Rhea Gandhi

Biography

Background

  • PhD candidate in Counselling Studies
  • Psychodynamic and person-centred psychotherapist (MBACP) and group therapist (IGA)
  • Liberation oriented qualitative researcher
  • Postgraduate visiting faculty and lecturer at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
  • Division of Psychoanalysis (APA) Scholar Award Winner (2022)
  • PhD Assistant at GENDER.ED - a cross-University hub for gender and sexualities studies from an interdisciplinary perspective
  • Research and professional interests seek to explore therapy as a space for working through not only intrapsychic & interpersonal distress but also systemic, transgenerational wounds & hegemonic trauma using a culturally relativist, anti-oppressive lens to contextualise individuals & groups.

Qualifications

The University of Edinburgh, UK - Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) - Distinction 2014-2016

Institute of Group Analysis, UK + Hank Nunn Institute, India - Foundation year in Group Analysis 2020-2021, Intermediate year in Group Analysis 2021-2022

International Attachment Network, UK  - PgCert in Attachment Theory 2021

Mariwala Health Initiative, India - PgCert in Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice 2020

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai - PgCert in Couples and Family Therapy 2019

Responsibilities & affiliations

British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)- Registered Member

Association of Psychosocial Studies (APS) - Executive Committee

International Attachment Network (IAN -INDIA) - Executive Committee

Group Analytic Society International - Member

American Psychological Association (APA) - International Affiliate

Research summary

  • Decolonising psychotherapy and counselling
  • Post-colonial studies and psychotherapy
  • Psychosocial studies
  • Politics and  psychotherapy
  • Difference, Diversity and Power
  • Racism, Exclusion and Othering
  • Political Violence and psychotherapy
  • Internalised colonisation

Publication: 'Being brown: An autoethnographic exploration of internalised colonisation':  https://doi.org/10.1080/14753634.2021.1893211

Current project grants

Student Experience Grant with supervisor Dr. Nini Fang: Symposium on 'Counselling and Psychotherapy in Times of Political Violence'

HSS EDI grant: 'Certainty, Ambiguity and Evasion: What makes it difficult to talk about certain kinds of difference?' Public lecture and Experiential workshop series for CPASS staff and students by Dr. Farhad Dalal & Angelika Golz

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