About Your Therapist

I am an Integrated Psychotherapist, Traumatologist, Sexologist and Relationship Specialist. I am fortunate enough to co-own My Therapy International with my wife, Anna-Mart van Wyk, who practices a Holistic Therapist and a Neuro-Behavioural Coach.

It might surprise you that I started my career as an Engineer, as it was the “logical choice” in the era when I attended varsity, but my interest in human behaviour was relentless and I ended up reading twice as many books on Psychology as on Engineering while qualifying as an Engineer.  After having practiced as a Metallurgical Engineer for a couple of years, I finally made the “right choice” and pursued my true passion – the Human Sciences.

My Engineering studies contributed greatly to me being the Therapist I am today as it caused me to be very critical of therapeutic interventions that lack the scientific credibility and proven track record to back them up.  I therefore only use therapeutic models that are evidence-based and validated by science to ensure my patients get results.

I think differently to other Therapists and I integrate many models to ensure that my patients receive the optimal level of care to truly help them.  I can’t help but be outcomes orientated and feel a huge sense of responsibility to make a real, tangible difference.

Although, I use many different intervention protocols, I have a special love and intimate knowledge of these therapies as they work –

• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (Fosha)
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (Beck)
• Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (Ellis & Dryden)
• Rational Behaviour Therapy (Maultzby)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (Pederson’s expansion on Linehan)
• Internal Family Systems Therapy (Schwartz)

As a result, the majority of interventions that I use are based on principles from the abovementioned therapies.

In all that we do, we only use reliable therapies and for that reason, our results are predictable.

We believe that patients should be in therapy for as short as possible and as long as is absolutely necessary and we do not want to make people dependant on therapy, but rather equip them with skills to thrive.

My wife and I are passionate about offering people a holistic solution to well-being – first heal and then excel and learn new skills to sustain the progress that you have made long-term.

Life is magical and the magic starts with hope.  We believe that we are essentially Hope Merchants by trade; and we just happen to use Therapy to give people exactly that – HOPE.

– Riaan van Wyk