Why Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a space where you can slow down and make sense of what’s been going on for you, at your own pace, and in your own way. Many people come to therapy feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure why certain patterns keep repeating. Together, we work to understand these experiences more clearly and find ways forward that feel meaningful and sustainable.

My approach is integrative and tailored to each person’s needs, goals and circumstances. Drawing on psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, existential, Gestalt, trauma-informed and other therapeutic frameworks where appropriate, I may combine insight-oriented exploration with practical strategies for managing thoughts, emotions, relationships and behaviour. The emphasis is on developing a collaborative understanding of what is maintaining current difficulties, identifying meaningful goals and selecting interventions that suit the individual rather than applying one model rigidly. As therapy progresses, the approach may be adapted in response to the person’s changing needs, preferences and readiness. Whether you’re looking for practical strategies or a deeper understanding of yourself, therapy can support lasting change over time.

The range of therapies share one theme common to all: the effort to change something about a person. Beyond what the various therapies share in common, they differ substantially in their look and feel. Some are more oriented toward the symptom, are time-limited and focused, and usually feature a rather active stance on the part of the therapist. Other therapies are more oriented toward the patient or client’s more global personal growth, tend to be longer-term and more multi-focal, and usually feature a more non-directive style from the therapist. The process of therapy, at least theoretically, should follow from the goal.

Teri Quatman

Below are psychotherapy frameworks and concepts I often use in my practice:

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores how emotional experiences, relationships and patterns developed over time may influence present difficulties. It can help people understand recurring interpersonal patterns, internal conflicts and feelings that may be difficult to recognise or express.

In practice: A person who repeatedly feels rejected in close relationships might explore how earlier experiences shaped their expectations of others, and gradually develop a different understanding of themselves and their relationships.

What to expect in session: Sessions are usually conversational and exploratory. You may discuss current concerns, significant relationships, past experiences, emotions and recurring patterns. Attention may also be given to what happens within the therapeutic relationship, as this can provide useful insight into how you relate to others.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT examines the relationship between thoughts, emotions and behaviours. It is often structured and collaborative, with a focus on identifying unhelpful patterns and developing practical strategies for change. CBT is used across a range of difficulties, including anxiety and depression.

In practice: Someone who avoids social situations because they fear embarrassment might identify the thoughts driving that fear, test them gradually through planned behavioural experiments and build confidence through new experiences.

What to expect in session: You and your therapist may set an agenda, review progress and focus on a particular problem or goal. You may learn practical skills, examine patterns of thinking and plan exercises to practise between sessions. Between-session activities are often an important part of CBT.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps people respond more flexibly to difficult thoughts and emotions. Rather than aiming to eliminate every unwanted internal experience, it encourages acceptance, mindfulness and action guided by personal values. ACT is part of the broader family of contemporary cognitive-behavioural therapies.

In practice: A person experiencing persistent self-doubt might learn to notice self-critical thoughts without automatically treating them as facts, while taking meaningful steps towards relationships, work or activities that matter to them.

What to expect in session: Sessions may include discussion, mindfulness or attention exercises and exploration of what matters most to you. You may practise making room for difficult emotions while identifying small, realistic actions that move you towards your values.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

IPT focuses on the connection between mood and relationships. It commonly addresses areas such as grief, relationship conflict, life transitions and difficulties in social functioning.

In practice: Someone whose depression began after a major life change might explore how the transition has affected their identity and relationships, while developing ways to communicate their needs and strengthen support.

What to expect in session: You may discuss important relationships, recent changes and situations in which communication has become difficult. Sessions often focus on identifying relationship patterns, expressing feelings and needs more clearly, resolving conflict or adjusting to a life transition.

Schema Therapy

Schema therapy explores enduring patterns of feeling, thinking and behaving, sometimes called schemas, that may have developed in response to early experiences. It combines cognitive, behavioural, experiential and relational techniques.

In practice: A person who feels they must always meet others’ needs might identify an underlying pattern of self-sacrifice, understand where it came from and practise responding to their own needs in a more balanced way.

What to expect in session: You may explore longstanding patterns and the situations that activate them. Depending on your goals, sessions may include discussion, imagery exercises, written reflections, behavioural practice or experiential techniques such as chair work. The therapist helps connect these patterns with present-day choices and relationships.

Gestalt Psychotherapy

Gestalt therapy focuses on present-moment awareness, direct experience and the relationship between a person and their environment. It explores how people make contact with others, how they respond to situations and whether familiar patterns may be limiting their choices or sense of vitality. The approach pays attention to thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations and behaviour as parts of the whole person.

In practice: A person who frequently agrees to things they do not want to do might explore what happens internally when they try to say no, including bodily sensations, emotions and fears that arise in the moment. This can create opportunities to experiment with more direct and authentic ways of communicating.

What to expect in session: Sessions are usually active, collaborative and focused on your immediate experience. The therapist may invite you to slow down and notice what you are feeling, sensing or doing as you speak. Depending on your goals, this may include an experiential exercise, dialogue between different parts of yourself, or trying out a new way of expressing something in the safety of the therapeutic relationship.

Existential Psychotherapy

Existential therapy explores fundamental questions about living, such as meaning, freedom, responsibility, identity, relationships, choice, uncertainty and mortality. It supports people in developing a more authentic relationship with their lives and in considering how they want to respond to the circumstances they face. Existential therapy emphasises personal meaning, self-awareness and the possibilities available within each person’s situation.

In practice: Someone who feels directionless after a major career or relationship change might explore what has previously given their life meaning, which choices feel genuinely their own and what kind of future they want to create.

What to expect in session: Sessions are generally open, reflective and conversational. You may discuss experiences that feel confusing, painful or significant, and consider the values, assumptions and choices shaping your life. The therapist will not impose a particular meaning or set of answers, but will help you examine your experience carefully and decide what feels meaningful and authentic to you.

The evidence:

-Psychotherapy significantly reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many other common mental health disorders;

-A landmark meta-analysis of nearly 400 studies found outcomes for people receiving psychotherapy were far superior to those not receiving it;

-Psychotherapy is at least as effective as medication for many conditions, including depression;

-Psychotherapy effects tend to be more durable than medication, with lower relapse rates after treatment ends;

-For some conditions, psychotherapy + medication performs significantly better than either alone;

-Patients report improvements in self-awareness, self-agency, social functioning, emotional processing, and overall wellbeing, not just symptom relief;

-Therapeutic relationship between therapist and patient is the biggest determinant of outcomes (more than specific model);

-Longer-term psychotherapy tends to be more effective than shorter-term for many people;

-Combining research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences increases likelihood of positive outcomes;