​Our Team

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.

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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.

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Nicole holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Justice Studies from the University of New Hampshire and earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston University. Bringing over 15 years of dedicated experience in the mental health field, she has worked with a wide range of populations and in diverse settings, including homeless shelters, juvenile court clinic, and residential treatment centers. These varied experiences have deepened her understanding of complex mental health needs and reinforced her commitment to fostering recovery and empowerment among the individuals she serves. Upon completing her graduate studies, Nicole joined Step by Step Supportive Services as the Residential Program Director. In this role, Nicole has been instrumental in developing and solidifying the clinical programming at Step by Step by integrating evidence-based practices tailored to the unique needs of the community. She provides ongoing clinical supervision and mentorship to both staff members and graduate-level interns, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth within the organization. Nicole holds specialized certifications, including Case Management from CADER and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which inform her approach to client care and program development. She is passionate about bridging clinical practice with social work education and served as a part-time practicum advisor at Boston University’s School of Social Work for a number of years. Currently, Nicole oversees the residential, community-based, and therapy programs at Step by Step Supportive Services. She is deeply committed to advancing and expanding the agency’s services, always seeking innovative ways to improve service delivery and better meet the evolving needs of the individuals served.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Amanda Role is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Art Therapist with deep expertise in trauma-informed care, expressive arts therapy, and various therapeutic approaches, including DBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based practices. She completed her graduate studies in Clinical Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University and has extensive experience working with at-risk populations within nonprofit, partial hospitalization, day treatment, and residential treatment settings.

Amanda’s clinical background spans care for diverse populations, including children, adolescents, and adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and life transitions. She’s committed to offering an empathic presence and establishing a trusting and collaborative environment where clients can explore their inner resources and build meaningful connections in their lives.

As Clinical Director at SxS, Amanda is dedicated to fostering a compassionate, collaborative, and strengths-based community. Her role includes overseeing clinical programming, guiding therapeutic practices, and ensuring that everyone’s journey is personalized, empowering, and holistic. Her integrative approach, which weaves together creativity, humor, and relational methods, is designed to honor a person’s needs, strengths, and goals. She believes in the power of holistic healing and self-expression to support autonomy and forward momentum in recovery.

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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.

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Emma earned both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Lesley University and has been a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor since 2015. With over a decade of experience in social work and human services, they joined Step by Step in 2023 after working across a range of settings with diverse populations. Their background includes supporting homeless youth in Cambridge, working in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, assisting college-aged students with developmental disabilities, and serving as an LGBTQIA+ educator and advocate. Emma also works part-time as an Independent Living Advisor, helping adults with ASD in the Greater Boston area build independent living and career skills. Emma takes a creative and trauma-informed approach to care, integrating expressive arts, mindfulness, and strength-based practices into their work. Outside of their professional life, you can often find Emma playing board games or browsing local comic book shops.

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Julia received her Master’s of Social Work from Boston College. She has experience as a special educator for high school students with learning and developmental disabilities, in which she loved teaching life skills. She also has worked with older adults with major mental illnesses, where she was able to incorporate a compassionate and vibrant approach to case management and therapeutic groups. Her favorite groups include writing, discussions on social justice, and time outdoors. Julia utilizes a solution-focused approach that is person-centered, honing in on clients’ strengths and resources. One of her favorite things about being a clinician is seeing client progress in their independence and well-being over time. Outside of social work, Julia loves to spend time outside, kayaking and hiking, and browsing local bookstores.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Paul joined Step by Step 2024 in a dual role working as a Mental Health Worker and Clinical Intern. Paul graduated with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University in 2025 and has since transitioned into a full-time Clinician role at Step by Step. Paul has previous experience working with children and adolescents with various mental health diagnoses. He strongly values the relationships that he builds with clients and believes that a supportive, non-judgmental foundation is paramount for client progression. Outside of Step by Step, Paul enjoys playing and watching sports, traveling, and photography! His travel goal is to visit all 63 national parks within the United States.

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Allison graduated from Northeastern University in May 2025 where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology as well as a minor in Global Fashion Studies. During her time at Northeastern, she worked as a co-op student in Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Psychiatry Department working alongside the team in the emergency room, as well as at Perkins School for the Blind working on daily living, educational, behavioral, and developmental goals with students who possess complex physical and intellectual disabilities.

Allison joined the Step by Step team as a Mental Health Worker just before her graduation from Northeastern and is looking forward to working with clients in therapeutic milieu, programming, and out in the community. Aside from her career, she is a lifelong competitive dancer, dog lover, and travel enthusiast.

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Abi joined Step By Step in 2025 after earning her Master’s of Social Work from Boston University. Prior to her graduate studies, Abi attended Connecticut College where she majored in Sociology and Human Development. Abi finds joy in making meaningful connections with others and takes a person-first approach to her clinical work with individuals and families. She brings a diverse range of experiences engaging individuals across the lifespan: from promoting the healthy socioemotional development of underserved youth in an after-school program to supporting neurodiverse college students in their academic endeavors to advocating on behalf of older adults in the healthcare setting. In her multifaceted role at Step By Step, Abi applies both clinical and macro social work lenses to strengthen outreach efforts and enhance the admissions process. Outside of work, Abi enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, traveling, and staying active outdoors.

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Emily graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a B.A. in Sociology in May of 2025. She was a four-year varsity field hockey player and worked at a campus crisis hotline, Oasis/Haven. During her time in college, she also studied abroad in Greece, where she immersed herself in the culture and gained a broader perspective on connection and community. These experiences deepened her commitment to helping others through empathy, resilience, and care.

Emily joined Step by Step in August as a mental health worker after graduation. She looks forward to working with clients, contributing to meaningful programing, and helping people reach their goals while being a positive and encouraging presence in their mental health journey. Outside of work, Emily enjoys traveling, hiking and going to concerts.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Frank Massino is President of Darby Group Companies, headquartered in Jericho, NY, a privately held global investment firm with strategic holdings across the dental industry. He has been on the Board of Directors of Step by Step Supportive Services, Inc., since its founding and is presently Chairman. He has a keen interest in respectful, innovative, and effective approaches to helping people lead independent and fulfilling lives while navigating challenging mental health experiences.

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 Step by Step’s mission to provide individualized care to those who need it. In addition to her work with Step by Step, 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 Step by Step’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.