Chris Dennehy, LCSWR, Master CASAC
Executive Director
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.
Dr. Todd Rochman, MD
Medical Director
Lauren Widmark, LMHC
Clinical Director
Brian Auchmoody, Advanced CASAC, BA
Site Supervisor, Ellenville
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.
Rebece Freyre, MSW, Advanced CASAC
Site Supervisor, Hudson River Housing
Nora Gagnon, Advanced CASAC, BA
Administrative Supervisor, Lake Katrine
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.
Meredith Johnson, LMHC
Clinical Supervisor, Highland
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.
Samantha Lynk, LMHC
Clinical Supervisor, Highland
Roger Spool, LCSW-R
Executive Consultant
Roger Spool, LCSW-R co-founded Step One in 1994. Roger previously worked as a Social Work Supervisor for a 200 patient, 2 year alcoholism day treatment program, Clinical Director of an inpatient alcoholism rehab program, and Program Director of an outpatient alcoholism day treatment program. Roger is a graduate of The School of Visual Arts, SUNY Empire State College and the Hunter College School of Social Work.
Roger’s vision of substance abuse treatment was different from main stream protocols. So Roger began working towards his dream of opening a NYS OASAS licensed program to provide the kind of services he believed were most effective to the treatment of alcoholism and chemical dependency.
In 1988, Roger and his wife Lilyan opened Child & Family Guidance Center in New Paltz, NY. The Center provided substance abuse treatment as well as mental health services. The Center grew quickly and within a few years had a staff of 27 full and part time clinicians and community based treatment in four Mid-Hudson communities. The Center’s substance abuse services grew until in 1994 the substance abuse component had to split off and became Child & Family Guidance Center Addiction Services, Inc. The program, now located in Highland, NY, was named Step One.
In the first thirteen years of operations, Step One opened programs at St. Cabrini’s residential program for adolescents, The Children’s Home of Kingston, the Northeast Center for Special Care, and an additional freestanding clinic in Ellenville, NY.
Roger has Spent over 30 years of his professional career committed to helping individuals and families heal from the ravages of chemical dependency. Roger feels that his greatest accomplishment is gathering a team of committed professionals to manifest his vision and provide treatment to those in need.