Steve Pumphrey LCSW
Executive Director

Steve Pumphrey is a licensed clinical social worker and Executive Director of LifeSTAR of Los Angeles and Orange County at the Center for New Directions. As such, he provides help to individuals and couples affected by sexual addiction, specializing in couples counseling and men’s issues. He earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and has worked with the chronically mentally ill, terminally ill children, and teen and adult substance abusers. His career has led him to directorial positions with for-profit and non-profit mental health clinics, including The Center for New Directions and Pilgrimage Family Therapy Center.

Karen Child, MFT

Karen Child is a licensed marriage family therapist, and Co-Executive Director/Advertising specialist for LifeSTAR Los Angeles. Karen has a bachelor’s degree in public relations/communication from the University of Utah, a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego, and she is completing a PsyD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. She has worked with children, families and couples, and has led psychoeducational groups on topics such as domestic violence, healthy marriage, eating disorders, anger management, and parenting issues. She is in private practice in Costa Mesa, and works in the LifeSTAR program leading Phase I, II and III groups. She specializes in working with women in relationships, with couples in premarital counseling, and with those struggling with pornography addiction. She has recently contributed to a children’s book on the topic of kids and the Internet. She is actively involved in educating parents about the effects of pornography on children. She has served on the Board of Directors for The Children’s Center and the University of Utah Young Alumni Association.

Janet Whitney, MA., MFT

Janet Whitne has been a licensed psychotherapist for over 25 years and specializes in working with couples and individuals with relationship concerns, sexual addiction and sexuality issues, along with personal challenges within an individual. She personally trained with John Gray, author of” Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus” for over 3 years and has been conducting his workshops for over 10 years. Five years of hospital experience gives Janet a background in dealing with addictions and a wide range of psychological disorders. She has led Phase I, Phase II and Phase III groups for Lifestar and is currently coauthoring the book and developing the course work for the couples program which will be offered through Lifestar, called “Loving Marriages”. Janet has been a guest speaker at hospitals, churches, companies, schools, and business meetings on the topics of relationships, sexual addiction, self esteem, ADD, goals and motivation, stress management, and parenting issues. Her private office is in Newport Beach where she runs coaching and motivational groups, along with her work with couples and individuals, and the Lifestar Program.

John Boyle, M.A., .MFT

John started his mental health career working with severely emotionally disturbed children and their families with Sonoma County Mental Health. He then served as a school counselor for Rincon Valley Unified School District where he helped develop an anti-violence program and a childhood depression screening for schools and families. While in training with Dr. Gary Bunnell, John worked at Excel Now where he treated adults struggling with bi-polar and major depression using new methodology which integrates western psychology with meditation and relaxation techniques. In 2002 John moved to Southern California where he continued treating teens struggling with emotional as well as substance abuse problems. In John’s work with adults he has focused on helping couples establish better communication. John also works with individuals struggling with anxiety, stress management and those in need of trauma recovery work from being wounded in childhood.

John has specialized training as a substance abuse counselor and group facilitator, under Dr. Mark Falls. He also trained under noted Sonoma County psychiatrist Dr. Gary Bunnell.

In August, 2006 John received his initial LifeStar training with LifeStar co-founders Dan Gray and Todd Olson. He has subsequently trained under Dr. Marie Wilson (among others) the noted Meadows sex addiction art therapist. John has led all three phases of LifeStar and currently leads Phase two and Phase three groups for addicts