Our women’s recovery program is led
by our highly qualified and caring staff that includes licensed,
nationally certified counselors and clinical addictions specialists
who have considerable experience in community counseling,
woman’s issues and transformational work.
Our team includes all of our residents
who live and work together in a supportive community. Women
who are farther along in their recovery process serve as
mentors to newer residents, and every resident has an AA
or NA sponsor who supports them in their 12-step work.
Susan Stader,
MS, LPC, LCAS, NCCis
Next Step Recovery’s founder and executive director. Susan is a nationally
certified, licensed professional counselor specializing
in substance abuse issues and holds a master’s
degree in community counseling. She founded the
Next Step Recovery House for Men in 2006 to support
adult males recovering from substance abuse. She
opened the Next Step Recovery House for Women in
2009 to support the needs of adult women in recovery.
Susan meets weekly with the licensed professional counselors who provide onsite support for the women's program to ensure program continuity and to support program development and growth. Susan's office is located at the men's facility in Asheville.
Kathy Ronemus LPC,
LCAS, CCS is our women's program manager.
In addition to managing our program, Kathy facilitates a weekly relapse prevention
group with the women at Next Step. The focus of
the group is personal growth, responsibility and
emotional freedom. The participants work on changing
their mistaken beliefs that can lead to relapse. Kathy also maintains a private practice in Hendersonville where
she works with individuals, groups and families
in recovery. Kathy is a former women's counselor
and intensive outpatient program manager for Pavillon
(residential treatment center).
Greta Hillin, LPC, leads Next Step Recovery’s Life Skills program. She helps residents understand the codependent relationship patterns that underlie addiction. Greta encourages residents to identify core values and create an internal belief system that supports recovery and healing. These life skills support women in making choices that increase a sense of personal value, empowerment and abundance. Greta has worked with addictions recovery for more than 20 years and was a counselor at The Meadows in Arizona, a world-renown holistic treatment center for trauma, addiction and recovery.
Maria Wyman,
BA, is
our women's recovery coach.
Maria supports residents by maintaining the continuity
of our structured program, assisting residents
with daily needs, and encouraging residents in
their recovery work by sharing her own recovery
experiences. Maria has been active in 12-step programs
and a sponsor since 1987. She is also an experienced
public speaker on the topics of addiction, co-dependency
and recovery.
Jolene Gervasi is interning with our women’s program while she completes her Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and substance abuse studies at Western Carolina University. Jolene is an additional resource for our residents and plays an active role in supporting our recovery community.
Kendall Williams teaches our yoga classes and guides our Outdoor Adventures at our Women’s Recovery House. She has worked for several years supporting individuals in recovery and earned her Hatha Yoga certification in India with the specific intention of offering this ancient practice to those seeking sobriety and a sense of wholeness. Kendall uses yoga postures, breath and mindfulness to help residents develop greater self awareness and a sense of connection, balance and inner peace. Kendall is also a certified Yin Yoga instructor.
