Professional Biography

Rahim Thawer (he/him) is a registered social worker (OCSWSSW) and Canadian Certified Supervisor (CCS) who works as an instructor, psychotherapist, consultant, public speaker, podcast host, and writer. He founded Affective Consulting & Psychotherapy Services in 2014 and has delivered nearly 200 presentations and talks since then. His community workshops have inspired critical conversations and opportunities for reflection on mental health, interpersonal effectiveness, systemic oppression, and innovation in queer relationships. Affective is currently focusing on DEI consultation and training services for nonprofit organizations and healthcare centers.

Rahim calls Toronto home and teaches at The University of Alabama where he is also enrolled as a doctoral student. As a queer Muslim, his clinical work and writing continually examines the intersection of mental health and systemic oppression, and his doctoral research considers how anti-racist, queer-affirming psychoanalytic frameworks can support social workers, training therapists, and organizational leaders.

Rahim was a co-editor of Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer (Coach House Books, 2016), which was nominated for the Toronto Book Awards. More recently, Rahim has self-published four clinical guides related to assessment, treatment planning, documentation practices, and using reflexivity in examining countertransference. He also three books slated for release in 2025: The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys (New Harbinger Publications), The Politicized Practitioner: The Essential Reader for Social Workers & Psychotherapists (Blue Cactus Press), Queerituality: LGBTQ+ Muslims on Mental Health & Healing (Co-Editor, University of Regina Press).

Rahim is the recipient of multiple awards that recognize his leadership and contributions to education, social justice, and anti-oppressive practice, including:

• The Gina Ogden Curatorial Scholarship for Integrative Approaches to Sex Research and Therapy
  Kinsey Institute, Indiana University (2025)

• The Humanitarian Award
  American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counsellors and Therapists (AASECT, 2025)

• The Mary Smith Arnold Anti-Oppression Award from the
  Counsellors for Social Justice (CSJ), American Counselling Association (2025)

• The Honorary Award in Education from
  South Asian Americans for Change (SAAFC, 2025)

• The DSW Award for Writing to Advance Social Work and Social Justice from
  The University of Alabama (2025)

• The Distinguished Leader Award from the
  Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW, 2024)

• Champion Award
  25 Champions/25 Years—Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP, 2020)

• Proud to Shine Toronto Community Award
  Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC, 2018)