Debra Borden, LCSW | The Sous Therapist
“Cooking Therapy” is a major movement in the wellness space that seamlessly blends mindfulness and meal prep, and Bon Appétit magazine called Random House author Debra Borden “one of the field’s best-known names.”
Debra is a media-trained, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the author of multiple books, including her latest, Cooking As Therapy: How to Improve Mental Health Through Cooking. Known as the “Sous Therapist,” she has spent her career breaking the stigma around mental health, stress, and anxiety through unique, kitchen-based problem-solving. Rather than just sharing recipes, Debra teaches readers how to use everyday cooking as a springboard for growth, clarity, and emotional closure.
Her humorous, engaging storytelling style naturally draws people in by asking questions that stop them in their tracks—like: “What if, along with that grilled salmon entree, you could enjoy a side of self-esteem?”
From the counter to the stove, she seamlessly weaves ordinary cooking mechanics into memorable, thought-provoking therapeutic takeaways:
The Cutting Board: As she chops ingredients, she shows how breaking a recipe down into smaller pieces can turn culinary overwhelm into something manageable—a physical reminder that even our biggest life challenges are best handled one step at a time.
The Peel: While peeling fruits or vegetables, she invites us to reflect on what we may need to peel away in our own lives—old habits, limiting beliefs, or bitter, inedible dynamics standing between us and something better.
The Oven: As a dish transforms under heat, she connects that visible change to personal growth—demonstrating how, given the right conditions, we can all evolve from something unformed into something fully realized.
Debra’s pioneering work has been featured in The New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Women’s Health. She has appeared on West Palm’s CBS12 and The List TV, presented alongside Food Network star Katie Lee Biegel, and was interviewed for Halle Berry’s wellness site, re•spin.
As a sought-after corporate wellness expert, her client roster includes Bloomingdale’s, Crayola, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sub-Zero/Wolf, and the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) Health & Productivity Program.
