-focused approach that helps children and adolescents identify what's already working in their lives and build on it, rather than dwelling solely on the problem. It tends to work well for young people who respond better to practical, goal-oriented conversations than open-ended ones. ‣ Neuro-Dramatic Play Therapy - A play-based therapeutic approach particularly suited to younger children, who often cannot yet put their internal experience into words. It uses structured play to help a child process emotions and experiences in a way that feels safe and natural to them. ‣ Pharmacotherapy - Where medication is appropriate, I prescribe cautiously and monitor closely, treating it as one part of a broader plan rather than a stand-alone solution. I discuss the reasoning, the expected effect, and the review timeline clearly with the family before starting.
Not sure what you need?
Should you have any questions or require additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You may call us directly at the number shared below, or fill your details and our team will get in touch with you.Children First Mental Health Centre Locations
New DelhiA2/35 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110029
Call us: +91 9650044774
Call us: +91 9650044774
GurugramB 18/9, Golf Course Road, DLF Phase 1, Sector 28, Gurugram, Haryana 122002
Call us: +91 9650844774
Call us: +91 9650844774
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Send me updates via WhatsApp
Children First Mental Health Centre Locations
New DelhiA2/35 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110029
Call us: +91 9650044774
Call us: +91 9650044774
GurugramB 18/9, Golf Course Road, DLF Phase 1, Sector 28, Gurugram, Haryana 122002
Call us: +91 9650844774
Call us: +91 9650844774
My Approach to Medication
I understand that the idea of psychiatric medication for a child or teenager can be worrying for parents, and I take that seriously. Medication is never my automatic first step. Where a young person's symptoms are significantly affecting their daily life — their sleep, their safety, their ability to function at school or at home — medication can be an important part of getting them stable enough to engage with therapy and their own life again. Where it isn't necessary, I say so. Where it is, I explain exactly why, what to expect, and how we will track whether it's working, and I stay reachable for families as they adjust.
Training & Credentials
• MBBS — B.J. Government Medical College & Sassoon General Hospital, Pune • MD (Psychiatry) — Sawai Mansingh Medical College, Jaipur • Additional training — Solution-Focused Brief Therapy • Additional training — Neuro-Dramatic Play Therapy
Professional Timeline
• Jun 2025 – Present — Head of Psychiatry Service, Children First • Jun 2022 – Present — Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Children First • Sept 2021- Feb 2022— Consultant Psychiatrist, Tulasi Healthcare, Gurgugram • Sep 2016 – Aug 2021 — Consultant Psychiatrist, Mind Matters Clinic, Pune • 2013 – 2016 — Resident, Psychiatry, Sawai Mansingh Medical College, Jaipur • 2010 – 2011 — Intern Doctor, B.J. Government Medical College, Pune
Research
Alongside clinical work, I have contributed to research in psychiatry, including papers on: • A qualititative study of neurological soft signs in obsessive compulsive disorder and effect of comorbid psychotic spectrum disorders and familiality on its expression in Indian population • A study of the predictive factors of diagnostic instability of ATPD in Indian population • A study of personality and neurobiological correlates of relapse in alcohol dependent in-patients Book published: Neurological Soft Signs and OCD: The many links uncovered
Book a Session
Sessions with Dr. Sonia Malhotra are available in-person at Children First — Gurugram and Children First — Safdarjung, Delhi, or via video consultation. Each session is 60 minutes. Link to Book a Session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Sonia Malhotra?
Dr. Sonia Malhotra is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with 13 years of experience, currently heading the Psychiatry Service at Children First. She holds an MBBS and MD in Psychiatry, with additional training in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Neuro-Dramatic Play Therapy.
What age group does Dr. Sonia Malhotra treat?
She works with children, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 25.
Where does Dr. Sonia Malhotra practise?
She sees patients at Children First's Gurugram and Safdarjung (Delhi) centres, and offers video consultations for families who cannot visit in person.
Does Dr. Sonia Malhotra prescribe medication to children?
Yes, where it is clinically appropriate, but medication is never the automatic first step. She combines it with therapy and family involvement, and reviews its effect closely with the family over time.
What is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy?
It's a structured therapeutic approach that focuses on a young person's existing strengths and practical next steps, rather than dwelling only on the problem. It suits young people who respond well to goal-oriented conversations.
What is Neuro-Dramatic Play Therapy?
A play-based therapy approach mainly used with younger children, who often can't yet express their internal experience in words. It uses structured play to help a child process emotions safely.
How do I know if my child needs to see Dr. Sonia Malhotra?
If your child's mood, behaviour, sleep, or ability to function at school or at home has changed significantly and isn't improving on its own, an initial information session can help clarify what's going on and whether psychiatric support is needed.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is an information session — an in-depth conversation to understand your child's and family's concerns, history, strengths, and environment. It leads to a tailored plan that may include therapy, medication, or both.
Will my child be labelled with a diagnosis right away?
No. Dr. Malhotra's approach starts with understanding what your child is actually experiencing, not with assigning a label. A diagnosis, where relevant, comes after a thorough assessment, not before it.
Can both parents attend the first session?
Yes, family involvement is an important part of the assessment and treatment process, and both parents are welcome to attend.
Does Dr. Sonia Malhotra treat anxiety and panic attacks in teenagers?
Yes, anxiety and panic attacks are among the most common concerns she sees in adolescents, and she treats them using a combination of therapy and, where necessary, medication.
Does Dr. Sonia Malhotra treat OCD in children?
Yes. She has clinical and research experience in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, including its presentation and treatment in children and adolescents.
What languages does Dr. Sonia Malhotra speak?
English, Hindi, Punjabi, and Marathi.
How experienced is Dr. Sonia Malhotra?
She has 13 years of experience in psychiatry, with a specific focus on child and adolescent mental health since her residency.
Is Dr. Sonia Malhotra a licensed psychiatrist in India?
Yes, she is a registered medical practitioner (Registration No. DMC-109991) with an MBBS and MD in Psychiatry.
For those in need of more intensive care and daily support, our Mental Health Hospital is now open in Bangalore.
If you or someone you know is experiencing at-risk behaviors or safety concerns, or any other life-threatening extreme-case issues or critical mental health situation, contact a helpline or go to the nearest hospital or extreme-case support room. Having a close family member or friend with you for support can be invaluable during this time.
For extreme-case mental health support, please call the national Tele MANAS helpline at 1-800-891-4416.
If you or someone you know is experiencing at-risk behaviors or safety concerns, or any other life-threatening extreme-case issues or critical mental health situation, contact a helpline or go to the nearest hospital or extreme-case support room. Having a close family member or friend with you for support can be invaluable during this time.
For extreme-case mental health support, please call the national Tele MANAS helpline at 1-800-891-4416.