Our instructors

Rahim Thawer

Rahim Thawer, MSW, RSW, CCS holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Social Work at the University of Alabama. He is an instructor at the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama and provides services as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and consultant through Affective Consulting & Psychotherapy Services.

Based in Toronto, Rahim is a multifaceted professional who works as an instructor, psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, consultant, public speaker, podcast host, and author. His research focuses on how anti-racist, queer-affirming psychoanalytic frameworks can support social workers, trainee therapists, and organizational leaders.

Rahim’s approach to behavioural health emphasizes examining the intersections of mental health and systemic oppression. As a settler and visitor on Turtle Island, he reflects deeply on what it means to live ethically on this land. A dynamic public speaker and published author, he combines serious discourse with humor, sass, and a playful touch of pink to engage his audiences.

His published works include The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Guys (New Harbinger Press) and the forthcoming The Politicized Practitioner (Blue Cactus Press). He is also a Fellow at the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto, a member of the Counselors for Social Justice (American Counseling Association), and the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Rahim’s professional interests include using psychoanalysis to explore unconscious barriers that hinder the successful and sustainable implementation of DEI initiatives within nonprofit and healthcare settings.