About Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, ABPP

Michael A. Tompkins, PhD, ABPP is a licensed psychologist (PSY13822) and board certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology, co-director of the San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Diplomate and Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and is a trainer and consultant for the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior. He is the author or co-author of numerous scholarly articles and chapters on cognitive-behavior therapy and related topics, as well as seven books. Dr. Tompkins treats adults, adolescents, and children with anxiety disorders (panic, worry, phobias, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, health anxiety), stress, insomnia, body-focused repetitive behaviors (trichotillomania, skin picking, nail biting), elimination disorders (enuresis and encopresis), and Tourette’s and tic disorders.   For an appointment, call 510.652.4455 ext. 3 To learn more about Dr. Tompkins, visit his profile here.
31 12, 2024

Can Hoarding Tendencies Be a Craving for the Past for Immigrants and Refugees?

By |2024-12-31T00:50:51-08:00December 31st, 2024|In the Media, Partner Perspectives|

Our attachments to physical possessions are complex, multilayered, and often linked to life experiences — especially within immigrant communities.

I recently contributed to an article on the website Hyphen about hoarding tendencies and how it affects immigrants and refugees.

From childhood, Nina Laqman knew there was something different about her […]

26 12, 2024

Stress Less Hack: Hum to Relax

By |2024-12-26T02:28:07-08:00December 26th, 2024|Stress Less|

Slow, deep breathing is a great way to stimulate the vagus nerve and relax your body, but there are other ways to stimulate this nerve.

For example, you may not believe this, but singing and humming activate the vagus nerve.

Even gargling can stimulate it.

So, next time you’re feeling stressed, hum or sing your favorite tune or, […]

18 12, 2024

Stress Less Hack: Helping Teens Reset to the Present-Moment

By |2024-12-18T23:02:13-08:00December 18th, 2024|Partner Perspectives, Stress Less, Teen Topics|

You’re a busy teen, so it’s not easy to remember to take a present-moment break, much less find ten minutes to do it.

Hitting the present-moment reset button is an easy way to remember to take a quick present-moment break.

Here’s how to do it.

  • On six or eight sticky notes, draw a dime-size circle in the […]
11 12, 2024

Stress Less Hack: Two Tennis Balls

By |2024-12-12T23:11:22-08:00December 11th, 2024|Stress Less|

Try this stress-release skill to de-stress quickly. It combines releasing muscle tension and visualization.

Here’s how it works.

  • Grab two tennis balls, one in each hand. If you don’t have tennis balls, use balled-up washcloths or socks.
  • Now, close your eyes and squeeze the tennis balls as you imagine squeezing toothpaste out of a tube or juice out […]
5 11, 2024

VIDEO UPDATE: Say Goodbye to Clutter: Executive Function Tips for Parents

By |2024-11-05T23:11:39-08:00November 5th, 2024|Mood Matters, Partner Perspectives, Videos|

Are you a parent struggling to help your child manage clutter and stay organized?

Do you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of keeping your child focused and on track?

Join us for the next episode of Experts in Learning Differences: A Speaker Series, featuring Dr. Michael A. Tompkins, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology […]