She graduated from Columbia University in 1980 with a degree in Clinical Psychology and from the NYU Postdoctoral program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis in 1987 with a certificate in psychoanalysis. She is Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis where she is also Chair of the Specialization in Trauma and Disaster Studies as well as Co-Chair of the Relational Track. With over twenty years of experience in working with trauma, Dr. Thomas teaches and presents widely both nationally and internationally on issues relating to trauma of ethnic violence, genocide, war and state sponsored repression. She was a member of the American Psychological Association’s Psychology, Ethics and National Security Task Force (PENS).