Biography of Psychologist Dr. Michael D. Thompson

My detailed curriculum vitae can be found here.

I have a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Minnesota, a master's degree in clinical social work from Fordham University, New York City, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon. I completed my doctoral internship in clinical and forensic psychology at Mendota Mental Health Institute and the University of Wisconsin, both in Madison, Wisconsin. Other graduate placements included Manhattan Psychiatric Center in New York City; the Veteran's Administration Vet Center in Times Square, New York City; Portland State University, Portland, Oregon; and Network Behavior Healthcare, a community-based mental health agency in Portland, Oregon.

My doctoral dissertation, "Sexual Arousal Patterns in Admitting and Denying Sexual Offenders," examined differential arousal, as measured through penile plethysmography, between men who admitted and men who denied their adjudicated sexual offenses. The findings of this research were presented at the annual conference of the Western Psychological Association, in Maui, Hawaii, in 2001. I have presented at various conferences and trainings throughout my career. I have appeared on local television and radio to discuss sexual offender policy, the psychological aspects of familial homicide and mass shootings and the social psychology of mob behavior.

Prior to completion of my doctoral work, I was employed in a variety of human services and mental health settings, including adolescent residential treatment programs in Minnesota and New York. I also worked as a social worker in New York City, supervising foster homes and the welfare of children in foster care in the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, as well as several suburban counties. I have completed foster care home studies in New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina. I have past experience testifying in family court matters relating to foster care placement, family reunification, and permanency planning.

I have worked in the area of sexual offender evaluation and treatment since 1996. While sexual offender assessment remains a large portion of my work, I also conduct evaluations for competency to stand trial, restoration of competency, assessment of criminal, sexual and violence risk, as well as mentally ill and dangerous evaluations and civil commitment examinations. I regularly testify in court and am comfortable in an expert witness and consultant role.

I have served as an adjunct instructor in psychology, social work, and education departments at Marymount Manhattan College, New York, New York; the University of Portland, Portland, Oregon; Clackamas Community College, Gresham, Oregon; Upper Iowa University, Madison Campus, Madison, Wisconsin; Augsburg College in Minneapolis; The University of Wisconsin, River Falls, River Falls, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

I am a clinical member of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), where I served as the chair of the Credentialing Subcommittee of the Education and Training Committee of ATSA. I was also named an inaugural ATSA Fellow, an honor awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of sexual offender treatment.

I am a former board of directors member of the Minnesota chapter of ATSA. I also served three terms as the President of the Minnesota chapter of ATSA. I am a member of the American Psychology-Law Society (American Psychological Association Division 41), Society for Military Psychology (American Psychological Association Division 19), the Sex Offender Civil Commitment Programs Network (SOCCPN) and the Minnesota Community Corrections Association.

I have been honored to be selected to serve on three important Minnesota task forces. I was appointed by the Minnesota Commissioner of Human Services as an ex-officio member of the Minnesota Sex Offender Civil Commitment Task Force. This task force recommended changes to Minnesota's sexual offender civil commitment system. I also served on the Safe Environments-Ministerial Standards Task Force, a task force established by the Catholic Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul to develop standards for sexual abuse prevention and reporting in Minnesota's largest diocese. Most recently, I was appointed to the Minnesota Criminal Sexual Conduct Statutory Reform Working Group. This working group recommended to the Minnesota legislature changes to Minnesota criminal sexual conduct statutes.

In 2023, I was appointed by the Governor of Minnesota to the Minnesota Board of Psychology. The Board of Psychology is responsible for the protection of the public through licensure, regulation, and education to promote access to safe, competent, and ethical psychological services.

Additionally, I have also served as a mental health responder with the American Red Cross in Portland, Oregon, responding to the mental health concerns of the victims of fires, floods, and other disasters throughout the Pacific Northwest.

I am a former field grade transportation officer in the United States Army Reserve. I have served in various command and staff positions in infantry, chemical, transportation, and training units, in both an active and reserve status.

My hobbies and interests include reading, cycling, anything Boundary Waters Canoe Area related and ice hockey. I am a volunteer with the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. I live with my wife Carol, a family nurse practitioner, and our two cats in Southwest Minneapolis.