Therapists
Breakthrough at Caron has a full time staff of therapists trained in family systems, group methods and experiential techniques such as psychodrama, gestalt therapy and family sculpture, and most have a strong background in addictions and other compulsive disorders. Among their credentials are master's-level licensed therapists, certified addiction counselors, certified sexual addiction specialists and certified experiential therapists, and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Randy Gaul, CET, BA, CAAP obtained his CET certification in 1996 and his CAAP in 1995. Prior to coming to Caron, Randy worked as a counselor in a detox referral program at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center and as a counselor at an out-patient addictions program at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Reading. Randy has worked at Caron since January 1988 facilitating experiential therapy in the former 5 ½ day codependency program and now within the Breakthrough at Caron program. He has also facilitated off-site relationship healing workshops, counselor training using action methods, and workshops addressing the inner critic and self-esteem.
Austin W. Houghtaling, Ph.D., LMFT completed his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas Tech University with an emphasis in addictions. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with a broad range of clinical experience, including: individual, couple, and family therapy, and group therapy. Austin’s clinical background includes work with children and adolescents in a community mental health agency, marriage and family therapy, community reentry therapy for individuals incarcerated for drug and alcohol-related charges, as well as inpatient and outpatient services for the treatment of drug and alcohol dependency. Austin also has significant research experience in program evaluation and intimate partner violence. He has presented his research at a variety of national and international conferences and published several journal articles and research briefs.
Bobbi Lima, M.Ed, LPN, LADC graduated from Cambridge College in Massachusetts with a Master’s Degree in Education, majoring in Counseling/Psychology. She is also a graduate of Mass. General Hospital School of Practical Nursing. She has had training with Hazelden Center, the Rutgers School of Alcohol Studies, Harvard Medical School of Continuing Education; “Treating the Addictions”, the Caron Foundation for Co-dependency and Adult Children of Alcoholics, and training at the Onsite Institute with Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse. Bobbi has extensive training and experience as a Substance Abuse Specialist. She has worked on a dual diagnosis unit, an adolescent residential program, a male juvenile detention center, drug court programs, and halfway houses.
Kathleen Murphy, M.A., LPC is an Experiential Group Therapist. Her passion in life is to contribute in a meaningful way to the healing of relational trauma in all forms. Her training includes treatment of trauma and addiction, Mindfulness, Hakomi Body Centered Psychotherapy, and EMDR Level 2. She received supervision with Pia Mellody and Maureen Canning while working in the treatment of substance abuse, codependency, sex, and love addictions at The Meadows in Wickenburg, AZ. Kathleen also spent several years working in the field of interpersonal violence, which included adults who were abused as children. She received her counseling license in Texas.
Yvonne Wittels, M.A. received her Master’s in counseling with a marital and family sub-specialty in 2000. Yvonne worked in the adult Family Education Program at Caron for about ten years. She has worked in both individual and group therapy, first at Women’s Counseling Services in Reading, then at Borneman Outpatient Clinic. Her most recent position was as a full-time therapist and group facilitator of a partial hospital program at Berks Behavioral Health.
Consulting Staff
Marilyn Hawn, CAC, ICADC, CSAT, CET has been a therapist in the addiction and codependency fields since 1986. She began her career as a therapist with Ann Smith at Caron’s Family Services Program. Since 1991, Marilyn was the primary therapist for Breakthrough Healthy Living Workshops in Maryland, where she earned a reputation as an exceptional experiential group therapist. She is highly respected by both clients and referring professionals, and has an amazing ability to use her skills with intuition and clarity in her work with adults addressing family of origin issues as they relate to present day problems. Marilyn is a Certified Addiction Counselor, Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and a Certified Sex Addiction and Experiential Therapist.
Jackie Saylor began as a volunteer at Caron in 1980 presenting films and information about the family dynamics of living with active addiction and her personal recovery experience. During that time she returned to school obtaining credits in counseling and worked part time at Caron co-facilitating aftercare groups. In 1985 Jackie began working full time in the family program as the Evening Counselor under the supervision of Ann Smith and in 1986 was promoted to full time therapist with the day staff until she retired at the end of 1999. During her time working in the family program, she had extensive training in experiential therapy and had become certified as an experiential therapist as well as an allied addiction counselor.
Following retirement, Jackie continued to work for Caron as a consultant for the family program in addition to starting a private practice and worked for the Breakthrough program which was then held in Maryland. Since the Breakthrough program is now housed at Caron and under the direction of Ann Smith, she has discontinued her private practice and continues her work as consultant therapist at Breakthrough. Her experience and work with individuals affected by addiction and dysfunction is an asset to the Breakthrough program.
