Students mix a dough, knead the shit out of it, bake it, and then burn all the thoughts that cropped up in a ceremonial act of letting go.

For years I’ve been bouncing from therapist to therapist, in the throes of an all-consuming vacuum of existential dread. But I've found that the physical act of cooking alleviates symptoms of stress and anxiety almost immediately.

We spoke to Julie Ohana, a culinary therapist based in Michigan, to get a better understanding of how cooking can help patients combat depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

And not just because you’ll end up with a homemade batch of double chocolate chip cookies.