About Dr. Tom Rigg
Licensed Psychologist & PhD, Counseling Psychology · Midtown Manhattan
I'm a licensed psychologist in Midtown Manhattan with a PhD in Counseling Psychology and over seven years of clinical experience. I work primarily with managing directors, partners at law firms, attending physicians, startup founders, tech leads, and senior consultants who are dealing with the psychological toll of demanding careers.
Many of my clients don't fit the stereotype of someone who "needs therapy." They're accomplished, driven, and often very good at keeping it together on the outside. But underneath, they're dealing with anxiety, burnout, strained relationships, or a quiet sense that the life they've built isn't the one they actually want.
I create a space where you can drop the performance and get honest about what's going on. My work is direct, collaborative, and focused on real change, not just insight for its own sake.
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy works best when it's built on trust, honesty, and genuine care. I believe you're the expert on your own experience, and my role is to help you see it more clearly and move toward a life that actually fits.
I draw on three evidence-based frameworks, adapting my approach to what works best for each person:
- Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) Grounded in the belief that warmth, empathy, and authentic connection are the foundation of meaningful growth.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) A practical, skills-focused approach that helps identify and shift unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Combines mindfulness with values-based action to build psychological flexibility and engage more fully with life.
Background
I received my PhD in Counseling Psychology from The University of Iowa. My doctoral research focused on cultural concealment in group psychotherapy, looking at how people hide aspects of their identity in therapeutic settings and how that affects outcomes. That work deepened my interest in what it means to feel genuinely seen and accepted, which continues to shape how I approach every client relationship.
I bring a multicultural perspective to my clinical work, informed by research and training on how identity, culture, and background shape our inner lives. I aim to create a space where all of who you are is welcome, including the parts you're still working out.
Before graduate school, I worked directly with survivors of domestic violence, which reinforced my belief that healing often begins simply with having a safe, non-judgmental space to be heard.
Credentials
- Licensed Psychologist, State of New York
- PhD, Counseling Psychology — University of Iowa