At a certain point in his life, if someone gave Daniel Regan a prediction that he would one day run a residential recovery home, he would have been completely shocked.

“When I came into recovery, I was at rock bottom,” said Regan, program director of CHD’s Aster House in South Hadley. “This life I’m living right now is something I could not have ever imagined back then.”

So he takes pride in leading by example, showing the individuals served at Aster House that recovery is possible. Because he has been in their shoes, he is completely accessible to them—if they have something they want to get off their chest, he is there to listen and give advice. “I enjoy being able to see them transform and become the person they were always meant to be,” he said.

Prior to his employment at CHD, the Holyoke native was taking courses at Greenfield Community College to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and then he had an internship at Aster House, which ended up hiring him as a counselor. He became program supervisor there, and eventually was promoted to program director. Regan likes to speak about this career progression at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to demonstrate that life does get better if you show up for yourself every day. “I tell them that if you keep doing the next right thing, great things are going to happen for you,” he said.

He likes to help facilitate the supportive environment at Aster House, even in cases in which a resident relapses. “At a lot of other recovery places, if you mess up, you’re out,” he said. “Here, if you slip, It’s not the end of the road. We’ll help you learn from it, recognize what happened, brush yourself off, and regroup.”

And there are plenty of Aster House success stories. For example, one of the program’s counselors, Justine, was actually a former resident there. “She got her life completely back on track, remained sober, established a very large support network through Alcoholics Anonymous, and went back to school to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor,” he said. “Her transformation has been absolutely amazing.”

Another “win”: Regan held in his hand a recent letter he received from a former resident, Danielle, who thanked Aster House for saving her life. She informed Regan that she received a housing voucher from the state and now has her own apartment in Southwick. “It’s really special to see these accomplishments,” he said. “It’s one of the great things about this job.”

Availability: a Useful Ability

Other Aster House clients have had high praise for Regan. “He is so approachable,” said Sam. “He will suggest things that he would do—or what he has done. That’s extremely helpful.” Steve Wright mentioned his “open door policy”—he is a program director, but he will take time out of his day to give advice when asked.

Theresa McDaniel, senior director of substance use services for CHD’s residential recovery programs, said that Regan “helps clients feel they are heard and listened to.” That’s not to say that his “open door” is a revolving door—a resident can’t just interrupt Regan at will when he’s in the middle of something. “Dan knows how to maintain boundaries—if someone has something on their mind, he’ll make time for them at some point in the day,” she said. “After all, when they leave Aster House, clients will eventually be living on their own and they’re not going to have access to staff 24/7. So, as far as availability goes, he I think he strikes a good balance.”

McDaniel said that Regan is a leader who can see the big picture and also dig into details when necessary. “Dan has the unique ability to not only be an adept program director—in the sense of taking care of all the administrative tasks very efficiently—but he also has a very good clinical sense and is able to assess people’s clinical situation effectively,” she said.

Aster House Clinical Director Courtney Supple said that working with Regan has been a rewarding experience because of his talent for collaborating with colleagues. “He’s a humble man who is open to feedback and change, which means we are able to function as a team whose goal is being of the utmost service to our residents,” she said. Supple believes this capacity comes from his own lived experience and journey in recovery. “The heart of Alcoholics Anonymous is trust and reliance on a power greater than ourselves,” she said. “Humility is one of the ways we practice this. Dan doesn’t have to run the show or be ‘the guy in charge.’ As recovered alcoholics, we know that running the show ourselves can lead to disaster, but trusting and relying leads to peace, serenity, connection, and our ability to stay away from a drink and a drug, one day at a time. It’s not about ego for Dan—it’s about service.”

A Healing and Learning Opportunity

Supple said that as a fellow alcoholic in recovery herself, it is a pleasure for her to work with someone who models the way to success. “Dan understands where the folks we work with are coming from, because he’s been there too,” she said. “This makes him not only a great leader, but also someone that clients can connect with. And that’s where the healing is—in connection.” She added that she feels like she is able to grow as a clinician at Aster House because Regan gives staff the freedom be their authentic selves and to try new things. “He supports us and reminds us that each day is an opportunity to learn,” she said.

Robyn Ernst, vice president of adult mental health and substance use services at CHD, calls Regan a “shepherd of recovery. I know that sounds corny, but he really does make our Aster House residents and staff feel safe and supported.”