Psychotherapy & Counselling · Canterbury, Kent
Your journey.
Your meaning.
Your truth.
— Jack Rigden, Psychotherapist MSc, MBACP
A therapeutic space to think, speak, and work through what matters.
You're holding it together on the surface, but underneath, something doesn't feel right. Maybe you find yourself overthinking, struggling to switch off, or caught in the same patterns no matter how hard you try to change.
Maybe there are times when you can't hold it together. You might feel heavy, confused, hollow, anxious, disconnected, or simply not quite yourself. You might not even be sure what you need. That's okay. Therapy doesn't require you to arrive with the answers, only a willingness to look.
Wherever you are, I will meet you as another human being, and we can begin to make sense of things together.
Depth, warmth,
and genuine presence
Hi, I'm Jack. I became a therapist because I know first-hand how challenging life can be to navigate, and what it can feel like to get lost in the anxiety, uncertainty and despair that are part of being human. I don't think of therapy as a service I deliver. It's a relationship we build together.
My practice is based in Canterbury, where I work from a light-filled conservatory surrounded by plants. The room itself is calm, human, and a little different from the typical therapy setting. Online sessions carry the same spirit.
I'm completing a doctorate in Existential Psychotherapy, with research focused on fatherhood and single parents. I work with individuals and groups across a wide range of difficulties, bringing genuine curiosity to each person I meet.
Rooted in depth.
Open to what helps.
I'm drawn most to psychodynamic and existential thinking — which means we look at patterns, the past, the meaning you make of things, and questions of identity and how you relate to your life. I also draw on other approaches where they're useful: mindfulness, CBT tools, relational work, or simply sitting with what's present. I follow the person, not the method.
Psychodynamic
We look beneath the surface — at patterns, unconscious pulls, and how your past shapes your present. Insight creates the room to change.
Existential
We explore questions of meaning, identity, freedom, and belonging. What kind of life do you actually want? What gets in the way?
Integrative
Where helpful, I draw on CBT, mindfulness, relational and systemic ideas. We can work practically with what feels difficult now, while also making space for deeper change.
You don't need
a label to begin
People come to me for many reasons. If I am not the right person, I will do my best to point you in the right direction.
Anxiety & overwhelm
Overthinking, constant worry, panic, or never quite being able to rest.
Depression & low mood
Heaviness, numbness, loss of motivation, or feeling disconnected from life.
Self-worth & confidence
Shame, self-doubt, people-pleasing, or feeling not good enough.
Relationships & attachment
Patterns in how you connect, withdraw, argue, love, or protect yourself.
Stress & burnout
Feeling stretched, exhausted, pressured, or unable to switch off.
Trauma & difficult pasts
Experiences that still echo in your body, relationships, or sense of self.
Identity, meaning & life transitions
Questions of who you are, what matters, and how to live more honestly.
Parenthood, fatherhood & motherhood
The emotional weight, identity shifts, and pressures of being a parent.
Men's mental health
A space to talk without performance, including pressure, anger, numbness, or isolation.
Neurodiversity & ADHD
Understanding yourself and working with your mind rather than against it.
Gender & sexuality
Affirming support around identity, belonging, relationships, and self-understanding.
Emotional overwhelm & numbness
Big feelings, shutdown, anger, emptiness, or difficulty knowing what you feel.
Straightforward,
no surprises
Recent writing
Anxiety
Anxiety and the Exhausting Work of Trying to Make Life Certain
Anxiety is usually spoken about as a problem to be solved. But perhaps it is also a sign that something truly matters.
Therapy
Why Play, Creativity and Space Matter in Therapy
Therapy is often imagined as a serious place. But at its best, it also involves play, creativity and space.
Neurodiversity
ADHD, Overwhelm and Modern Life
ADHD is often talked about as a problem with attention. But for many people, that does not quite capture the lived experience.
Things people
often ask
You can start
with a simple message
You don't have to have it figured out. Reach out however feels easiest — a call, a message, or a WhatsApp. I'll get back to you within two working days.
Send a message
No pressure, no commitment — just a first step.
I'll reply within two working days.