ROBERT G. THOMPSON, PSY.D.

Licensed Psychologist (PA 1997, NJ 2001, DE 1999)
850 Library Avenue, Suite 104
Newark, DE 19711
Ph. 302-299-8358
rgthompson@widener.edu

Education

Center for Social-Legal Studies in Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Course of Study: Six-month post-graduate seminar (11-96 to 5-97) in forensic psychiatry and psychology under the direction of forensic psychiatrist Robert Sadoff, M.D.

Widener University, Chester, PA
Degree: Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), May 1996 (APA-accredited) Major: Clinical Psychology (GPA: 3.83)
Dissertation Title: Empirical Perspectives on Early Memory Recollections as Projective Data

Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA Degree: Bachelor of Science, June 1990 Major: Mental Health Technology (GPA: 4.00)
Honors: "Who's Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges," Recipient of the Hahnemann University Mental Health Baccalaureate Degree Award for 1990, Alpha Eta Honor Society.

Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA Degree: Four-year Diploma, May 1983 Major: Professional Music
Honors: Graduate Magna Cum Laude

Experience

Norristown State Hospital
Norristown, PA
Chief Competency Program Executive, 4-28-2019 to 5-21-2021 (consultant status as of 5-24- 2021)
Under the auspices of MHM Services, oversee and administer the Independent Competency Assessment Program at Norristown State Hospital (NSP). Review and oversight of competency examinations being performed on the forensic units of the hospital. Training of staff evaluators at NSH and at the 19 Pennsylvania counties who provide referrals for competency restoration. Coordination with the courts in those counties. Oversight of admission and discharge procedures for patients in competency restoration program. Development and implementation of policies and procedures for the Program and for the hospital.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Chicago, IL
Associate Professor, 5-2020 to present
Provided classroom instruction of graduate students in the areas of forensic psychology, psychological assessment, ethics, research design, and psychotherapy.

Argosy University On-Line Programs
Pittsburgh, PA
Assistant Professor, 5-2009 to 3-2019 (Full-time appointment starting in April of 2011) Provide classroom instruction for master’s degree students in forensic psychology and for doctoral students in counseling psychology. Responsible for supervision of adjunct faculty in master’s degree program. Provide supervision of dissertation research for doctoral students.

Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA
Adjunct Assistant Professor, 5-2017 to present
Provided classroom instruction to undergraduate students in the areas of clinical psychology, personality theory, ethics and professional issues, counseling and psychotherapy, and forensic psychology.

Loving Psychological Services
Woodbury, NJ
Licensed Psychologist, 1-2018 to 9-2019
Responsible for providing assessments of children, adolescents and adults from various referral sources, including but not limited to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey. Provider of expert witness testimony in child protection cases.

Private Practice
Newark, DE
Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, 12-2005 to present
Provide clinical psychological evaluation and treatment, forensic psychological examination, disability examinations (Social Security, Workman’s Compensation), and consultation in criminal and civil forensic matters (e.g., competency to stand trial, mental state at the time of the offenses, sentence mitigation). Admitted as an expert witness in courts in DE, PA, and NJ. Provider of training in criminal forensic issues, forensic assessment, personality assessment, and risk assessment.

The Delaware Psychiatric Center, Department of Health and Human Services, State of Delaware, New Castle, DE
Forensic Psychologist, 8-06 to 8-11
Responsible for conducting court-ordered forensic mental health examinations of pre-trial criminal defendants, for conducting psychological evaluations on the inpatient psychiatric unit, and for performing individual and group psychotherapy. Provider of expert witness testimony in Delaware courts. Also responsible for teaching and clinical supervision of psychology interns and practicum students. Lecturer in the psychiatric residency program.

Roger Barr, Ed.D.
Woodbury Heights, NJ
Licensed Psychologist, 1-2006 to 11-2007
Conducted psychological evaluations of clients at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP; formerly DYFS), Bridgeton, NJ.

University Correctional Health Care, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Trenton, NJ
Forensic Mental Health Clinician, 6-05 to 8-06
Responsible for clinical oversight of the Extended Care Unit mental health treatment team. Responsible for conducting psychological evaluations focusing on the following areas: custody status classification, violence risk assessment prior to parole and max release, competency and criminal responsibility in disciplinary hearings, suitability for civil psychiatric commitment, and suitability for referral to the Sexually Violent Predator Unit of the Attorney General’s Office. Mental health representative to the Civil Commitment Review Committee, the Institutional Release Committee, the Sex Offender Release Unit, and the Treatment Review Committee for involuntary medication. Responsible for training mental health staff in the areas of suicide prevention and suicide watch placement, reduced custody evaluations, sexually violent predator evaluations, and management of mental health emergencies.

Clinical Supervisor, Outpatient Mental Health Department, 1-05 to 6-05
Clinically and administratively responsible for the care of all mentally disordered inmates receiving mental health treatment in the Outpatient Department at South Woods State Prison. Responsible for monitoring compliance with NJ DOC policies and procedures and the stipulations of the CF v. Terhune Settlement Agreement. Responsible for conducting psychological evaluations focusing on the following areas: custody status classification, risk assessment prior to parole and max release, competency and criminal responsibility in disciplinary hearings, suitability for civil psychiatric commitment, suitability for referral to the Sexually Violent Predator Unit of the Attorney General’s Office, and assessment of custody officer fitness for duty. Responsible for training mental health staff in the areas of suicide prevention and suicide watch placement, reduced custody evaluations, sexually violent predator evaluations, and management of mental health emergencies. Responsible for training of custodial staff in suicide prevention. Mental health representative to the Civil Commitment Review Committee, the Institutional Release Committee, the Sex Offender Release Unit, and the Treatment Review Committee for involuntary medications. Responsible for conducting and participating in morbidity and mortality reviews. Provided 24-hour, seven-day per week on-call coverage for the institution.

Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology, Widener University, Chester, PA
Adjunct Assistant Professor, 1-15-04 to present
Adjunct faculty member providing classroom instruction in psychological assessment. Served on the Final Clinical Oral Examination committee for students anticipating graduation.

The Center for Family Guidance, Marlton, NJ (Contractor for mental health staff to DOC and CMS)
Lead Psychologist and Site Director for Mental Health Services, 4-01 to 1-05
Clinically and administratively responsible for the care of 725 mentally disordered inmates receiving mental health treatment in the Outpatient Department at South Woods State Prison. Responsible for monitoring compliance with NJ DOC policies and procedures and with the stipulations of the CF v. Terhune Settlement Agreement. Responsible for oversight, clinical management, and final disposition of all suicide watch cases. Responsible for conducting psychological evaluations focusing on the following areas: custody status classification, violence risk assessment prior to parole and max release, competency and criminal responsibility in disciplinary hearings, suitability for civil psychiatric commitment, suitability for referral to the Sexually Violent Predator Unit of the Attorney General’s Office, and assessment of custody officer fitness for duty. Chair of the institutional Suicide Prevention Committee. Responsible for training mental health staff in the areas of suicide prevention and suicide watch placement, reduced custody evaluations, sexually violent predator evaluations, and management of mental health emergencies. Responsible for training of correctional staff in suicide prevention. Mental health representative to the Civil Commitment Review Committee, the Institutional Release Committee, the Sex Offender Release Unit, and the Treatment Review Committee for involuntary medications. Responsible for conducting and participating in morbidity and mortality reviews. Provided 24-hour, seven-day per week on-call coverage for the institution.

Staff Psychologist, 10-00 to 4-01
Responsible for evaluation and treatment of mentally disordered inmates housed at South Woods State Prison in the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Responsible for conducting psychological evaluations focusing on the following areas: custody status classification, violence risk assessment prior to parole and max release, competency and criminal responsibility in disciplinary hearings, suitability for civil psychiatric commitment, suitability for referral to the Sexually Violent Predator Unit of the Attorney General’s Office, and assessment of custody officer fitness for duty.

Institute for Addictive Disorders, MCP Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, 7-97 to 10-00 (Adjunct status 10-00 to 9-01)
Served as Clinical Director of Youth Opportunities Philadelphia, a partial-hospital treatment program for court-adjudicated adolescents with substance abuse problems (project funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 11-97 to 6-99). Served as Associate Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health, Parkview Hospital (7-99 to 3-00). Served as Interim Director of Psychology Internship Training, MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine (4-00 to 10-00). Provided staff training and development on suicide prevention, assessment, and intervention in the Philadelphia Prison System (3-00 to 7-00). Also conducted competency to stand trial and pre-sentence evaluations for court-committed, mentally disordered inmates. Provided classroom instruction, didactic training, and clinical supervision to psychology interns, medical students, psychiatric residents, and fellows in child and adolescent psychiatry (9-97 to 10-00). Served as Assistant Director of Clinical Addiction Services, Institute for Addictive Disorders (10-97 to 10-00). Served on the Preferred Behavioral Network credentialing committee for mental health providers, the Committee on Documentation and Record Keeping, and the Internship Steering Committee for the University.

MeadowWood Behavioral Health System, New Castle, DE
Consulting Psychologist, 7-95 to 3-01 (Psychological Assistant status from 7-95 to 12-99) Administered and interpreted psychological test batteries with children, adolescents, and adults in an inpatient psychiatric hospital.

Marla Isaaks, Ph.D., and Associates, Philadelphia, PA.
Psychology Resident, 4-97 to 9-97 (part-time)
Psychological assessment of children, adolescents and adults in child custody cases.

The Center for Psychiatric Wellness, Haddonfield, N.J.
Psychology Resident (Three-year psychology permit), 9-96 to 9-97
Cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamically oriented treatment of trauma-based syndromes in adults following accidents and injuries (i.e., personal injury and workman's compensation cases). Psychological assessment and individual psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and adults in an outpatient setting.

Swarthmore College Psychological Services Center, Swarthmore, PA
Psychology Intern, 9-95 to 5-96 (Three days per week)—APA approved
Provided short-term and long-term individual psychotherapy for a college student population. Did consultations with faculty and staff members throughout the college community. Served on-call several weeks throughout the year. Attended a weekly case conference and study group.

Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Psychology Intern, 7-94 to 6-95 (Three days per week)—APA approved
Provided outpatient psychotherapy for children and adults, conducted group therapy two times per week with an elderly nursing home population, and administered and interpreted two psychological test batteries per month on an inpatient psychiatric unit. Served as mentor for two psychology practicum students.

MeadowWood Hospital, New Castle, DE
Psychology Practicum Student, 7-93 to 6-94 (Three days per week)
Administered and interpreted psychodiagnostic test batteries with children and adolescents in an inpatient psychiatric facility. Also conducted short-term family therapy in a partial hospitalization program.

Haverford College Psychological Services Center, Haverford, PA
Psychology Practicum Student, 9-92 to 5-93
Completed the Haverford College Student Psychotherapy Training Program. Provided psychodynamically oriented individual psychotherapy. Presented cases at weekly conferences and attended a year-long reading seminar on the writings of D.W. Winnicott.

Eagleville Hospital, Eagleville, PA
Psychology Practicum Student, 9-91 to 8-92 (full-time employee summer of 1992; part-time employee summers of 1993 and 1994)
Conducted comprehensive admissions evaluations, individual and group psychotherapy, and psychological testing with a substance-abuse population.

The Residence at Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Counselor, 4-91 to 9-94 (part-time)
Worked as a counselor on an acute care, inpatient psychiatric unit. Conducted cognitive behaviorally oriented group psychotherapy.

Bristol-Bensalem Human Services Center, Newportville, PA
Crisis Worker/Outpatient Psychotherapist, 8-89 to 8-91
Conducted daily screening interviews and intake evaluations with a wide variety of client populations, provided crisis intervention, case management, and individual counseling.

Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA
Peer Counselor and Tutor, 9-89 to 5-90
Tutored undergraduate students in mental health and psychology on a variety of academic subjects. Taught study skills and counseled on issues of academic adjustment.

State of Delaware, Wilmington, DE
Teacher's Aide, Residential Counselor, 9-78 to 1-80
Served as a teacher's aide in a special education classroom for learning disabled and mentally retarded students. Also worked as counselor in a cottage for autistic children on the grounds of Delaware State Hospital.

Self-Employed, Wilmington, DE
Professional Musician, 5-83 to 9-91
Professional drummer and percussionist in the recording studio, in shows and theater productions, and in nightclub acts.

Memberships

•Psychology-Law Society, Division 41, American Psychological Association, 2013 to present
•Member, Division 50 (Addictions), American Psychological Association, 1997 to 2000
•Member, Delaware Valley Society for Personality Assessment, 2001 to present
•Member, Psychoanalytic Research Society, 1996-1998

Leadership Roles

•Co-chair, Continuing Education Committee, Division 50 (Addictions), American Psychological Association, 1997 to 1999
•Co-chair, Graduate Student Committee, American Psychological Association, Division 39 (Psychoanalysis), 1995-1997
•Graduate Student Liaison to the Board of Directors, Philadelphia Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, 1995-1996
•President, Clinical Psychology Student Forum, Widener University, 1993-1994

Presentations

Transitioning to an Independent Team Model of Competency to Stand Trial Evaluation (Thompson, R.G., and Gavetti, M.), 27th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, Drexel University, Grantville, PA, December 5, 2019.

On the Edge of the Work-Life Boundary: Perceived Stress, Coping Tactics, and Satisfaction Reported by On Line Faculty (Aragon, N., Collins-Jones, T., and Thompson, R.G.), Pearson CITE Conference, April 2, 2014, Ft. Worth, TX.

Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences for Lawyers and the Courts (Thompson, R.G., Shnaidman, V., Watson, C.), American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting, February 21, 2011, Chicago, IL.

Competence to Proceed at Trial: Evaluation Dilemmas and Approaches to Competency Restoration (Watson, C., Margery, S., and Thompson, R.G.), American College of Forensic Psychiatry, 27th Annual Continuing Medical Education Symposium, March 21, 2009, San Diego, CA.

Treatment of the Mentally Ill Individual in the Correctional System, Academy of Lifelong Learning, University of Delaware, November 15, 2006.

Assessment and Management of Violence Risk in the Clinical Setting (Thompson, R.G., and Green, H.), Postgraduate Center of the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University, September 30, 2005, Chester, PA.

Applying the Stages of Change Model to Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Addictive Disorders (Thompson, R.G., and Rubenstein, D.), Pennsylvania Psychological Association Annual Convention, June, 2002, Lancaster, PA.

The Assessment and Clinical Management of Violence Risk (Thompson, R.G., and Green, H.), Pennsylvania Psychological Association Annual Convention, June, 2002, Lancaster, PA

Addressing Substance Related Disorders in Psychotherapy (Rubenstein, D., and Thompson, R.G.), Pennsylvania Psychological Association Annual Convention, June, 2001, Pittsburgh, PA.

Treatment of Adolescents on Probation with Substance Abuse Problems (Lidz, V.,
Thompson, R.G., Alexander, R., Rubenstein, D., and O’Neill, M.), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Convention, October, 1999, Chicago, IL. Intelligence and Psychopathy in Adolescent Offenders (O’Neill, M.L., Lidz, V., Korein, L., and Thompson, R.G.), Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, August, 1999, Boston, MA.

Treating Substance Abusing Adolescents on Probation (Lidz, V., Thompson, R.G., Alexander, R., Festinger, D., and O’Neill, M.), 1999 Office of National Drug Control Policy International Technology Symposium, March, 1999, Washington, D.C.

Adolescent Evaluation and Treatment Planning (Thompson, R.G.) American Society of Addiction Medicine Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, April 17, 1998.

Exposure to Community Violence: Prevalence, Impact, and Relationship to Substance Abuse among Adolescents Facing Delinquency Adjudication (Festinger, D.S., Thompson, R.G., Lamonica, V., Lidz, V., and Platt, J.J.). Poster presentation at the American Psychology- Law Society Biennial Conference, Redondo Beach, CA, March, 1998.

The False Memories Controversy: What’s a Therapist to Do? Grand Rounds Lecture, Department of Mental Health Sciences, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, March 17, 1998.

Psychoanalysis and Graduate School Training: A Survey of Students' Experiences, presentation given at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Los Angeles, CA., August 16,1994. Paper published in Psychologist Psychoanalyst, 15(1), 1995.

D.W. Winnicott's Concepts of True and False Self, paper given as part of a panel presentation before the Philadelphia Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, January 21, 1994.

Symposia Leadership

Co-chair of symposium entitled, The Journey of Understanding Psychoanalysis, American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, August 15, 1997.

Co-chair of symposium entitled, Addressing Issues in Clinical Psychotherapy: Working Alliance, the Analytic Frame, and the Homeless Patient, Division of Psychoanalysis Spring Meeting, Denver, Colorado, February 28, 1997.

Co-chair of symposium entitled, Language and Psychoanalysis, American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 12, 1996.

Co-chair of symposium entitled, Understanding the Treatment Relationship: Patient and Therapist Contributions, Division of Psychoanalysis Spring Meeting, New York, N.Y., April 19, 1996.

Co-chair of symposium entitled, Contemporary to Classic Issues in Psychoanalysis: Gay Male Oedipus Complex, Teenage Pregnancy, and Katharina, American Psychological Association Annual Convention, New York, N.Y., August 11, 1995.

Co-chair of symposium entitled, Psychoanalysis Through the Looking Glass: Issues of the Nineties, Division of Psychoanalysis Spring Meeting, Santa Monica, CA., April 28, 1995.

Publications

Thompson, R.G. (2015). Book Review: The Handbook of Forensic Rorschach Assessment.
Journal of Personality Assessment, 97 (6), 650-653.

Donohue, A., Samuels, J., Thompson, R.G., Watson, C., Gallucci, G. (2014). Use of a brief screening tool to assess intellectual functioning in a forensic population. Journal of Intellectual Disability—Diagnosis and Treatment, 2, 54-58.

Marlowe, D.B., Lambert, J., and Thompson, R.G. (1999). Substance abuse and criminal responsibility. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 17, 195-217.

Festinger, D.S., Rubenstein, D.F., Thompson, R.G., Alexander, R., and Lidz, V. (1999). Adolescent substance abuse treatment: A step by step manual for program development and clinical practice. Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Platt, J.J., Widman, M., Lidz, V., Rubenstein, D., and Thompson, R.G. (1998). The case for support services in substance abuse treatment. American Behavioral Scientist, (41) 8, 1050- 1062.

Invited Participation

Invited panelist for Mapping the Future: Preadolescent Treatment Services, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), United States Department of Health and Human Services, Alexandria, VA, October, 30, 1998.

Updated: 7-7-2021