Jason Thompson, PhD
Assistant Professor
Psychiatry
School of Medicine

I am a clinician-investigator with a background in community mental health, neuroscience, integrative medicine, and trauma psychotherapy. As the Local Recovery Coordinator for the San Francisco VA Health Care System, I am responsible for coordinating and developing effective interventions to support the recovery of veterans from the most acute and intractable forms of mental disorder and psychological injury.

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My guiding aim as a researcher has been to elucidate the trajectory and key treatment principles of recovery from trauma and violence, with a particular interest in the scope of non-ordinary states of consciousness to facilitate healing and recovery, prioritizing the needs of historically underserved communities. My approach to research is informed by a transdisciplinary perspective integrating my training as a psychotherapist and neuroscientist with a background in the humanities and philosophy.

Awards

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• Murray Tondow Outstanding Dissertation Award, Palo Alto University, 2015
• College Scholarship, Oxford University, 1992-1994

Education & Training

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• Postdoctoral fellowship UCSF Osher Center 10/2017
• Postdoctoral fellowship San Francisco General Hospital 8/2016
• Predoctoral internship San Francisco General Hospital 8/2015
• PhD Clinical Psychology Palo Alto University 6/2015
• BA English Literature Oxford University 6/1994

Interests

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• Trauma
• meditation
• psychedelic therapy
• veteran mental health
• global mental health

Websites

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• Author website: (runningisakindofdreaming.com)

Publications (4)

Top publication keywords:
Stress, PsychologicalMeditationDepressionDementiaAged, 80 and overCaregiversPersonal SatisfactionMindfulnessFamilySchoolsIndividualitySelf EfficacyHydrocortisoneRespiratory Sinus ArrhythmiaChild

• Associations between classroom climate and children's externalizing symptoms: The moderating effect of kindergarten children's parasympathetic reactivity.
  Development and psychopathology 2020 Roubinov DS, Bush NR, Hagan MJ, Thompson J, Boyce WT
• A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Weight Loss Intervention on Cardiovascular Reactivity to Social-Evaluative Threat Among Adults with Obesity.
  Mindfulness 2019 Daubenmier J, Epel ES, Moran PJ, Thompson J, Mason AE, Acree M, Goldman V, Kristeller J, Hecht FM, Mendes WB
• Randomized Controlled Trial of Inner Resources Meditation for Family Dementia Caregivers.
  Journal of clinical psychology 2017 Waelde LC, Meyer H, Thompson JM, Thompson L, Gallagher-Thompson D
• Trauma Therapists' Clinical Applications, Training, and Personal Practice of Mindfulness and Meditation.
  Mindfulness 2016 Waelde LC, Thompson JM, Robinson A, Iwanicki S