Cathy A. Thompson, Ph.D.
(she/her/hers)

 Licensed Psychologist #PSY17056

Dr. Cathy (Cat) Thompson is a licensed psychologist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology at the University of California, San Diego in 1992.  She then went on to complete her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a Cultural Emphasis at the California School of Professional Psychology (now Alliant University) where she conducted doctoral research on the racial identity development of biracial Black/White adults. She has worked in a number of clinical settings, including the Children’s Hospital Center for Child Protection, Halcyon Crisis Center, and San Diego State University’s Counseling & Psychological Service Center.

She also spent four years in the United States Navy as a military psychologist and recently moved to the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) after working at their Counseling & Psychological Services Center (CAPS) for 20 years.  

In addition to her clinical work, she is a part-time lecturer in the Women’s Studies Department at San Diego State University teaching the Psychology of Women. She is on the governing board of the Association for Women in Psychology as the Women of Color Coordinator (2007-2010; 2019-present) and is Past President (2010-2013) of Div 35, Section 1: Society for the Psychology of Women, Psychology of Black Women of the American Psychological Association. 
​
Dr. Thompson is passionate about diversity, equity, and social justice and has dedicated her career to supporting BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities.  She identifies as a queer, Biracial (Black/White), Feminist Multicultural Psychologist and believes that it is important to understand individuals within a social context as we cannot separate our strengths and challenges from our environment, culture, and social location. Her approach is integrative and incorporates humanistic, dynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and multicultural feminist approaches that encourage positive coping, resilience, and resistance.

How I work...

• I provide culturally responsive supportive therapy that focuses on highlighting your strengths and using them to move through any current challenges or areas of growth. 
• I believe that you know yourself better than anyone and my job is to join you in your process to explore what’s working and what’s not and discover ways to make the changes you would like to see. 
• I work with you to create a safe and affirming space where you can share your feelings and experiences, feel seen, heard, and accepted without judgment, and develop strategies and skills that facilitate increased self-compassion and allow you to live your best life.
• I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is central to growth and healing.
• I believe that we are all valuable and worthy of love, acceptance, connection, and peace and that it is important to challenge and heal from messages, beliefs and experiences that cause us to doubt this. With increased understanding and a willingness to change our thinking we can stand in our truth and build healthy relationships.
• I provide online Individual, Couples, and Group Therapy for Adults 18+
  • ​$300 per 45-50 minute individual therapy session 
  • $325-475 per 50-80 minute family, couples, or multi-partnered relationship therapy session 

Phone Consult

Before the first appointment, we offer a free 5-10 minute phone consultation with administrative staff. We will talk in order to see if the therapist is a good fit for what you are looking for in a counselor.