About Me
Dr. Tom Bonner has been a licensed psychologist in Florida for over thirty years. A graduate of Princeton University, the University of Miami, and the University of Texas, he has undergone years of advanced training in Transference Focused Psychotherapy, which research has shown to have significant long-term benefits for those suffering from personality disorders, especially narcissistic and borderline personalities.
He is board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)—a credential earned by less than 5% of all psychologists practicing in the U.S. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Psychology.
Dr. Bonner served as state President of the Florida Psychological Association (FPA) in 2020. Locally, he served as President of FPA’s Miami-Dade-Monroe Chapter for 2013-14 (having previously been its President in 1989), and has provided leadership to FPA in various capacities for most of his career.
He spent 1996-2002 as Director of Psychology Training (for predoctoral psychology interns and postdoctoral residents) at Citrus Health Network, a large community mental health center serving Miami. While there, he taught seminars and offered supervision to students in psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychological testing, forensic psychology, and professional ethics, and maintained continuing approval for the internship training program from the American Psychological Association.
In addition to offering the services described here, Dr. Bonner has supervised other mental health professionals in psychotherapy and psychological testing, and he has held the designation of Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Miami in both the Department of Psychology and the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies.
In the past he has worked in the psychiatric services of numerous local hospitals, including Charter Hospital of Miami (as Director of Psychology), the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Grant Center Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Larkin General Hospital, and Doctors Hospital. For further information about his career, you can view his Curriculum Vitae here.
Since 1999, Dr. Bonner’s practice has been associated with a cooperative group of privately practicing psychoanalytic mental health professionals which include child psychiatrists and psychoanalysts Juan René Geada, M.D., Teresa Carreño, M.D., and Ana Eriksen, M.D., child psychiatrist Javier Reyes, M.D., licensed clinical social worker Miriam Menendes, L.C.S.W., and psychologists Stephen I. Yaeger, Ph.D., Mercedes Cubillan, Psy.D., Danielle Malluche, Ph.D., and Gina Joy-Reyes, Psy.D.
“We have always been a unique group of like-minded professionals who offer a comprehensive array of mental health services, and who often collaborate with each other in the treatment of individuals and families with complex mental health needs.”
As clinicians, they are all devoted students of mental health evaluation and treatment, and have sought their own psychotherapies, advanced training, and supervision in order to keep their skills at the highest possible level. In addition to being able to meet and discuss shared cases on a daily basis, they regularly meet together as a group to discuss ways to improve clinical techniques and strategies in trying to help challenging cases. This is a truly rare occurrence in private practice circles, and it results in the highest quality of mental health services available.
“I offer individual therapy to adults, adolescents, and children. My pledge is to help you understand why you make the decisions you do, and to learn how to make better decisions, all in an environment that is welcoming, compassionate, and completely private. I do not accept insurance, but I can help you get reimbursed.”
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A.B., Princeton University (Psychology)
M.S., University of Miami (Clinical Psychology)
Predoctoral Internship, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Ph.D., University of Miami (Clinical Psychology)
Postdoctoral Residency, Jackson Memorial Hospital Mental Health Services
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Certified Psychologist, Florida Psychological Association
Licensed Psychologist, State of Florida
Council for the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology
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Insurance & Fees
Throughout my career, I have seen that doctors and patients alike often find it difficult to talk about money. Like sex, romance, politics, religion, and a few other sensitive subjects, people tend to have very strong feelings about money, and especially a lot of pride and self-esteem connected to their financial status. But like any other subject shared with a psychologist, money can and should be discussed openly. So I invite anyone with questions about fees, insurance, and any other part of our financial relationship to ask me about them freely. All thoughts, feelings, and concerns about finances are welcome.
Regarding insurance, everyone should understand that in general, insurance benefits for mental health services (psychotherapy and psychological testing) are usually quite limited. Insurance plans often reimburse for only a few sessions of psychotherapy, and testing can be reimbursed at a very low percentage rate. This means that no matter where you go, almost all high quality mental health evaluation and treatment services end up involving some amount of out-of-pocket payment.
Please be aware that I am not a provider for any insurance plans, and do not accept the assignment of insurance benefits as direct payment. Instead, my billing office routinely prepares claim forms completely filled out and signed so that they can be easily submitted by patients to get reimbursement for themselves from their insurance companies, which usually occurs within 30 days. That said, I certainly understand that some patients feel it necessary to see a provider on their insurance plan’s network. Therefore, I will offer anyone who contacts me to review their plan’s network provider list, and to recommend a provider I know of.
Finally, regarding my own fees, I routinely update them every two years in order to keep pace with increased costs of living. For this reason, I do not list a specific fee for services here. I do know that my fees are not the highest I know of in the Miami area, and are at a level which reflects my 30+ years of experience and advanced training.
Nonetheless, I hasten to say again, I invite open discussion of my fees, your own financial situation, and any other concerns you may have. If we are unable to come to a mutually comfortable financial arrangement, I promise to help you find the best professional colleague I know who can be available to you.
– Dr. Tom Bonner
Thomas O. Bonner, Ph.D., P.A., ABPP
Tel: 305-655-4584
9480 S.W. 77th Avenue. Miami, FL 33156