Dr. Thomson's practice is devoted to helping young people develop effective emotional regulation and social communication skills. He has worked with socially isolated, shy, anxious, and depressed youth and their families for over 15 years in school, correctional, nonprofit family counseling, day treatment, private practice, chemical dependency, and inpatient psychiatric hospital settings. He has also helped youth and their families deal with OCD, bipolar disorder, ASD, and ADHD.

His clinical activities have included: child/family play therapy; individual, couples, and family therapy; Family Court mediation and co-parenting; counseling to LGBTQ youth and their families; supporting LGBTQ parents; child neuropsychological assessment; crisis intervention; and early intervention program consultation. He has a family systems orientation and a prescriptive cognitive-behavioral approach to select strategies best suited to meet each individual's needs. He has adopted the SCERTS model in conceptualizing diagnosis and treatment strategies for ASD.

Dr. Thomson is a member of the American Psychological Association, California Psychological Association, Association for Play Therapy, California Association for Play Therapy, Gay and Lesbian Therapy Association, and the Santa Clara County Psychological Association.

 

His research interests continue to be in the areas of childhood emotional regulation, social communication, self-esteem, and use of play therapy interventions. 

When not role-playing with kids or reviewing assessment findings with parents, you'll find "Dr. T" playing Vdrums, cycling, on a tennis court, swimming laps, snow skiing, or trying to swing a golf club.