Pamela Hemphill, born in California in 1953, had a 27-year career as a substance abuse counselor, retiring in 2011. She specialized in addiction treatment, addressing issues such as alcoholism, drug addiction, problem gambling, food addiction, codependency, and adult children of alcoholics. Hemphill also has experience working with women dealing with childhood sexual abuse issues. She became sober from alcoholism herself in 1979 and began her counseling career in 1984.