Dr. Michael Guy Thompson, PhD, LMFT, San Francisco, CA

What patients are saying

Overall rating

5.00

Average wait time

5.00

Bedside manner

5.00

“Working with Dr. Thompson brought greater awareness to my reactions and choices. Sessions created space for honest reflection and more steadiness in difficult moments.”

JMLess than 3 months ago

“I was struggling with questions about meaning and direction in my life. Dr. Thompson’s way of working helped me sit with uncertainty without feeling overwhelmed, and I felt more anchored over time.”

AALess than 3 months ago

About Dr. Michael Guy Thompson

Clientele seen

Young adults (18-24)

Individuals

Adults (25-64)

Seniors (65+)

Identity

Gender

Male

Languages spoken

English

Getting to know Dr. Michael Guy Thompson

Michael Guy Thompson, PhD is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who offers depth-oriented psychotherapy grounded in existential and psychoanalytic traditions. He is deeply attentive to the suffering that can emerge in ordinary life, including fear, alienation, depression, confusion, and the feeling of not knowing where to turn. In therapy, Dr. Thompson seeks to connect with a patient’s most personal and existential concerns, helping them come to know themselves more intimately and recover the passion, meaning, and aliveness that may have been missing. With more than three decades of clinical experience, Dr. Thompson has worked with a wide spectrum of emotional distress and psychological struggle. His approach is existential and both penetrating and personal, aiming to explore what lies beneath symptoms, especially when love, wonder, and fulfillment feel elusive. In addition to working with anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship difficulties, he also has experience with complex presentations including borderline and psychotic symptoms. Dr. Thompson is among the few psychoanalysts who integrate existential psychotherapy with psychoanalysis, rooted in his early training with R. D. Laing. He is a faculty member and supervising analyst at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California and the founder of the New School for Existential Psychoanalysis. Please note: This profile may also serve as an entry point for therapy with associates in training under Dr. Thompson’s supervision. Several associates currently have immediate availability and offer high-quality psychotherapy in a supervised clinical setting.

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In-network insurances

Aetna

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Out-of-pocket fees and assistance

Files your insurance claim: You pay the session fee upfront and the provider files the claim for you, so you can get reimbursed directly without worrying about the paperwork

More information on payments and coverage

Accepts BlueShield CA, Aetna, and Cigna

Popular visit reasons

Agoraphobia

New Patient Visit

Nightmares

Pain Management Consultation

Psychosexual Evaluation

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit

Sleep Problems

Agoraphobia

New Patient Visit

Nightmares

Pain Management Consultation

Office locations

Dr. Michael Guy Thompson, PhD, LMFT also offers online video visits for patients

Free Association Clinic (1 of 2)

2196 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123

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Free Association Clinic (2 of 2)

1728 Union Street, #302, San Francisco, CA 94123

Get directions

1 of 2

Education and background

Practice names

Free Association Clinic

Education and training

The Wright Institute Clinic, PhD in Clinical Psychology

Awards and publications

The Death of Desire: A Study in Psychopathology (1985)
The Truth About Freud's Technique: The Encounter with the Real (1994)
The Ethic of Honesty: The Fundamental Rule of Psychoanalysis (2004)

NPI number

1215495031

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.

Overall rating

5.00

Wait time

5.00

Bedside manner

5.00

Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here

6 reviews

Most relevant

Working with Dr. Thompson brought greater awareness to my reactions and choices. Sessions created space for honest reflection and more steadiness in difficult moments.

Less than 3 months agoJM

I was struggling with questions about meaning and direction in my life. Dr. Thompson’s way of working helped me sit with uncertainty without feeling overwhelmed, and I felt more anchored over time.

Less than 3 months agoAA

I started therapy during a major life transition and appreciated Dr. Thompson’s calm and thoughtful presence. He helped me reflect deeply while staying grounded in practical change.

Less than 3 months agoJA

I came in knowing I can be impulsive and emotionally reactive, especially under stress, and I appreciated how grounded and steady Dr. Thompson was from the first session. I left sessions feeling calmer, clearer, and more in control of my choices.

Less than 3 months agoSM

I started seeing Dr. Thompson when I was struggling with identity issues in my 40s and feeling stuck as a mom and as a person. He is kind, patient, and easy to talk to. I always felt listened to and respected. Therapy with him helped me feel more grounded and more like myself again. I highly recommend him.

Less than 6 months agoYA

Dr. Thompson helped me understand myself in a deeper way and made things that once felt overwhelming finally start to make sense.

Less than 6 months agoNC

Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Michael Guy Thompson?

Generally, Dr. Michael Guy Thompson has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Thompson's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Dr. Michael Guy Thompson accepting new patients?

Dr. Michael Guy Thompson generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Thompson's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Dr. Michael Guy Thompson accept my insurance?

Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Thompson is in-network.

Can I make an appointment with Dr. Michael Guy Thompson online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Thompson using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

What practice does Dr. Michael Guy Thompson work with?

Dr. Michael Guy Thompson works with Free Association Clinic.

Where is Dr. Michael Guy Thompson's office located?

Dr. Michael Guy Thompson has 3 office locations in San Francisco, view full addresses on Dr. Thompson's profile.

What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Michael Guy Thompson?

Dr. Michael Guy Thompson frequently sees patients for New Patient Visit, Pain Management Consultation, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Michael Guy Thompson on their profile.

What languages does Dr. Michael Guy Thompson speak?

Dr. Michael Guy Thompson speaks English.

How do patients rate Dr. Michael Guy Thompson in reviews?

6 patients have reviewed Dr. Michael Guy Thompson. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 5/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.