Rhea Gandhi Psychotherapy| About me

I am a COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland) qualified and BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited psychotherapist and group therapist. I have a diverse background of experience working with adolescents and adults with a range of psychological vulnerabilities, individually and in groups. I adhere closely to the ethical frameworks laid out by COSCA and BACP. I am a passionate, ethical and reflective practitioner and work within the dialogue of the psychodynamic and person-centred theoretical orientations with group analytic and psychosocial influences.

My primary research and therapeutic interests take a qualitative, psychosocial stance. They intend to critically inquire how the dynamics of our socio-political past and present, diversity, difference and power are all interwoven into complex narratives, seeping into our inner world and influencing our relationships with ourselves and others. I therefore also view therapy as a space for healing systemic wounds and undoing hegemonic trauma, using a social justice framework to contextualise equality and power.

I also have a specific therapeutic interest in the relationship between the pelvic floor and trauma (thinking about disability, sexual health, 'dys'function and psychosomatic symptoms) in female bodies, using a bio-psycho-social feminist lens to contextualise and inform how these issues manifest and inform one's relationship with the body.

Educational background:

PhD candidate in Counselling Studies at the University of Edinburgh (2022-ongoing) - Funded by the School of Health in Social Science Studentship
Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue) : University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Bachelor of Arts- Psychology: St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India

Further Educational/Professional Qualifications:

Certificate in Counselling Supervision - COSCA accredited (2026): Rowan Consultancy
Group Analysis - Diploma in Group Work Practice (2021-2022): Institute of Group Analysis (UK) & Hank Nunn Institute, Bangalore
Group Analysis - Foundation year (2020-2021): IGA (UK) & Hank Nunn Institute, Bangalore.
Postgraduate Certificate in Attachment Theory (2021): International Attachment Network (UK)
Certificate in Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice (2020) : Mariwala Health Initiative
Postgraduate Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy (2019): Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India.

Publications:

Gandhi, R. (2026). How can we not weaponise our privilege? The complex intersection of class, race and caste. In Counselling and class: Power, privilege and professionalisation. PCCS Books.
Kerr, N., Gandhi, R. & Levitanus, M., (2025). Decolonising counselling and psychotherapy: Reflections from psychosocial perspectives. New Associations, (45), 11-12.
Gandhi, R. (2024). Caricature of a racist. Therapy Today, 35(8), 70–71.
Gandhi, R. S. (2021). Being brown: An autoethnographic exploration of internalised colonisation. Psychodynamic Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/14753634.2021.1893211

Conference Presentations & Publications:

Ladwal, K., & Gandhi, R. (2025, June). Forging solidarities in silence: Navigating racism, resistance, and repair in academia. Paper presented at the Association for Psychosocial Studies Conference, London, United Kingdom.
Gandhi, R., Ladwal, K., Li, M., & Nghidinwa, S. (2025, May). Disrupting Silence: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Race, Power, and Therapy. BACP International Research Conference, Manchester.
Srivastava, S. & Gandhi, R. (2024, June). The contagion of suffering: A collaborative, long-term, digital autoethnography that explores two Indian psychotherapists’ experiences of working through the pandemic in times of misinformation. Paper presented at the Association for Psychosocial Studies Conference, London, United Kingdom.
Gandhi, R., & Yu, I. (2024, May). Therapy as political resistance. Presentation and workshop delivered for the Decolonising Counselling and Psychotherapy: Reflections from Psychosocial Perspectives seminar series, Department of Counselling, Psychotherapy & Applied Social Sciences (CPASS), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Gandhi, R. (2024, November). Therapy as relational democracy in action? Paper presented at the Intersectionality, Activism and Therapy panel, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Gandhi, R. (2023, October). Suspended barefoot: An Indian psychotherapist’s autoethnographic exploration of internalised colonization and finding her voice as a practitioner. Paper presented at the Association for the Psychoanalysis of Culture and Society Conference.
Gandhi, R. (2023, August). A decolonial reimagination of the purpose of group analysis and psychotherapy. Paper presented at the Group Analytic Society International Symposium, Where divided worlds meet, Belgrade, Serbia.
Also presented at the Institute of Group Analysis Scotland Quarterly Meeting, June 2024.
Gandhi, R., Ladwal, K., Nghidinwa, S., & Li, M. (2023, June). Coloniality as political violence. Performance research piece presented at the Symposium on Counselling & Psychotherapy in Times of Political Violence, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Continued Professional Development

Institute of Group Analysis UK - Glasgow Conference (2025)
International Research Group for Psycho-Societal Analysis (SQUID Symposium) in Dubrovnik, Croatia (2024)
American Psychoanalytic Association - Externship (2023)
The Unconscious and Everyday Life Conference 2020: The Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Essex
Body work in Psychotherapy Lecture Series (2020) : Hank Nunn Institute (Online)
6 lecture series on Couple Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (2020) - Tavistock Relationships, London
Psychosexual studies - Sexual dysfunctions: Female disorders (2019) - Tavistock Relationships, London
All India Psychoanalytic Conference - 'Changing World: Inside & Outside' (2019) - Indian Psychoanalytic Society (Mumbai)

Present Teaching Positions:

Lecturer at Abertay University (2026 - Present)
Academic & Professional Tutor; Guest Lecturer and PDM at the University of Edinburgh, Department of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Applied Social Sciences (2022 - Present)
Visiting Faculty - St. Xavier's College, Postgraduate Department of Psychology (2019 - Present)

Professional memberships:

British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) - Accredited Member
Association of Psychosocial Studies (APS) - Executive Committee
International Attachment Network (IAN) - Founding Member and Chairperson of IAN India from 2020-22