Meet Our Staff

Steve McManus, MS, LMFT

Director of Clinical Services

Steve has been an LMFT for 18 years and a State and AAMFT Approved Supervisor for 15 years.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and his MS degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. His primary orientation is systemic and relational. Steve has experience practicing and supervising In-home Therapy, Sex Offenders, Sexual Abuse Victims, Trauma, Veterans, Families and Couples. Steve has been a member of the University of St. Mary’s MFT Adjunct Faculty since 2002 teaching a variety of core courses.

Sheri Vrieze, LADC

Director of Services

Sheri has many years of experience in program management/development and has worked with both adults and adolescents struggling with co-occurring disorders.

Sheri has partnered with stakeholders in Community Corrections, Community Services and has been the administrator on federally funded grant projects focused on substance use. She has worked with state legislators, county boards and is a public speaker focused on addressing substance use issues in our communities. Sheri believes comprehensive, integrated care is essential to assist clients in obtaining initial stabilization and to enter the beginning stages of recovery. Substance use disorders rarely exist without other co-occurring factors such as mental health disorders and/or trauma history. It is imperative that these disorders be treated simultaneously with a client-centered, systemic and relational approach to therapy to ensure the most supportive outcomes.

Jennifer Ackmann, LADC

Admissions Supervisor

Jennifer started with River Ridge Recovery in our Women’s residential facility as a fulltime LADC and has since grown with the company.

She has a Client Centered approach using Motivational Interviewing to inspire strong internal motivation for recovery and incorporates Dialectal Behavioral Therapy to support the individual’s goals in life. She believes that every person's journey in recovery is different and helping them figure it out is her passion.

Peter Feeney, LADC

Residential Supervisor

Peter is one of the original staff that started Glen Creek Lodge in 2013.

As part of an ever-developing team, he now finds himself leading an invested/ dedicated team of professionals working in a gender and trauma responsive environment. He has grown within the program to create a safe place for men to explore their healing through vulnerability and connection, working with an interdisciplinary team that includes Psychotherapy and Psychiatry. Peter works from a place of relational cultural therapy, using CBT, Experiential, skill building, and MI to assist clients in their healing process.

Kristina Fritsche, MA, LADC

Outpatient & Internship Supervisor

Kristina is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and a masters degree in Addiction Counseling.

She started her career with River Ridge helping to start our Men’s Integrated Recovery Group. She enjoys working with adults that have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Kristina utilizes an individualized approach and believes in meeting the clients where they are at in their own recovery. At River Ridge she supervises our IOP staff and interns and is responsible for implementing trainings that support our trauma & gender-responsive treatment models.

Kay Manahan, MA, LMFT

Psychotherapy Supervisor

Kay is passionate about the change process clients and therapists go through during the therapy process. She utilizes a systemic, relational, and collaborative approach to helping individuals, couples, and families achieve success in therapy.

Kay has experience working in several settings including in-home, residential, and outpatient mental health services. Kay’s specialties are working with attachment wounds, relational issues, substance abuse, trauma, veterans, and grief/loss. Kay has training in EMDR and Level I Gottman Method Couple’s Therapy.

Kay received her degree from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, MN Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Approved Supervisor and BBHT Approved Supervisor for LPC/LPCC. Her approach to supervision is to work with her team to create an environment that fosters growth and an exploration of self-of therapist. Kay prioritizes building relationships that allow for an engagement, collaboration, and fun.

Kim Taylor, MS, LADC

LADC Supervisor

Kim Taylor has been working in the alcohol and drug counseling field for 30 years. She is a board approved supervisor and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor in the state of Minnesota.

She has worked in various capacities of treatment such as two nationally recognized treatment centers, outpatient treatment programs, corrections, and teaching substance abuse education to the DWI offender. Kim previously worked at River Ridge from 2014-2017 as an Assessment and Referral Specialist. She utilizes experiential and motivational interviewing techniques to help clients make changes to achieve their chemical health goals. She holds a master's degree in Professional Education/Psychology and a certificate in chemical dependency counseling from Bemidji State University.