Professional Biography

Rahim Thawer (he/him) is a registered social worker (OCSWSSW) and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) based in Toronto. He works as an instructor, psychotherapist, consultant, public speaker, podcast host, and writer. He is the founder of Affective Consulting & Psychotherapy Services (est. 2014) and has delivered nearly 200 presentations across North America and Europe. His community workshops foster critical dialogue and reflection on mental health, systemic oppression, interpersonal dynamics, and innovation in queer relationships.

Rahim teaches at The University of Alabama, where he is also completing a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) with a specialization in organizational leadership. As a queer Muslim, his clinical and scholarly work sits at the intersection of mental health and social justice. His doctoral research explores how anti-racist, queer-affirming psychoanalytic frameworks can support social workers, therapists-in-training, and organizational leaders.

He is the co-editor of Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer (Coach House Books, 2016), a Toronto Book Awards finalist. He has also self-published four clinical guides ron psychotherapy assessment, treatment planning, documentation, and countertransference. His latest book, The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys (New Harbinger Publications), was released in June 2025.

Upcoming books

• The Politicized Practitioner: The Essential Reader for Social Workers & Psychotherapists 
  (Blue Cactus Press, 2026),

• Queer & Muslim: On Faith, Family, and Healing
  (Co-Editor, University of Regina Press, April 2026)

• Sexualized Substance Use: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals
  (Taylor & Francis, 2027)

Honours & Awards

Leadership & Professional Awards

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

Academic & Scholarly Distinction

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

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

Community & Cultural Recognition

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

• 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)