Dr. Tom Buqo, PhD

I believe that finding the best fit for treatment is about the intersection of research-informed psychological assessment and psychotherapy interventions and the flexibility to tailor them to the individual in need at the moment they are needed. Therapy is more than just a diagnosis or label, and with that mindset my goal is to blend my clinical expertise with the therapeutic relationship we develop to adapt evidence-based treatment models to best suit your needs.

My primary approach for treatment is a broad Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) umbrella, with an emphasis on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as components of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed individual treatment. I am trained in several exposure-based models for the treatment of a range of anxiety and related disorders which include Prolonged Exposure (PE) for trauma-related disorders, graduated exposure for phobias, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. In addition, I have a special interest regarding the treatment of grief-related difficulties such as navigating uncomplicated loss and the treatment of prolonged grief disorder (PGD).

Beyond treatment, I am passionate about psychological assessment for the sake of providing clarity on a diagnosis to better inform treatment planning. This can include identification of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adults, diagnosing and differentiating overlapping or comorbid psychological conditions, and ruling out other possible complicating disorders and factors. If you are looking to gain more perspective or insight into the nature of your symptoms, I can aid by administering a variety of assessments to gather and synthesize data from multiple sources as a means to help me give you the clearest possible picture.

In addition to my work at Brookside Anxiety & Mental Health, I also enjoy my role as a staff psychologist in the VA Healthcare System in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program, where I am involved in the training of doctoral level psychology students in psychological assessment and the provision of psychotherapy with an emphasis on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In addition, I am a consultant for the VA’s Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression (ACT-D) training program and a VA certified provider in that treatment.

I am a transplant to the Kansas City area, having received my doctorate in clinical psychology from Hofstra University in Long Island, NY where I trained in a variety of settings including an outpatient mental health clinic, a college counseling center, and several different settings within the VA. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and walking as much as possible, particularly with my wife and our overly excitable golden retriever.

If you have questions about me or my approach, please contact me and I’d be happy to address them. contact me. I am excited at the opportunity to work together.