Pie Therapy

Pie Therapy is a simple, fun and yummy introduction to baking with a therapeutic twist. This class was “baked” by two well-seasoned therapists in the LA community, Sara Barthol and Stacie Cox, and one well-known pastry chef, Clémence Gossett.

The class creates a space for people to work on different personal challenges, such as anxiety, particularly perfectionism, using the simple delicious experience of learning how to make pies as a vehicle.

These classes are offered to clinicians, clients, rehab residents, eating disorder center residents, sober living residents, and to corporate offices as a team building activity. Classes are also offered for mothers and daughters, couples, and single folks. Classes can be held at either The Gourmandise School at The Santa Monica Place Shopping Center, or at a kitchen provided by a treatment facility.  Call the school for more information on a Pie Therapy class.  (310) 656-8800

Attendees can gain the following from the class:

  • Insight into anxiety and exploring and managing perfectionism and other control related issues.
  • Ability to identify triggers related to ones experiences with food.
  • Ability to acknowledge and release judgment of self and comparison to others.
  • Mindfulness-based techniques to help reduce anxiety when approaching a task and how to stay in the present in the moment through the process.
  • A personal self-care plan incorporating core issues learned throughout the class.
  • Opportunities to connect and bond with others.
  • Basic skills to create a delicious pie, which is taken home at the end of the class.

PIE THERAPY THERAPISTS

Sara Barthol

Sara Barthol

Sara Barthol is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been practicing in her native California for over 20 years. She works predominantly in her private practice setting in Santa Monica, and also supervises both students and interns and works as an EAP counselor for companies and insurance policies. Sara’s extensive background as a clinical social worker has included working in numerous agencies, both nonprofit and for profit. She has worked with clients both in individual and in group settings struggling with sex addiction, drug and alcohol addiction, anxiety, depression and relationship issues. She provides Sex Therapy, Couples Therapy and Individual therapy to teenagers into older adulthood.

Stacie Cox

Stacie Cox

Stacie Cox is a licensed psychotherapist in California and New Mexico, a licensed and internationally certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, a consultant, and Co-founder of Pie Therapy LA with approximately 20 years of experience working in the counseling and recovery field. Stacie maintains a full time private psychotherapy, recovery coaching, and clinical hypnotherapy practice in Santa Monica, and a part time practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she treats individuals, couples, and families who present with trauma, addiction, eating disorders, relationships, and perfectionism issues. Stacie presents at addiction conferences around the country and also writes for various recovery magazines and newspapers on perfectionism, self-care, eating disorders, and other addiction related challenges.

Clemence Gossett

Clémence Gossett

Clémence, is a Co-Owner, Co-Founder and Pastry Chef at The Gourmandise School. A Parisian-born lover of sweets, and frequent patron of pastry shops, she quickly developed a palate for all things flaky, buttery, sweet and chocolatey. Gourmandise was born out of a kitchen in Venice, and The Gourmandise School grew out of a passion for teaching the company’s favorite recipes. 6 years and many satellite kitchen classrooms later, Clémence opened the school in 2011. Clémence is also a food writer, Master Food Preserver, recipe developer and food consultant…and chocolate lover.