ABOUT ME
TOM STANGA
I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Boston College and my Master of Education in Counseling Psychology at Cambridge College. I’m currently an Adjunct professor at local Community Colleges where I teach psychology, particularly Human Growth and Development and Abnormal Psychology as well as others.
It was as a full time psychotherapist working with both a male and female adult clientele that I discovered that behind so many of my client’s problems was intense anger and rage. I saw the devastating effects of anger on so many clients and the incredible stress it put on them. My interest led to developing an expertise in that domain. I have worked with individuals and provided group programs for anger management throughout my career.
Later I moved on to the position of Director of the Partial Hospital Program and Outpatient Department. Among many other tasks, I provided supervision to staff and interns. In this role I encouraged clinicians to identify their particular skills and interests in order to develop a variety of outstanding and effective groups and bring a sense satisfaction and accomplishment to themselves thus, enabling clients to focus on their goals, recognize their strengths, talents, interests and ultimately achieve success and happiness.
In 1996 I became certified as a counselor for court ordered Batterer’s groups. I soon discovered I did not like the method used, as it did not suit me. I am now a Certified Clinical Forensic Counselor for a number of years organizing and leading my own anger management program.
Over the past 18 years as a clinician, therapist, group leader and program director I developed a very different style. Challenge promotes defensiveness and anger exacerbates anger and nothing is gained. I have found that everyone who has come to anger management willingly wants to improve his or her life. Misuse of anger, although it may be symptomatic of one, is not a mental illness. It is a behavioral problem. If we have learned the wrong way to express anger we can now learn the right way. My program today is psycho-educational: i.e., education and therapy. My approach is gentle, respectful, caring and empathetic.
My purpose is to help clients develop insight and learn effective strategies to deal with whatever issues they may have. I encourage them to use what they have learned along with their personal strengths to achieve their goals and live a happier and fulfilling life!
