MICHAEL P. NEUSTADT,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mike Neustadt was born in Chicago and at age 21 was the youngest person ever given membership to the commodities exchange. However he lost this opportunity due to his drinking. His love of sports and his leadership capabilities allowed him a career as a college level basketball coach in the Midwest. He was highly successful at coaching but alcohol took this from him as well. He entered treatment in 1983 with 35 cents in his pocket. Mike and his wife Louise opened Serenity Knolls in May of 1990 with the sole purpose of helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety.
Every individual on the counseling and clinical staff is in recovery and the ratio of counselor to client is one to three. Due to a very low turn over, a significant number of staff members have been at the Knolls for many years. While knowing first hand the overwhelming destruction that alcoholism and drug addiction can cause in those afflicted and in their families, they also know the incredible wonder of recovery and the self esteem that comes from living the rewarding life of sobriety. Our clients benefit from our shared experiences.
Dr. Michael Whitt and Dr. Margaret Bourne
Dr. Michael Whitt and Dr. Margaret Bourne, from the very busy West Marin Medical Clinic in Point Reyes Station, CA. make up the medical team at the Knolls. Onsite 5 mornings a week, they provide initial intake assessment and overall medical care to clients while they are in treatment.
Serenity Knolls has 3 psychologists on its clinical staff. They teach various classes, process groups and facilitate the family series.
Dr. Mary Lou Hirschfeld
Dr. Mary Lou Hirschfeld obtained her M. A. from Wayne State University in Indiana and her P.H. D. from California Graduate School. A licensed psychologist since 1988, Dr. Hirschfeld has been at the Knolls since our inception, working with families and dual diagnosis clients. She is the founder of the Family Series program at Serenity Knolls and the author of the booklet "Chemical Dependency and Depression."
Dr. Joan Driscoll, Ph.D.
Dr. Joan Driscoll, Ph.D. has facilitated the dual diagnosis group for Knoll's residents and the Partner's in Recovery group for family members since 1993. After completing her graduate work (focusing on women and alcohol) at the Wright Institute, Dr. Driscoll trained at the Psychiatry Department at CPMC in San Francisco where she started an eating disorders group. She was the Director of the Marin Drinking Driver program as well as a consulting psychologist with National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) for a number of years. Joan says "Recovery is what makes this life possible."
Dr. Victoria Granucci, Ph.D.
Dr. Victoria Granucci, Ph.D. attended Oxford University and Dominican College before getting her Masters and Doctorate degree in Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA in 1994. She has worked in the field of chemical dependency for over 16 years, the last 12 at Serenity Knolls focusing on group process and multi-family group therapy. It is very important to Victoria that she is able to share her personal recovery, since 1986, with the clients at Serenity Knolls.
Cynthia Miller M.F.T.
Also working as an invaluable member of the treatment team is Cynthia Miller M.F.T. Cynthia Received her BS from Tulane University and her Masters in Clinical Psychology from JFK University. She has over 6 years in the Drug and Alcohol field including work with Bay Area Community Resources, the Marin County Juvenile Drug Court, and the Marin County Drinking Driver Program. Cynthia has been at the Knolls since 2000.
