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.
4 10, 2024

Say Goodbye to Clutter: Executive Function Tips for Parents

By |2024-11-05T23:12:49-08:00October 4th, 2024|Mood Matters, Partner Perspectives|

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 expert in Behavioral […]

19 09, 2024

Clutter Unraveled: The Intersection of ADHD and Hoarding Disorder

By |2024-09-19T23:58:03-07:00September 19th, 2024|In the Media|

Learn about the complex and seemingly shared causes of clutter in ADHD and hoarding disorder, from executive dysfunction and emotional dysregulation to decluttering avoidance.

Treatment for co-occurring conditions is essential. Depression and anxiety commonly occur with ADHD and HD. Loss of motivation in the former and excessive worry in the latter cause further difficulties with executive functioning and […]

19 12, 2023

The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workbook

By |2023-12-19T23:13:03-08:00December 19th, 2023|Books, In the Media|

Evidence-Based CBT Skills to Help You Manage Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and More

Written by a leading expert in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this workbook offers powerful, evidence-based skills to improve your mental health, so you can get back to living your life!

Have you been struggling with sadness, worry, stress, or even insomnia? You certainly aren’t alone. […]

31 08, 2023

Stress Less! Weekly Tips for a Calm, Chill Life

By |2023-08-31T18:31:05-07:00August 31st, 2023|From OCD to Anxiety, Mood Matters, Partner Perspectives|

If you’re an athlete, you likely do resistance exercises to strengthen your skeletal and core muscles.

The diaphragm is a muscle too. The diaphragm tightens during inhalation so a strong diaphragm reduces breathing effort and improves your performance.

Alternate nostril breathing is a resistance training technique to strengthen your inspiratory muscles and it’s easy to do.

[…]

15 02, 2023

Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm Chill Life – SNEAK PEEK!

By |2023-02-15T21:29:52-08:00February 15th, 2023|Books, From OCD to Anxiety, Teen Topics|

Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate the real and significant stress that is a part of the day-to-day lives of teens. There’s the stress of exams, college applications, a big game, difficult teachers, difficult friends, and parents who don’t always get it…not to mention the dating and social scenes.

Stress like this tends to build […]

17 12, 2022

5 Tips to Help Teens Complete Therapeutic Action Plans

By |2022-12-17T19:31:19-08:00December 17th, 2022|Books, Partner Perspectives, Teen Topics|

Whether you call them therapeutic homework, action plans, or exercises, these out-of-session activities can help teens in several ways:

  • Action plans help teens repeatedly practice skills in order to build confidence in their ability to apply the skill when needed. Teens understand that they won’t master a skill (doing math problems, skateboarding, playing the piano) […]
10 11, 2022

Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm Chill Life

By |2022-11-10T19:22:23-08:00November 10th, 2022|Books, Teen Topics|

Stress Less teaches concrete skills for managing stress and anxiety, organized into common “stress domains” such as family, friends, dating, school, and media.

Let’s get real. Stress is part of every teen’s life — the stress of exams, college applications, a big game, difficult teachers, difficult friends, parents who don’t always get you, […]