About Donald J. “DJ” Hager, LMHC

DJ Hager is the director of our Groton office. He is a cognitive-behavioral therapist (CBT) with an emphasis on rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training. His therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. He integrates evidence-based methodologies and techniques such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), stress-management/relaxation techniques, mindfulness-based interventions and biofeedback to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. In addition to providing counseling services Mr. Hager has facilitated trainings in cooperative discipline, identification and prevention of self-injurious behavior in at-risk populations, and suicide prevention in prisons. He has worked in emergency services, private practice, earned certification as a school psychologist, served on special education teams in the public school setting and has held administrative positions in independent education, in the field of correctional mental health, and in addictions recovery. In addition to his clinical services, Mr. Hager also serves as the Site Director for LifeStance Health's outpatient offices in Chelmsford and Concord, MA.

Specialties

Education & Certifications

Mr. Hager earned his Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology in 1996 from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts. He completed post-graduate education in school counseling and special education from Fitchburg State University and in addiction counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He received training in trauma response & treatment through the University of Massachusetts Medical School Correctional Health program and through Desert Waters Correctional Outreach.