Meet the Team
ANDREW BLATUS
Owner, Facilitator
Andrew Blatus is a Certified Anger Management Counselor (License Number CAMC 111316) and a Licensed School Guidance Counselor (License Number 452408). Andrew received his M.A. Degree from UMass Lowell in 2000 (Community and Social Psychology). He has over 25 years of experience in Human Services in Massachusetts.
His experience includes the following:
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Residential Case Worker
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Social Worker
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Probation Officer
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Guidance Counselor
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Emergency Service Clinician
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Consultant (Federal Bureau of Prisons)
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Veteran (United States Air Force)
Anger Management ASB is a member of the approved National Anger Management Association (NAMA) which is used for anger management certification.
JOSSARA RODRIGUES
Facilitator
My name is Jossara Rodrigues, and I am a Marine Corps veteran. I received a Bachelors of Criminal Justice from Curry College and a Masters in Social Work from the University of New England. I am currently working on obtaining my LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker).
My experiences include working with homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless, Women’s residential dual diagnosis facility, CBHI (children Behavioral Health Initiative), IHT (In-Home Therapy), and Treatment Court. I am of Cape Verdean descent, and I speak Cape Verdean Creole and Portuguese.
As a social worker, I believe in advocating and giving voice to those who cannot do it for themselves.
MARIA BRAVO CASTANO
Facilitator
Maria Bravo Castano is one of our Group Facilitators. She graduated from Boston University with a dual B.A. degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. She then obtained her MSc. in Clinical Neuropsychiatry from King’s College London.
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Her Hispanic background and bilingual skills allow Maria to run both English and Spanish sessions.
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Maria has more than 7 years of experience working with education about mental health and emotions regulation. Her experience includes running therapeutic group topics based on:
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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Interpersonal Effectiveness
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Mindfulness
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Emotion Regulation
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Distress Tolerance
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JACY HOWARD
Adolescent Program Coordinator, mental health evaluator and counselor
Jacy Howard has been working with at-risk youth for over ten years in various positions. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice from Saint Anselm College in 2012 and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Cambridge College in 2014. She currently holds her licensure in the state of Massachusetts (LMHC #12680) as a mental health counselor and as a school adjustment counselor (DESE License #514636).
Jacy has worked in group homes, foster care, alternative educational placements and works currently at the Greater Lowell Technical High School with students who have mental health struggles. Her passion is working with adolescents who have traumatic backgrounds and suffer from depression, anxiety and substance use issues. We all do things that we feel are necessary to cope and my goal is to help young people find healthy ways of doing so and taking control of their futures.
LEYLA WEST
Facilitator
Leyla West, a passionate educator, has established herself as a leader in creating transformative learning environments that inspire and empower. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from Autonoma University of Chile, where her academic journey began.
Her 10+ years of experience have impacted numerous individuals across various age groups. She adapts her teaching to meet unique needs, emphasizing emotional intelligence and regulation to foster holistic learning that goes beyond academics.
As a group facilitator, she has created dynamic and inclusive spaces where emotions take center stage, where participants can explore the nuances of their emotions, develop resilience, and learn to navigate the complexities of interpersonal relationships.
Leyla's approach is not just about transferring knowledge; it's about nurturing a deep understanding of oneself and others.
