Meet Our Staff

As co-founder of NOVUS Mindful Life Institute, Duane Osterlind’s vision is to provide comprehensive care for individuals struggling with process addictions in the utmost confidential, thorough and caring environment to ensure clients feel safe and accepted with anticipation that recovery is possible.

Duane has over eight years of experience as a therapist helping individuals find hope and healing. He received his Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Long Beach. He has also trained with Patrick Carnes, P.hD., a leading expert in the treatment of sexual addiction issues and author of “Out of the Shadows.” He is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), and the Society of Sexual Health (SASH). MFT#44567

Duane’s clinical focus is on treating individuals and couples struggling with process addictions using mindfulness and task-centered approach. He facilitates the Men’s Sexual Addiction Process Group and well as a DBT group for individuals struggling with anxiety and depression.

As Co-Founder of Novus, I am working hard to build a practice that brings Mental Health resources to the people of our community!

Novus Mindful Life Institute offers treatment for healing from addictions, compulsive behaviors and childhood traumas.

Using a task-centered method, combined with the healing qualities of mindfulness, we help people overcome sex and pornography addictions, build healthier behaviors and stronger relationships.

In my role as Executive Director, I help ensure that all aspects of our business function successfully including, individual and family therapy, group therapy, intensive workshops, and insurance billing.

Dr. John Sealy is the chief psychiatric adviser for Novus Mindful Life Institute.

He was also the Medical Director of the former Sexual Addiction Recovery Program at Del Amo Hospital in Torrance, California. Dr. Sealy is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Dr. Sealy appeared in the 2009 season of Celebrity Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew, providing psychiatric sessions for clients on the program.

Dr. Sealy’s compassion and experience are unparalleled, enabling Novus to provide comprehensive mental health care to clients who need it.

Barbara Christian, Psy.D. AMFT earned her Doctorate of Psychology degree with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She also holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Antioch in California as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Sexuality, Life and Psychology. She is an Associate Marriage Family Therapist with license pending and is currently a candidate for certification with The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialist (APSATS).

Barbara is passionate about helping her clients develop joyful and healthy sexuality. In addition to Sex Therapy training to help her clients develop joyful sexuality and intimacy, Barbara is also an Associate Sex Addiction Therapist and has trained with Patrick Carnes, PhD., a leading expert in the treatment of sexual addiction issues. She has practiced in the field of addiction and mental health for 28 years in various settings and has extensive experience in treating emotional and physical trauma. Barbara has provided training to a variety of populations for a deeper understanding of human sexuality, addiction, mental health and healthy attachments. Her range of training and experience help her understand and connect with her clients to engage in the treatment process.

Barbara serves individuals, couples, family, and groups. She works with a variety of clients including individuals establishing and sustaining recovery from addictions, partners of addicts, grief and loss, and goal setting. Therapy methods include but are not limited to Mindfulness, Meditation, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Emotion Regulation.

Barbara is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and Society for Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH).

Supervised by: Duane Osterlind, LMFT, CSAT

I believe that compassion, honesty, and hope for self and others are needed to live an authentic life in peace.  When you can no longer ignore your emotional pain – feeling trapped, exhausted, under-appreciated or resentful,  you are ready to change something about your life.  Whether it is your thinking, attitudes, behaviors, or relationships, it takes a lot to change the way you have lived and coped with your life.

I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science and a Master’s Degree in Marital Family Therapy from California State University Dominguez Hills.  I have clinical experience in community mental health clinics, residential rehabilitation facilities for chemical dependency, and partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient programs.  I also worked in a private practice providing individual, couple, and family therapy with a focus on multi-ethnic and multi-generation issues.  I find working with individuals, couples and family who are motivated to live their life fully is honorably rewarding.

I became a therapist after twenty years of corporate experience and my life challenges, such as divorce, blended family issues, professional burnout, and cultural issues.

I am currently working on an advanced study in Mindful Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) that can be effectively utilized for stress management, addictions, relationship issues, depression, and anxiety along with other approaches such as DBT and CBT.

Kevin Klebe earned his Master’s Degree in Social work in 2010 from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. He is a licensed clinician (LCSW) in the state of Maryland and California. He is currently a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT).

Kevin has been working in the substance abuse field for 10 years and has extensive experience treating addictions in a variety of settings.

He has worked in both inpatient and outpatient environments, as well as various state hospitals. In 2013 he began a small private practice in Maryland and grew it to over 50 clients by 2015. He is also passionate about teaching and has been teaching classes in human services at the college level for the past 5 years.

I am excited to share some information about myself and to walk this path of health and healing with you.  I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for many years.  I worked as a counselor and then as a school social worker providing services for children, youth, and families.  I have worked in clinics and for a short time as a mental health social worker in a hospital emergency room.  Before becoming a social worker, I was a teacher both in high school and in local colleges.

I have always pursued paths that interested me. I loved English Literature as an undergrad and then focused on Linguistics in grad school which led to teaching English as a Second Language both here and overseas.  After some significant life changes, which included marriage, the birth of a beautiful son, and a divorce, I shifted my focus to social work to create more joy, peace, and acceptance in my own life.

My personal and professional interests have always complemented each other and have focused primarily on learning subjects that challenged me intellectually and provided ways for me to develop self-understanding and more skillful means to interact with self and others.

Particular areas of interest are the study and practice of spiritual disciplines such as Buddhism and Christianity, and fields of psychology including psychodynamic, Jungian, and transpersonal. Other complementary explorations and training include non-violent communication, skillful parenting, and recovery from the impact of addiction.

My post-graduate training has focused on Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). GIM derives from Music Therapy and combines music, imagery and creative expression as a means of enhancing self-knowledge, dealing with loss and trauma, and creating a purposeful and enriching life.

I look forward to working with others who are exploring what it means to be a human being in all its dimensions.

I am a Psychoanalyst and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have been in practice for over 25 years, treating children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. I provide a skilled, empathic, supportive, and yet challenging therapeutic environment in which I will not only act as a guide to deeper insight but help to navigate the change that is necessary to help you reach your potential as well.

After receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Towson University, I went on to earn my Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from Tulane University and culminated my educational endeavors with a Doctorate in Psychoanalysis from the Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. In addition to my education, I have additional training with the Masters and Johnson Clinic for Relational therapy as well as in EMDR and DBT.

For over 17 years, my role as Program Director for the National Treatment Center at Del Amo Hospital provided the foundation of my work with PTSD, Dissociative disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Military Trauma, Eating Disorders, and Sexual Addiction. Additionally, the breadth of my work in private practice includes couples work, relationship coaching, and treatment for anxiety and depression.

I believe my full range of training and expertise allows me to effectively treat people using individualized care that incorporates evidence-based therapies as well as psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches.

I genuinely believe that every person is fascinating and complex; I tailor our sessions to bring out your own unique story. I help clients to identify and attain life goals, resolve traumas and childhood hurts, and identify ways to enrich life, including heightening fulfilling relationship with family, friends and romantic partners. The relationship between therapist and client as co-collaborators and problem solvers is the platform that I use to maximize healing. Providing this care is a privilege and an honor, and I acknowledge your brave step to move forward with skilled support.

Alina Nejadian earned her Master’s degree in 2011 from California State University Dominguez Hills in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of California.

She has worked in the mental health field for 10 years. She has worked for private organizations as well as LA County Department of Mental Health.

Her basis of practice relies strongly on the concepts of empathy and acceptance. Besides DBT, CBT and the client-centered approach, she uses many different interventions/techniques all dependent on the client’s needs.

Her services are provided to clients of any age, any diagnoses, any unit (individual, couple, family, group). Her primary focus includes but is not limited to the areas of depression, anxiety, relationship issues, family discord/transitions, substance abuse, trauma, problems with self-esteem, grief and loss and personal growth.

Steve Sarosy, LCSW earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work from California State University Long Beach in 1996.  He has 22 years of experience helping individuals, caregivers, and families through complex health and mental health issues.

His passion lies in helping adults to reach their fullest potential to live a productive and meaningful life. His areas of clinical interest are focused on Depression, Anxiety, Self-Care, Sex addiction, and he uses Mindfulness-based techniques to help clients gain/regain a sense of themselves.  Employing the values encompassed within Clinical Social Work he assists clients with their self-determination so they can progress toward their goals.

Stephanie Whittaker is originally from Maryland and received her B.A degree in Sociology from California State University of Fullerton. She was a lead Kindergarten Teacher for 10 years and organized and conducted presentations at various Elementary Schools, topics consisted of nutrition and the importance of physical activity for children and adults. She is an advocate for abused and neglected children and for domestic violence victims and survivors. She is very passionate about directing people towards a healthy and positive lifestyle.

If your looking for extra support and guidance through a challenging situation she is more than happy to help with empathy and understanding and is dedicated to finding you the right counselor at Novus Mindful Life Institute.