Breakthrough Therapy Model
Dr. Andrea Goddard, PsyD
Founder, Psychologist
From a young age, I have had a strong desire to understand and help people from all walks of life, which led me to invest years of time and energy into pursuing this endeavor. My first opportunity to support people in a meaningful way was as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village in Panama.
I developed connections with the people there and learned how to best support their needs by meeting them where they were at the time.
My passion for supporting others led me to pursue my doctorate in clinical psychology from Adler University, right here in Chicago. I completed my doctoral internship at Columbia University Medical Center in New York and my postdoctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
Before founding Breakthrough Psychotherapy, I served as the Clinical Director of Child and Family Behavioral Health in Baltimore, Maryland. There, I specialized in treatment for individuals and families with challenges around self-esteem, life-transitions, self-identity, and relationships.
I was also a supervising psychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the Director of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program, where I developed a specialty in helping individuals with severe emotional vulnerabilities, including depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Specifically, I focused on helping individuals with unremitting depression, anxiety, and a history of suicide attempts and self-harm. In addition, I have extensive experience working with children and adolescents within the LGBTQIA+ community who are gender-questioning or are in the gender transition process.
As part of my passion for supporting families, I have significant experience working with families around their custody-related concerns. I have testified in court numerous times as both an expert and fact witness. I have also served as a court-mandated reunification therapist to support legal changes within a family system.
As a Northshore psychologist, I am personally dedicated to providing accessible mental health treatment to you and your family and will help you find the best fit for you or your loved one. Contact me about working together.
Dr. Marissa Kol, PhD, LSCW
Clinical Director
Overcoming adversity at a young age set a solid foundation for the person I am today. My true passion for helping others, combined with my research background, creativity, and over 20 years of clinical experience allows me to personalize my treatment approaches to effectively meet my clients’ needs.
With a client-centered approach and trauma-informed lens, I use evidence-based interventions such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and SE (Somatic Experience), and tailor each treatment to meet clients where they are and support their specific needs. My ability to form strong therapeutic alliances with my clients provides a safe space and simultaneously empowers them to trust in their own therapeutic processes.
I received my MSW from University of Michigan and PhD from Loyola University of Chicago. Since 2002 I have worked with hospice patients and bereavement groups in four different states (Illinois, California, Michigan, and Indiana), while participating in comprehensive development for the National Hospice Foundation. Additionally, I have taught as an adjunct Professor at Loyola and Chicago State in the PhD, MSW, and BSW programs.
If you’d like to work together, please contact me.
Dr. Anna Heilbrun, PhD
Training Director
I find that, most often, people seek out a therapist due to thoughts, habits, or beliefs in their life that are making them feel, generally speaking, simply "stuck."
Therapy, therefore, creates a space for them to collaborate with someone – their therapist – in uncovering and naming these unwanted aspects of their daily life in order to replace them with more grounded, realistic thoughts and actions. My goal for your therapeutic journey is for us to work together in helping you get “unstuck” by identifying goals and shifting your thoughts to lead a more values-driven life.
I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of medical and mental health concerns, including chronic and acute medical conditions (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumors), anxiety and mood disorders, complex trauma, chronic pain, and insomnia. I combine evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention with a warm, collaborative approach.
I completed my PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia, where I conducted research on school safety initiatives, including threat assessment and bullying. I completed predoctoral training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where I trained in the assessment, rehabilitation, and treatment of pediatric patients with acquired and congenital neurological disorders. I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago Medicine, where I worked with patients with chronic medical conditions, including cancer and diabetes, as well as behavioral and emotional concerns.
In addition to my work at Breakthrough, I currently work on an interdisciplinary team at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where I treat patients across the lifespan undergoing intensive physical and recognitive rehabilitation after an acquired injury or medical condition. I specialize in treating the complex emotional and psychological impact of living with chronic and acute medical conditions. I also work closely with parents, partners, and other family members to promote coping, resilience, and provide tools and resources.
Jeana Lucarelli, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
Finding your path to healing shouldn't be a journey you walk alone. With compassionate guidance and specialized expertise, I partner with clients to transform challenges into opportunities for growth, helping you build the meaningful, balanced life you deserve.
My therapeutic space prioritizes safety and trust—the cornerstones of meaningful personal development. I integrate evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness practices, tailoring treatment to each client’s unique needs and goals.
I welcome individuals across all life stages—from young children and teens to adults and seniors—as well as couples seeking relationship enhancement. I specialize in addressing grief, anxiety, depression, trauma,
addiction, and ADHD. Sessions typically blend structured skill-building with reflective exploration; clients might practice DBT emotion regulation skills for distress tolerance, explore attachment patterns affecting their relationships, or develop personalized routines to manage ADHD
symptoms effectively.
With a doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and a decade of specialized experience in long-term care communities, I’ve developed expertise in supporting individuals through complex mental health challenges, including those complicated by medical conditions, aging, and disabilities. This unique background allows me to approach therapy with patience, adaptability, and practical problem-solving skills. As a former supervising psychologist who trained doctoral students, I remain current with innovative therapeutic approaches while maintaining a foundation in proven psychological principles.
What distinguishes me as a clinician is my balanced therapeutic style— I create space for both compassionate understanding and gentle challenge.
Clients appreciate my genuine warmth paired with direct feedback, use of appropriate humor to ease difficult conversations, and ability to identify patterns others might miss. Whether we’re working through grief with narrative therapy techniques, restructuring thought patterns driving anxiety, or building communication skills for couples, I maintain a strengths-based focus that acknowledges your resilience while addressing areas for growth.
Your journey to healing begins with a single brave step. At Breakthrough Psychotherapy, I provide both in-person and virtual sessions designed to meet you where you are while guiding you toward where you want to be. I invite you to reach out and discover how we can work together to create meaningful, lasting change in your life.
Allison Blackman, PsyD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I provide a warm and collaborative therapeutic space where children, adolescents, young adults, and families feel understood and supported. My approach integrates evidence-based interventions to address ADHD, executive functioning challenges, autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, and school-related concerns. I am dedicated to helping clients build resilience, strengthen skills, and create meaningful change.
My training includes comprehensive experience in therapy and psychological assessment with children, adolescents, and families. My experiences include community mental health, a
therapeutic school, and private practice settings. My therapeutic approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and
Commitment Therapy (ACT), and family systems approaches to best meet the needs of each individual and family.
I also bring expertise in school-based advocacy. I have actively participated in the development of IEP and 504 plans, contributing clinical insights, research, and data to guide accommodations
and attending academic meetings with families and schools. This has deepened my ability to help bridge therapy and education, ensuring that clients feel supported both emotionally and academically.
What distinguishes my approach is my ability to combine a warm, empathetic presence with a strong foundation in assessment, evidence-based intervention, and family collaboration. I believe that change happens not only through insight but also through the consistent application of skills across home, school, and daily life.
I am excited to bring this dedication and experience to my role as a postdoctoral fellow at Breakthrough Psychotherapy, helping children, teens, and families feel supported every step of
the way.
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