Our Team
Sonalee Rashatwar (they/he) LCSW, MEd
Is an award-winning social worker, sex therapist, adjunct lecturer, and grassroots organizer. Based in Philly (licensed in NJ and PA), they are a fat, queer, bisexual, non-binary therapist, specialized in treating: complex sexual trauma, body image trauma, racial and immigrant trauma, South Asian Hindu family systems, brahminical patriarchy, internalized capitalism, fat positive & pleasure positive healthcare.
Popularly known as TheFatSexTherapist on Instagram, their notoriety spiked when they were featured on Breitbart in March 2018 for naming thinness as a white supremacist beauty ideal. Sonalee is a sought-after speaker who travels internationally to curate custom visual workshops that whisper to our change-making spirit and nourish our vision for a more just future.
Sonalee is not paid for their labor as a community organizer, where they have fundraised and facilitated a free five-day political action summer camp for LGBT+ South Asian and Indo Caribbean youth called East Coast Solidarity Summer. Sonalee received their Master of Social Work and Master of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University in 2016 and have been working in the field of anti-violence for 10+ years. Sonalee is a co-owner of Radical Therapy Center.
Marvin Toliver (he/they) LCSW
Marvin's experience working within low-income communities of color has given him a valuable perspective of how trauma affects both individuals and communities. As a man of color, he has also seen and experienced firsthand how systematic racism and white supremacy are ubiquitous in the U.S. Marvin's clinical knowledge, experience as a social worker advocating for individuals within various systems, and personal experiences make him a well-rounded and effective clinician. He also has a personal connection to those living with HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ Community. Marvin graduated from Boston College with an MSW and currently holds an LCSW in the state of Pennsylvania.
Marvin believes that we all navigate the world in different ways, and sometimes it is difficult to manage being our authentic selves while dealing with the stress of everyday demands. He also believes that past trauma has a way of sticking with us, and it must be addressed for us to truly be free. He believes the relationship between therapist and client must be strong for clients to be their true selves and work through any issues.
Marvin is also a co-founder of MelanatedSocialWork, where he and three other male social workers of color challenge, encourage, support, promote, and spread love to individuals from all walks of life.
Aybala Öztürk (THEY/THEM) MSS, LCSW
Aybala values and honors the complex ways in which each person engages with the world. They collaborate with clients to create an open, safe, and non-judgmental space, prioritizing clients’ autonomy throughout the therapeutic process. Aybala believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship and works with clients to build relationships through which an exploration of the impact trauma, as well as societal, political and institutional forces have on the processing of experiences. As a non-binary, queer, biracial and bicultural clinician Aybala is confident in their ability to provide a space where differences are honored. In practicing from lenses of intersectional, trauma informed, harm-reduction and client-centered therapy, Aybala is committed to holding space for individuals with experiences of oppression.
Aybala moved to the United States at the age of 14 and can relate to complex relationships with home and belonging. They have extensive experiences working with trauma, dissociation (multiplicity, DID, DDNOS), identity exploration, current and former sex work, grief and loss, and immigration. They honor the importance of coping skills one’s developed to survive in this world, and commit to providing a warm and nonjudgmental space for their clients.