
Lance Tango, M.A.
Marriage Family Therapist – License# 80517
For years I have witnessed how internal psycho-biological
processes and external socio-political conditions work in
combination to shape the human experience. However,
traditional approaches to psychotherapy have seemed
unwilling to carefully examine the psychological effects of socio-political denigration, discrimination, marginalization, objectification, oppression, subjugation, disenfranchisement and social injustice.
Recognizing how personal experiences of denigration shaped my own childhood, and ultimately shaped my self-concept, much of my adult life has been a lived exploration on how the mind limits itself, compensates for and ultimately overcomes a deficient internalized “single-story.” These lived experiences in combination with my family’s historical experiences have formed my multi-layered interests in social-justice, psychological health, and societal well-being.
Because my work with clients has consistently revealed the underlying connection between socio-political conditions and personal discord, I eventually began infusing principles of social-justice with traditional forms of psychotherapy. Ultimately, this resulted in Restorative Engagement Therapy, a holistic approach to therapy which is designed to engage both cognitive (rational) and
Along with the therapeutic services I offer through my private practice in Pasadena, my professional experiences in the mental health field have included years of providing therapeutic and counseling services at a community counseling center in Mid-City Los Angeles and working at a treatment center in West Los Angeles. My other professional experiences include working within organizations to foster more empowered employees, improved morale, values-based business approaches
Educational Experience:
Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology
– Antioch University, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Sciences, Biological Sciences
– California State University, Fullerton
restorative engagement therapy
Restorative Engagement Therapy infuses principles of social justice with scientific perspectives to gain a multi-layered understanding of the human condition. Scientifically speaking, the growth and development of any living thing
During any period of development, when a human being is exposed to environmental conditions which are denigrating or devaluing or marginalizing, a concept-of-self begins to crystallize around an incomplete “single story” of worthlessness, fallibility, deficiency, susceptibility, and powerlessness. Restorative Engagement Therapy dismantles this crystallized self-concept by exploring the historical conditions which shaped the “single story,” and instead promotes a restorative testimonial of the client’s resiliency, determination, and emergent heroism.
The aims of Restorative Engagement Therapy are:
- Restore
client’s capacity for healthy interpersonal relationships. - Restore the self-regulatory capacity of clients’ neural circuitry.
- Rightfully restore clients’ life experiences into a proper historical context of resiliency.
- Restore clients to their dignified-selves by addressing the moral injuries that underlie traumatic experiences.
Developed by Lance Tango, Restorative Engagement Therapy infuses principles of social justice with traditional forms of therapy; restoring self-assuredness, human connection, dignity
cognitive process
The cognitive processes of Restorative Engagement Therapy thoughtfully review your life experiences from several viewpoints, starting from the
- a more accurate and generous understanding of how your life experiences shape your perception of the world around you
- a shame-reducing connection between personal experiences and broader socio-political realities and neurological phenomena within your mind and body
- a multi-dimensional framework to counteract the oppressive side-effects of dominant normative ideologies
- dignified acknowledgment and recognition of harsh and unjust realities
affective process
The
- deep interpersonal connections brought about through genuine emotional expression
- reduced concerns that emotions will be a source of confusion, betrayal or unwanted exposure
- increased ability to experience secure states of vulnerability with loved ones for more healing relationships
- more frequent experiences of spontaneous compassion, gratitude and emotional wisdom