Our Advisors

Dr. Elite received a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University, a doctorate in Medicine from the University of Rochester, and served his residency in Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Elite has had training in a wide range of therapies, and has been in private practice in San Francisco since 1970. He is also a staff psychiatrist at the University of California, Berkeley.

"As a mental health professional who has made a number of referrals of clients for intensive interventions, I have not found another program that comes so close in creating such a safe and nurturing cradle of support to individuals that need this very personal and competent attention and follow through. At the very core of this process is the genius of its founder, Barbara Findeisen who has finely tuned this retreat experience over the years with the able assistance of a staff of gifted and grounded facilitators who enhance clarity, integration and optimal healing."
- Anthony Elite

Marti Glenn, Ph.D., is founding president of Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, which is the first institution in the world to offer graduate degrees in Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and doctoral degrees in Somatic Psychology. Dr. Glenn has been a pioneering psychotherapist for over 25 years, as well as a professor of counseling psychology. She has facilitated workshops and seminars all over the United States and in Europe. She is a board member of the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, and is chair of their past and current international congresses. She also serves on the board for the Center for Reuniting Families.

"STAR is the best resource I have found for affordable, short-term therapeutic retreats. My clients feel safe enough at STAR to go deeply into their woundedness and return with more structure and clearer goals."
- Marti Glenn

Stanislav Grof, M.D., Ph.D., is one of the most recognized and authoritative figures in transpersonal psychology. He received his M.D. degree from the Charles University School of Medicine in Czechoslovakia, and his Ph.D. from the Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences. Stan was an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, and a scholar-in-residence at Esalen in Big Sur, California, from 1973 to 1987. Dr. Grof's early research centered on the clinical uses of psychoactive drugs, and he later developed Holotropic Breathwork™ in order to achieve non-ordinary states of consciousness. He has published over 100 articles in professional journals and has authored over 20 books, including The Holotropic Mind; The Stormy Search for the Self; Beyond the Brain; Psychology of the Future; and Beyond Death.

"During the years when we conducted our training at Pocket Ranch where Barbara was offering her Star programs, I had the opportunity to witness her therapeutic skills and experience. I recommend her warmly and her beautiful facility to all those seeking healing and transformation."
- Stanislav Grof

John Lee is recognized as a leader in the fields of personal growth, relationships, and recovery. His highly creative developments in Primary Emotional Energy Recovery (P.E.E.R.) counseling seminars and anger management workshops, are taught worldwide. He is co-founder of the P.E.E.R. training program for counselors, which teaches emotional release techniques to help clients experience and express anger and grief appropriately. John has authored several books, including: The Flying Boy; At My Father's Wedding; Facing the Fire: Experiencing and Expressing Anger Appropriately; and Growing Yourself Back Up: Understanding Emotional Regression.

Barbara's work is some of the most important work being done in this country and perhaps others. I have worked with, am friends with and have heard so many people say how her work and the folks at Star have changed their lives by healing them at the deepest levels. I highly recommend anyone who desires to take a giant leap in personal growth to attend anything she is connected to.
- John Lee

Bruce H. Lipton, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. He has been a guest speaker on hundreds of TV and radio shows, as well as keynote presenter for national and international conferences. Dr. Lipton began his scientific career as a cell biologist receiving his Ph.D. Degree from the University of Virginia. His research at Stanford University's School of Medicine revealed that the personal environment to which a person is exposed controls the behavior and physiology of the cell, thus turning genes on and off. Such discovery, that genes are controlled by one's environment, ran counter to the established scientific view that life is controlled by the genes. Many subsequent papers by other researchers have since validated his concepts and ideas. His book, The Biology of Belief, summarizes his findings.

Internationally recognized therapist Barbara Findeisen, MFT, has transformed thousands of lives using the novel STAR process. Barbara and her team of specialists at the STAR Foundation provide a unique healing and nurturing environment. If you are struggling with manifesting the health and life you desire, STAR represents a source of profound transformation and empowerment that offers individuals an opportunity to gain sovereignty over their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
- Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D.

Prompted by the attempted rape and murder of a female colleague in 1981, Mr. Mendizza embarked on The Betrayal of Intimacy, an independent research and public awareness project founded to prevent sexual violence. As a documentary filmmaker, he has traveled extensively researching sensitive issues, including: domestic violence and rape, cultural and human development, the changing family, and prenatal learning. He and his wife founded Touch the Future, a nonprofit learning design center, which has explored optimum learning, performance, and wellness. Working closely with Joseph Chilton Pearce and others, Michael developed a revolutionary parenting and coaching model that applies the psychology of optimum experience (what athletes call "the zone") to parenting and education.

Standing firmly on her own experience, Barbara and the STAR Program guide others through the midfield of thoughts and feelings formed long before the capacity to discriminate developed.
- Michael Mendizza

Joseph Chilton Pearce is internationally recognized for his vision of human development and learning. His research includes brain development, learning, and education. He is a member of the Touch the Future Board of Directors. He is the author of numerous books, including: The Magical Child; Crack In the Cosmic Egg; The Bond of Power; and Claiming the Potential of Our Intelligence

Having known Barbara for many years, I can say with confidence that she is a true pioneer. She is honest and insightful, passionate and compassionate. She understands the deep imprints left by early trauma and is gentle and skillful at revealing these negative patterns and freeing them. It is an honor to be her friend.
- Joseph Chilton Pearce

Thom Rutledge is a psychotherapist and author in Nashville, Tennessee. He is well known for a personable style in his work with clients, in speaking to audiences large and small, and in his writing. Thom has written several books including Embracing Fear: How to Turn What Scares Us into Our Greatest Gift and Simple Truth. He also writes for several personal growth publications, including Steps for Recovery in Los Angeles, and Recovery Today based in Austin, Texas. Thom's political/social commentaries appear on op-ed pages around the country, including The Chicago Tribune.

To work with Barbara is to enter an amazingly safe and sacred space, where you can travel to the very depth of your soul, where all healing begins. When you are ready to go there, Barbara is the guide you want.
- Thom Rutledge