GRACE TOMAS-TOLENTINO, PH.D. is the founder and director of Core Psychotherapy Center, Ltd. She works primarily with adult survivors of childhood abuse and specializes in the treatment of PTSD, dissociative disorders, somatic disorders, self-injury, eating disorders and other comorbid disorders. She is an advocate for the prevention of violence against women and works with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking, organized abuse, and torture. She offers individual psychotherapy and facilitates groups for women and men survivors of childhood sexual abuse, for adults who have experienced or witnessed violence in their families, and for women and men focusing on the impact of trauma on sexuality and sexual intimacy.

Her treatment approach is grounded in relational and attachment perspectives. She places emphasis on the significance of the relationship in addressing the impact of trauma in an individual’s ways of coping and maintaining relationship with self and others. She believes that healing occurs through collaborative work and provides a supportive and empathic environment that in turn promotes the development of trust in the therapy relationship.

Dr. Tomas-Tolentino is certified in clinical hypnosis and subjectively utilizes hypnotic techniques in working with her patients. She is also trained in somatic experiencing and recognizes the importance of incorporating such technique to further help patients understand the impact of trauma in their body. She has written and presented on topics including childhood sexual abuse, complex PTSD, attachment, dissociation, shame, enactment, and countertransference. As an experienced trauma therapist and international trauma conference presenter, she offers individual supervision and consultation to mental health professionals looking to grow in this field. She is available for speaking engagements to organizations for a fee.

Professional Affiliations

American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH)

International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation (ISSTD)

ISSTD Northwest Illinois Component Group – Past President

Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force (CCHTTF) – Subcommittee

Psychotherapy Groups

Contact groups@corepsychcenter.com for interests or inquiries.

Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Men Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Trauma & Sexual Intimacy Group for Women Survivors

Trauma & Sexual Intimacy Group for Men Survivors

Adult Survivors of Violent Families

Presentation & Consultation Topics

(Contact Dr. Tomas-Tolentino for specific training topics for your organization and fees)

Treatment of Relational Trauma

Childhood Sexual Abuse

Shame & Childhood Sexual Abuse

Traumatic Transference & Countertransference

Dissociative Disorders

Complex PTSD

Somatic Disorders

Sex Trafficking

Torture

Intimate Partner Violence

Recent Presentations

Shame and the reconceptualization of attunement and empathy in work with survivors of sadistic perpetration of childhood sexual abuse. Presented at the 35th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), Chicago, IL, March 2018

The reconfiguration of shame in survivors of childhood sexual abuse perpetrated by a maternal figure. Presented at the 35th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), Chicago, IL, March 2018

Treating the complex, eating-disordered, self-harming trauma patient from a Structural Process Model Exploring dissociative processes and regulating shame in group therapy with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Co-presented with John Levitt, PhD. Presented at the 35th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), Chicago, IL, March 2018

Healing the impact of childhood sexual abuse and sexual revictimization: A relational and integrative approach. Presented at a workshop conducted by Core Psychotherapy Center, Ltd., Schaumburg, IL, October 2017

The impact of cumulative trauma on first responders. Presented at the 2nd Annual Rosecrance Florian Symposium, Rosemont, IL, September 2017

Exploring dissociative processes and regulating shame in group therapy with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Presented at the 34rd Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), Washington, D.C., April 2017

Complex trauma in survivors of sex trafficking. Presented at Loyola University Chicago, Sponsored by the School of Social Work, Chicago, IL, April 2017

Complex trauma in survivors of sex trafficking. Presented at International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation – Northwest Illinois Group, Schaumburg IL, January 2017

Shame in the experience of childhood sexual abuse. Presented at Annual Conference on Child Sexual Abuse, Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, November 2016

Shame in the experience of cumulative trauma. Presented at Loyola University Chicago, Sponsored by the School of Social Work, Chicago, IL, June 2016

The Role of Shame & Dissociation in Attachment in Survivors of Sex Trafficking. To be presented at the 33rd Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), San Francisco, CA, April 2016

Conversion Disorder: Its Link to Trauma & Dissociation. Presented at the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) Northwest Illinois Group, Schaumburg, IL, September 2015

Combatting Sex Trafficking: Addressing Societal Attitudes & Building Stronger Collaboration. Presented at the Human Rights Expo, Harper College, Palatine, IL, November 2015

Shame in the Experience of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Presented at the NASW 2015 Statewide Conference, Wheeling, IL, October 2015

Treatment of Complex PTSD: Understanding Attachment & Affect Regulation. Presented at a workshop sponsored by the NASW Northeastern District workshop, Schaumburg IL, June 2015

Gender, Sexuality, and Dissociative Processes. Presented at the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) Northwest Illinois Group, Schaumburg IL, February 2015

Working with trauma survivors: Perspectives on development and treatment. Presented at the Heartland Alliance, Chicago, IL, August 2014

Shame in the context of childhood sexual abuse: Maintaining attachment in therapy. Presented at a workshop [Healing the relational trauma: Perspectives on Development and Treatment] conducted by Core Therapy Associates, Ltd., Schaumburg, IL, May 2014

Posttraumatic Stress: Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Presented at the Human Social Services Annual Conference, Harper College, Palatine, IL, April 2014