Who We Are
 |
James Murray, M.S., is the Founder and Executive Director of Breakthrough Interventions LLC. He is a nationally recognized author and speaker. James has been creating interventions with adolescents and young adults for the last 12 years in therapeutic schools, residential treatment centers, after-care programs and individually all around the country. He has been a counselor, supervisor and director in various program capacities all the while utilizing his life experience and training to help individuals and families in crisis. James can reach people who are lost and need direction. He has brought together this extraordinary team to offer a powerful intervention service to families.
James is also an avid skier, golfer, chef and sculptor. |
|
 |
Candice Porter is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with a Masters in Clinical Social Work. She has been working over 8 years with children, adolescents, and families in multiple settings including residential treatment, therapeutic boarding school, wilderness therapy program, home based therapy, outpatient therapy, and public high schools. Candice’s passion is helping struggling teens and their families find a point of connection to progress forward and get the knowledge and resources they need. She has extensive experience with a range of issues facing adolescents and their families not limited to; substance abuse, learning disabilities, ADHD, mood disorders, grief and loss, eating disorders, behavioral issues, as well as trauma. In her spare time, Candice enjoys just about everything outdoors and considers it a successful day if she tired her dog out rather than the other way around!
|
|
 |
Bob Gillespie, MA is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who offers expertise in a variety of collaborative and evidence-based therapeutic models. Trained as a family therapist, Bob applies a calm, empathic listening style and a gentle humor along with his in-depth knowledge of complex family dynamics. Bob is renowned among his colleagues for repeated success with "difficult cases" and his ability to engage resistant adolescents in the treatment process. Authorized as a meditation instructor in a Tibetan Buddhist lineage, Bob has also integrated meditation practices into highly effective stress reduction and anger management programs for the University of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital System. Once upon a time, Bob was a wild teenager who abused alcohol and drugs, and put his divorced parents through hell. Using the perspective of his checkered past as a unique tool in the treatment process, Bob has a special affinity for troubled adolescents and an unshakeable confidence in their abilities to become fully functioning, delightful adults.
|
|
 |
Mark Biagini MA, has been working with adolescents and young adults for over 15 years as a social worker, individual and family therapist. In addition to designing and facilitating family interventions, Mark has developed and implemented therapeutic programs for several agencies servicing youth and families. He has worked as a lead clinician in therapeutic boarding schools and as Clinical Director within the Massachusetts public school system. Mark has also worked closely with the Cree and Blackfeet cultures in Montana for the past twelve years. Mark lives in Western Mass with his wife and two children. |
|
Our team has memberships and affiliations with:
- NAADAC (the Association of Addiction Professionals)
- NASW (National Association of Social Workers)
- NATSAP (National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs)
- SBSA (Small Boarding School Association)
|
