STEP ONE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Client Services Representative
Job Titles:
- Client Services Representative
Brian Auchmoody joined Step One in early 2012. After many years in the building trades, Brian retired from that field to pursue his passion of removing obstacles from the path of men trying to get their lives together through sustained sobriety. His associates degree was earned through coursework in psychology, anatomy, and physiology; he earned his Bachelors degree in Sociology, with a concentration in Human Services. He has CASAC certification in N.Y. state, as well as International Certification and Reciprocity. He has worked with men, women, and adolescents, prior to counseling and eventually being promoted to Asst. Director at a 225 bed male Therapeutic Community.
Brian now runs the Daytime Intensive Outpatient Treatment Men's track in Ellenville, along with facilitating the men's evening outpatient group.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Representative
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director, Program Director - Highland
- LCSW, CASAC Has Been the Clinical Director
- Master CASAC
Christopher Dennehy, LCSW, CASAC has been the Clinical Director of Step One since 2003.
Chris is a graduate of Fordham University School of Social Work and has Post Graduate training in Gestalt Psychotherapy with an undergraduate Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Montclair University. Chris earned his Certified Alcoholism Counseling (CAC) in 1996, holds an International Chemical Dependency Certification and is a Credentialed Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC).
Chris has worked in supervisory positions since 1994 and direct clinical work in substance abuse and mental health treatment since 1988. His work has included Network Adolescent Program, Valley Hospital, Fair Oaks Hospital, Von Ost Institute, The A.K. Bean Foundation, Nyack Hospital, and Craig House Hospital in New York. Chris has a small private psychotherapy practice in New Paltz, NY. Chris is also the Director of Training of the Hudson Valley Counseling School in Newburgh & Fishkill, New York for professionals seeking their CASAC certification. Chris is also an adjunct professor at Marist College.
Chris is committed to providing the most comprehensive, effective, up-to-date clinical response to substance abuse and the people afflicted by this disease. Chris has spent the majority of his lifetime dedicated to creating compassionate, honest, client centered therapeutic environments for individuals in personal crisis.
Connie is a graduate of Adelphi University School of Social Work where she earned her LMSW, she also has an undergraduate Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Marist college. Connie earned her Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor certificate in 2011 and is now a Master CASAC.
Dr. Todd Rochman, MD received his Psychiatric training at St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center in NYC as a Fellow of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr Rochman is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Preventative Medicine in the specialty of addiction medicine. He is a long standing member of The American Psychiatric Association. In 1987 he moved to the Hudson Valley and began his career in mental health. Dr. Rochman has practiced in virtually every corner of the field including but not limited to; Attending Psychiatric Staff for fifteen years at St Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie NY. Twenty years of Forensic Consultative services for the Dutchess County Department of Mental Health. Six years serving as Chairman and Chief of Psychiatry at St Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh NY. Dr. Rochman has expertise in Adult and Adolescent care treating all mental health needs.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Staff Member
- Billing
- Billing Director
Meredith Johnson is a primary therapist at Step One in Highland who specializes in working with clients who experience high denial and is also a co-occurring disorder and trauma specialist. Meredith is currently on the mental wellness team and facilitates both the men's and the co-ed non-intensive process group tracks; additionally she facilitates a Psych-education group. Meredith began at Step One as a graduate level intern in 2011 and was hired as a primary therapist in 2012. Meredith received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and her Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and she is currently working toward getting her LMHC. Meredith has previously worked as a supervisor at Oasis/Haven, a crisis counseling and sexual assault counseling hotline and walk-in center.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Representative
Nora Gagnon has been with Step One since 2009. She received a BA in Communications from Mt. St. Mary College in 1989 and worked in the advertising and promotional field until 2007 when she decided to make a career change and work in the field of substance abuse. Nora believes that everyone has the ability to change if they really want to. She feels that recovery is attainable and people do not have to struggle with their addictions if they can make the necessary changes to their behaviors and thought process. Nora completed her CASAC training at Dutchess County Community College. She has worked as a therapist at both Step One's Ellenville clinic and The Northeast Center for Special Care in Lake Katrine with individuals that suffer from both addictions and traumatic brain injury. Currently, she works full time at the Northeast Center providing intensive and non intensive group treatment as well as individual therapy. Nora also has experience facilitating Men's and Women's groups, Anger Management and Psycho-education groups.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Representative
- Client Services Representative, Ellenville
Paul Creary, Chief Growth Officer, has more than 25 years of experience in all facets of health care delivery from payer to patient, with direct experience growing and scaling businesses. Paul is responsible for ensuring that Step One's long and short-term strategies drive client growth and retention and align with the mission and vision of the organization.
Prior to his role at Step One, Paul was the Regional Vice President of Business Development at Phoenix House. where his responsibilities included the opening of new locations, product strategy and design, market development and growth of top-line revenue. Prior to this role, Paul was the V.P. of Business Development for Cornerstone Treatment Facilities an employee owned inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation facility. While there, Paul oversaw all strategic planning for the organizations growth.
Paul has also held a variety of leadership roles in Patient Access and Revenue Cycle at other hospitals in the city and on Long Island. Paul has also been an adjunct lecturer in Revenue Cycle Management and sits on the HIM Revenue Cycle advisory board at Plaza College.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Brooklyn College and a Master of Business Administration from Regis University, with a concentration in health care financial management.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Representative
- Client Services Representative, Highland
Job Titles:
- Administrative Staff Member
- Office Manager & HR
- Office Manager and HR, Highland