Monday, July 7, 2025
For 57 years, Tempo Group Counseling Services has been addressing the concerns of youths, adults and families.
The nonprofit community-based drug and substance abuse counseling center has offices in Woodmere, the original location, with two others in Merrick and Syosset.
Services offered include an adolescent treatment and recovery plan, adult treatment and recovery plan, family education and treatment plan, prevention and parenting programs, training and education program and a youth services center.
“We have our roots in the youth at risk, that’s where the agency started by looking at how do we keep the youth healthy,” said Cindy Wolff, Tempo’s executive director “From there it really developed into this comprehensive treatment agency with a focus on prevention and treatment of substance abuse disorder.”
Tempo not only treats anyone with a substance abuse issue, but the whole family including spouses, kids, parents or significant others.
“We offer clinical support not just for the individual struggling with he illness but also for all the family members who have been impacted,” Wolff said.
There is also a focus on preventative work within the community and its surrounding areas.
“We work with a lot of schools on preventative issues, educating youth on ways to prevent not just substance abuse but overall how mental health affects the development of substance abuse and figuring out what the risk factors are,” she added. “Some preventative efforts are about educating and helping people understand what real risks look like and that your body doesn’t know what’s an illegal substance and what’s a legal substance.”
Wolff noted that the “social norm” has been ever changing when it comes to substance abuse.
As the intake coordinator, Megan Klapper oversees all the admission processes for all three locations. She has been with Tempo since December 2021.
“I really am one of the first point of contacts for majority of the patients as they’re applying to treatment and so I think that the best part of the job is being able to build relationships with our patients from the very beginning,” Klapper said.
She said that “the first call is the hardest call to make” when recognizing the need of help for yourself or a loved one.
“Just being able to offer support and information in a way to people when they’re feeling their most vulnerable and getting to know them through the intake process and watch their journey is the best part of my job,” she said.
Klapper added that her favorite part of each week is hearing about patient progress and coming together as a team while sharing their “small wins.”
Even though she works on the fiscal side, Comptroller Sheri Feldman never imagined how many lives she would impact the 26-year veteran said.
“Part of my job is working with the governmental agencies, making a budget and seeing if there’s something we can do to expand our services,” Feldman said. “I also help us get into every insurance because we want to be in-network with everybody. It’s not about making money, it’s about helping people.”
She prides herself and the organization with not turning anyone away not matter their insurance or lack there of.
“In this day in age with high deductibles, people are between a rock and a hard place and they shouldn’t have to choose money over their health,” she said.
To access Temp Group Counseling Service call (516) 374-3671 or email info@TempoGroup.org.
