Tri-Valley Psychotherapy

"What you eat today will affect how you feel tomorrow." --Quote by Joyce Meyer

"If you're going to start thinking healthier thoughts, why not start eating healthier food." --Quote by Terces Engelhart


As a clinical psychologist who loves to help clients lead happier and healthier lives, I cannot avoid writing a blog and step-by-step guide on healthy cooking. 

• In this blog I share my ideas and recipes to help you begin improving your health by examining your food choices and encouraging you to think outside-of-the-box about what to eat and how to prepare food.

So many people want to eat healthier and lead healthier lives but have no idea how to start.  

• My healthy cooking blog and step-by-step guide is designed to help you begin the process of taking one small step in the direction of good health.

Why am I focusing on food and cooking? Food is the foundation of good health. Without it we will die, but with too much of it we will suffer and/or die of diet-related medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease. If we eat too much of the wrong food, we will feel sick, lack energy, and vitality. Eating an unhealthy diet can make us feel bad-- emotionally and physically.  Taking control of our food and learning how to cook and prepare healthy food is critical to improving our health and emotional wellbeing.

Why is it so hard to eat and maintain a healthy diet? Many of us are struck in old habits and ways of thinking about our food. As children we learned that certain foods make us happy, comfort us, lift our spirits, and make us strong. Unfortunately, high fat, high cholesterol meats and dairy products, fast foods, sweets and treats, and junk food became those foods leaving 66% of us overweight or obese, and at risk of diet-related medical conditions.

Maintaining a healthy diet is challenging mainly because we have developed a powerful emotional bond with some of the most unhealthy foods on the planet, (Click here to learn more about Emotional Eating) which is why I am challenging you to think outside-the-box about your food choices and ask yourself the question, "Why am I eating this?" In my healthy cooking blog, I share interesting recipes and ideas that will challenge you, and provide you with the tools you need to prepare healthier foods.  

Why is a psychologist blogging about cooking? In 2007 and 2010, I taught a series of "sold-out" healthy cooking classes at Whole Foods Market and Sur La Table in downtown San Francisco as part of my outreach to the community. I also did a cooking demonstration in 2011 at San Mateo Mall, Kid's Club where I taught children as young as 4 years old how to bake healthy desserts!

Dr. Dickson's Outside-the-Box Recipe Ideas