Thomas joined SxS in 2018. Thomas has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management having previously served as Executive Director and Executive Regional Director for northeast offices of national and international organizations including Habitat for Humanity and CARE, Inc. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Tulane University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Graduate Theological Union at the University of California, Berkeley and post graduate certification in Management of Community Organizations from Tufts University. Thomas joined Step By Step Supportive Services because of the needs he has seen in his own extended family and in the larger community for a better way of providing mental health support services and fostering client independence. In addition, he feels that SxS’s successful, individualized, client centered, evidence based approach needs to be available to all who could benefit from it.
Pronouns: He/him/his
Amagoia grew up in the Basque Country (North of Spain) where she lived until she permanently moved to the US 17 years ago. She has over 20 years of experience in Office Management across various industries, both in domestic and international markets. Amagoia has served as an Operations Manager for the last 10 years in the private sector here in Boston. She earned an AS in accounting she at the Professional Institute in Bilbao (Basque Country), and she also holds a certificate in International Office from Arrow International Career College in San Diego and a Certificate in Business Management from Boston University. Amagoia is currently enrolled in Boston University as a part-time student completing her studies in Business Management. At Step by Step, Amagoia aims to put her skills to work in making sure that the organization runs efficiently and smoothly in all areas related to operational activities, thereby contributing achieving the mission of helping patients and families struggling with mental health.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Nicole graduated from the University of New Hampshire with her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Justice Studies. She has worked in the mental health field for over 10 years in a variety of settings and populations including homeless shelters, the juvenile court clinic and residential settings. Upon receiving her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston University Nicole accepted the position as Residential Program director and soon after was promoted to Clinical Director. Nicole has helped to solidify the clinical programming at SxS by incorporating evidence-based practices and providing clinical supervision to staff and graduate-level interns. She holds a certificate in Case Management from CADER as well as a certificate in Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Nicole values the incorporation of clinical work in social work education and is a part-time advisor and seminar instructor to graduate students at Boston University’s School of Social work. She currently oversees both the residential and community-based programs and is always looking for ways to improve the delivery and types of services SxS offers.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Originally from Arizona, Faith received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Arizona State University. During and after her course of study, she gained experience in the social services field working one on one with children on the autism spectrum and with teens with varying diagnoses aging out of the foster care system. She moved to Boston to attend Boston University to pursue her Masters in Social Work with a focus in group work. While attending BU, she completed her first clinical internship at Step by Step and her second at Massachusetts Mental Health Center through the Department of Mental Health, further solidifying her interests in the mental health field, particularly in psychosis, substance use and group work. Since her internship, Faith has stayed with SxS and held a variety of roles including Case Manager, Senior Case Manager, Residential Program Director and her current role of Clinical Director. As Clinical Director, Faith has been the driving force behind the enhancement of the residential program which now better meets the more varied needs of SxS’s clients. Faith has also developed many program initiatives within SxS and has developed a partnership with the organization Writers Without Margins, which brings creative writing groups to unconventional spaces and supports its members in becoming published writers. In addition to her roles at SBS, Faith is a facilitator for Writers Without Margins and has a small therapy private practice. When she isn’t working, Faith enjoys live music, writing and poetry, photography, and staying active.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Amanda is a New England native who earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and studio art. Curious as to how the arts in therapy could serve as an avenue into oneself and others, she went on to complete her graduate studies in Clinical Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University and soon became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Art Therapist in the state of Massachusetts. Amanda has extensive experience working within nonprofit settings for at-risk populations. She has served as a clinician within partial hospitalization programs, day treatment, and residential treatment settings for adults experiencing persistent mental illness and other co-morbidities. As Step by Step’s Clinical Admissions Director, she aims to provide empathic guidance for all individuals based on their unique needs. Amanda makes every effort to establish a trusting environment with each individual she serves, using various strengths-based approaches including: DBT, ACT, harm reduction, and mindfulness-based practices. Additionally, she emphasizes the significance of holistic healing within her practice at Step by Step in order to best support an individual’s ability to access their inner resources and establish a life outside of treatment. Amanda’s integrated therapeutic approach encourages self-expression, autonomy, and forward momentum within one’s recovery journey.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Amber began her academic career at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. Upon completing her studies at UNCW she began working with AmeriCorps, providing social-emotional education to middle school students. Moved by the way her students responded to holistic education programs, she went back to school to pursue a Master of Social Work degree at Boston University. During graduate school, Amber worked with Boston nonprofit, More Than Words, as a masters-level intern. She then worked with Kaleidoscope Family Solutions, providing family therapy and support to clients. She also worked as a Care Coordinator at Newport Academy, offering milieu support and crisis management to clients.
Amber has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and families, providing them with the supports and tools they need to meet their goals. She prioritizes client-centered, compassionate care. Amber began her career at Step by Step in December of 2019 as a mental health worker. Upon graduating from Boston University in May of 2020, she joined the SxS team as a Case Manager. Amber utilizes motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques in her work with clients.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Tara began her academic journey at S.U.N.Y New Paltz in New Paltz, N.Y, where she studied Spanish and education earning a B.A. She spent her last semester studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain where she fell in love with the Spanish culture and upon graduation she took a job at World Cup Nursery School in Chappaqua, NY where she introduced Spanish to her pre-K classes. Tara taught for 4 years and decided to follow some friends to Boston, MA where she became interested in the medical field. Tara took a rewarding position at Brigham and Women’s Primary Care in Brookline as the Sr. Practice Coordinator. She saw the missing piece in community healthcare was addressing an individual’s mental health. She went on to get her Master’s degree in Counseling, with a focus on Trauma and Rehabilitation, at Cambridge College in Charlestown, MA. While in school at night, and working full-time, she accepted a per-diem position at BMC with the B.E.S.T. team as a mental health Case Manager. As a case manager at the CCS she provided crisis management to individuals with a range of psychosis and substance use disorders. Tara left BWH after 15 years and began her career at SxS in June this year (2021). Tara enjoys spending lots of time with her 2 year old puppy, going for long walks and hikes, visiting her family back in N.Y and living a healthy lifestyle. Tara will use several types of therapeutic modalities with clients such as; Humanistic Therapy, CBT, DBT, Mindfulness and Strength-based therapy.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Patrick joined the Step-by-Step team in 2022. Patrick has always been very into the idea of community service, which naturally led to a career in social work. He served 4 years in the Marines and began working in programs for homeless veterans after he discharged. Patrick worked with the homeless population (veteran and civilian) – in a variety of capacities throughout the years. At a certain point Patrick decided to go to Boston College for an MSW. During his graduate training, Patrick worked with adults struggling with Autism and Substance use disorders. Patrick has a bachelor’s in social work from Regis College, and a master’s in clinical social work from Boston College.
Pronouns: He, him, his
Scott earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Wisconsin and has over 20 years’ experience helping individuals with mental health challenges. During his undergraduate studies Scott worked in an inpatient psychiatric setting. He has extensive experience providing community-based case management services to individuals living with mental health challenges. After moving to Boston in early 2020, Scott began working as a clinical mental health social worker. Scott has additional experience assisting clients with developmental challenges and a special interest in working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Scott uses a person centered, holistic approach to clinical work and incorporates the use of mindfulness techniques. When not working Scott is a musician and studies trumpet performance with faculty from the New England Conservatory.
Pronouns: He, him, his
Emma attended Lesley University, where she received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work. Since 2015, Emma has been a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has 10 years of experience working within the field of social work and human services. Emma has worked in various settings with diverse populations before joining Step by Step in 2023. To name a few, she has worked with populations including homeless youth in Cambridge, adults and adolescents in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, working with college aged students with developmental disabilities, and educating the community as an LGBTQIA+ educator and advocate through their non-profit work. Emma also works part time as an Independent Living Advisor, where she works with adults with ASD in Greater Boston, doing career counseling, ADL management, integrating into their communities, and working on their independent living skills. Emma utilizes the creative practices while working with her clients, with a strong emphasis on expressive arts, such as visual art, music, and drama. She also integrates strength -based approaches and mindfulness techniques in her work, while also using a trauma-informed approach. When Emma is not working, you would be able to find her playing board games or at the local comic book shop.
Pronouns: she/they/them
Samaya graduated from Salem State University in May of 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Sociology and Criminal Justice. During her time at Salem State, Samaya worked as a Resident Assistant and supported students with community engagement, emotional stability, diversity, and academics. During her time at Salem State, she also served as a peer mentor to students at Salem High School.
Upon graduating, Samaya sought to gain experience in the field of psychology and obtained a job at Cambridge Eating Disorder Center in Cambridge as a Residential Counselor. She was soon promoted to a supervisory role, helping women and non-binary individuals ages 12 and up with their eating disorder recovery along with any other mental struggles that they may be going thorough in conjunction with their disorder.
Samaya joined Step by Step as a Mental Health Worker with the hopes of helping clients in their recovery process while helping them reach their goals. Through compassion and understanding, she hopes to create a sense of comfortability and care in peoples’ mental health journeys. During her downtime, Samaya enjoys listening to music, dancing, reading, and going on adventures with friends.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Augusta Claire graduated from Wesleyan University in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts. She graduated with a major in Psychology and a Minor in African American Studies. During her four years in college she ran for the Wesleyan varsity track and field team and mentored a student through the EduMate NYC tutoring program. She also participated in a club called WesBuds in which she worked with high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Augusta Claire originally joined the Step By Step team in May of 2022 before completing her last year of college. Given her appreciation for the services that Step By Step provides and the clientele she had interacted with in the summer of 2022, Augusta Claire decided to join the Step By Step team full time following her graduation in May of 2023. Augusta Claire strives to be a positive support to clients especially when it comes to creating and maintaining wellness goals. She recognizes the beauty that exists in the diversity of the human experience and makes conscious efforts to make clients feel seen and heard.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Allison joined Step by Step as a consultant in 2019 to spearhead the organization’s rebranding initiative. Having worked in a variety of fields with special attention to the fashion and retail industries, she is skilled at establishing unique brand identities that viewers will instantly recognize, connect and engage with. Beginning her career at Saks Fifth Avenue, Allison experienced firsthand how an effective brand strategy can be a powerful tool to connect a company with its audience. This position led to her recruitment by the bridal design house Amsale to launch the company’s newest international brand. Allison worked with Amsale for nine years, helping the organization launch two more brands in her role as National Sales Director, before she left to bring another emerging designer to market. In 2012, Allison launched Austin Scarlett as managing partner and co-founder and secured nationwide partnerships with Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Kleinfeld. In 2014, Allison launched a consulting business, A|Alexander Consulting, which primarily focuses on marketing, communications, and brand strategy.
Having watched a number of family members and close friends struggle with mental illness, Allison is passionate about SxS’s mission to provide individualized care to those who need it. In addition to her work with SxS, Allison volunteers for the American Society for Suicide Prevention and has participated in local and national awareness events to raise funds for the organization. Recognizing that the chance to work on SxS’s rebranding was a rare opportunity to use her professional talents for a cause she feels strongly about, the decision to serve on the board and become a member in a more permanent capacity was a natural one.
Allison holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University and an M.B.A. from New York University, where she specialized in Marketing, Finance, and Change Management. She and her husband Josh have three children.
John Chrin graduated with honors from Lehigh University with degrees in Economics and Industrial Engineering. He later attended Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, where he earned a Master in Business Administration with honors. During his more than 20 years as an investment banker specializing in financial institutions, John advised on over $250 billion of merger transactions, including JPMorgan’s rescue of Bear Stearns, JPMorgan’s acquisition of Bank One, Capital One’s acquisition of North Fork, and National Commerce’s sale to SunTrust.
Marc Goldberg has been involved in helped to create new advances in healthcare for over 30 years, most recently as the co-founder and Managing Director of BioVentures Investors, a venture capital firm that invests in new commercial technology in the healthcare sector with a focus on novel diagnostics and diagnostic devices, medical devices, and similar new technology. Previously, Marc served as President and CEO of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Institute, and before that was Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development, CFO, and Treasurer at Safer, Inc., a developer, and manufacturer of novel biopesticides and related products. Before Safer, he was Manager, Business Development at Genetics Institute, one of the earliest biotechnology companies where he also co-founded and served as founding president of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council in 1985.
He served four terms as its President and was a Director for 12 years. On his retirement from the Board, Governor Weld proclaimed March 18, 1997 as “Marc Goldberg Day” in Massachusetts.Marc has a long personal history and interest in gaining a better understanding and advancing new treatments of conditions caused by brain disorders, with both a mother and brother suffering from disorders and diseases of the brain.
He is currently a member of the Harvard Medical School Neuroscience Advisory Committee and has been significantly involved in the creation of the new Harvard Brain Initiative. He is also passionate about sports, and recently chaired the alumni association of former Harvard intercollegiate athletes, known as the Harvard Varsity Club. Marc earned his A.B. from Harvard College, his J.D. from Harvard Law School, and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is married to Lorri Veidenheimer, and collectively they are parents to six children.
Kirsten has over 15 years of experience as a clinician, educator, and manager in the field of serious mental illness. Kirsten has worked within the Psychotic Disorders Division at McLean Hospital since 2008. In 2012, she began the McLean OnTrack first episode psychosis program. She grew OnTrack into a thriving multi-disciplinary program that has served hundreds of young adults and their families. In 2020 Kirsten completed the three-year International Certification Training Program in Dialogic Practice and is one of a small group of certified trainers in the country. She is currently the Program Director of the Appleton House residential treatment program. Kirsten has often been viewed as a fierce advocate for the individuals and families she serves. Her area of expertise is treating psychosis with young adults. She first developed this interest while working at Franciscan Children’s Hospital as an undergraduate intern at Simmons College. She later received her Master’s in social work from Simmons as well. During her graduate studies she was drawn to the relationship between personal-clinical development and academic research, an overlap she continues to explore.
