Ryan Bateman

“Growth occurs when individuals confront problems, struggle to master them, and through that struggle develop new aspects of their skills, capacities, and views about life” – Carl Rogers.

My Story

Hi, my name is Ryan Bateman. For as long as I can remember, I have always had a strong desire to help others in whatever capacity I could. This coupled with my fascination of human behaviour led me to pursue a professional career in clinical psychology. My belief is that every person is strong, resilient, and can make meaning out of their circumstances. However, we all need support and guidance along the way. I value accompanying my clients on their therapeutic journeys by building genuine and trusting relationships that foster growth, self-exploration, and healing.

My journey to becoming a clinical psychologist began at the University of Witwatersrand, where I completed my undergraduate and honours degree in psychology, graduating Cum Laude. Thereafter, I expanded my practical skills and passion for helping others by working at a psycho-social rehabilitation centre. Here, I conducted individual and group facilitations to assist residents in coping with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. With my passion for the field of psychology only fortifying and expanding during this time, I returned to university to continue my studies.

I obtained my Master’s degree in clinical psychology at the University of Pretoria, where I similarly graduated Cum Laude. My experience included primary hospital settings as well as conducting outpatient therapy with community clinics, where I worked with children, adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds.

Furthering my interest in the psychological field, I went on to work at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria. During this time, my focus was to provide individual psychotherapy to children, adolescents and adults who were diagnosed with a variety of mental health disorders. It was here that I learned to hone and refine my skills as a therapist. I was also involved in family and couples therapy, a substance abuse rehabilitation group as well as conducting psychometric and neuropsychological assessments.

Subsequent to working at Weskoppies, I worked for the Department of Correctional Services. I facilitated psychological group programmes as well as conducted individual psychotherapy for adolescent and adult male offenders.

About My Service

In private practice, my priority is to offer a safe, compassionate, and genuinely supportive environment where you feel heard, understood, and empowered. I believe that therapy works best when it’s grounded in empathy, trust, and collaboration – working together to understand your experiences and move toward meaningful change.

While I am trained in a number of different therapeutic modalities, I mainly rely on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as well as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), both of which are evidence-based approaches grounded in helping you understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and building more balanced, constructive ways of responding to life’s difficulties. DBT incorporates mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills – empowering you to manage overwhelming emotions and navigate relationships more confidently.

My biggest goal is to help you develop practical, lifelong skills that you can carry beyond the therapy room. I value equipping my clients with tools they can use to better understand themselves, face challenges head-on, and feel more in control of their emotional world. Watching clients grow – building resilience, finding clarity, and reconnecting with their strengths – is truly the most rewarding aspect for me.

Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, OCD, substance abuse, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, or just feeling emotionally stuck, I am here to support you in building insight, making meaningful changes, and moving forward with confidence. You don’t have to do it alone – and I am honoured to be part of your journey.