Mandy Thompson, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders across the lifespan. In addition to her work with individual clients, Dr. Thompson is proud to serve as the Center for Cognitive Therapy’s (CCTA’s) Director of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Services. As a certified PCIT provider, she is passionate about introducing this evidence-based treatment to parents with young children who struggle with challenging behaviors, and also trains clinicians within CCTA to provide PCIT and gain their certifications. Supporting clients and families in overcoming their anxieties and trauma, as well as helping them to gain a thorough understanding of their own psychological health, is something that Dr. Thompson considers to be one of her life’s great privileges and joys.
Dr. Thompson completed her doctoral training at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and her American Psychological Association (APA) accredited psychology internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, where she worked in the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress and the Psychiatric Mental Health Program. In addition to treatment of anxiety, trauma, and pediatric behavioral concerns, she also has experience counseling clients through a variety of personal challenges related to depression, life transitions, obsessive compulsive disorders, sexual and gender identity, and uncertainty around mental health diagnoses. In addition, she serves as a supervisor to predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows.
Dr. Thompson’s integrative approach to therapy draws on a range of treatment methodologies to address each client’s unique needs. These therapies include but are not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and psychodynamic therapy. When working with young clients and families, she also utilizes treatments such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), PCIT, and Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). She uses enthusiasm, unconditional acceptance, and when suitable, humor, art, and play to make sessions a space in which clients of all ages feel safe and ready to achieve greater personal growth.
In addition to her work at the Center for Cognitive Therapy, Dr. Thompson has trained and volunteered at the D.C. Rape Crisis Center and Safe Shores, a Washington, D.C. children’s advocacy center, where she supported survivors of abuse and assault in both clinic and hospital settings. She has provided psychological counseling and assessment services at Children’s National Medical Center, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Marymount University, and The George Washington University. She is an APA Member of the Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12) and the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (Division 53).
Dr. Thompson is licensed in Virginia and authorized by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards to practice telepsychology under the authority of PSYPACT. PSYPACT-authorized psychologists may practice interjurisdictional telepsychology and provide mental health services via HIPAA-compliant communication platforms to clients who live in Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, or any state in which PSYPACT legislation is effective (click here to see the full list of PSYPACT-participating states).
Prior to receiving her masters and doctoral degrees, Dr. Thompson worked for a Member of Congress, at which time she drafted legislation, engaged in public relations, and advocated on behalf of mental health issues. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Scripps College in Claremont, California. When she’s not in her office, you’ll likely find her reading for fun, playing with her pets, enjoying time with friends and family (esp. spoiling nieces, nephews, and feline/canine family members), tinkering on the piano, exploring one of the Smithsonian Museums, or planning her next real/imaginary travel adventure.
The Center for Cognitive Therapy and Assessment (CCTA) is a mental health clinic that specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). With three convenient locations in Falls Church, McLean, and Alexandria, Virginia, the practice offers comprehensive treatment for all types of mood and behavioral disorders in children, adolescents, and adults.
