From a young age Dr. Lena Dicken has been passionate about empowering others on their journey toward personal growth and greater fulfillment. Her family’s holistic lifestyle and meditation practice led her to an early career as a yoga and meditation instructor in the early 2000's. She taught for several years in the US, Hawaii, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Seeking a deeper understanding of the mind and body she studied Psychology at The University of Maryland and later Integrative Medicine at The University of Hawaii. She moved to California to earn her Master’s in Counseling Psychology, followed by a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Psychology. She holds additional certifications in Ecopsychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction from InsightLA. Dr. Dicken’s doctoral research delved into the transformative effects of self-compassion, nature immersion, and awe on well-being.

Dr. Dicken is also the visionary founder of Saltwater Sessions, one of the first therapeutic surfing programs in the United States, which she established in 2014. The groundbreaking program integrated surfing, mindfulness, and positive reappraisal to help participants work through mental blocks, quiet their inner critic, and increase self confidence. Dr. Dicken’s innovative work with Saltwater Sessions has been spotlighted by prominent platforms such as GOOP, Chalkboard Magazine, The Fullest, The Inertia, and a wide range of other media outlets and podcasts. In 2015, Dr. Dicken was invited to speak about Saltwater Sessions at the Recovery 2.0 conference, sharing the stage with luminaries such as Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Daniel Amen, establishing her as an emerging leader in integrative mental health.

Dr. Dicken is a licensed psychologist in California (PSY31107) and has been in private practice since 2012, splitting her time between Santa Monica and Montecito, CA. A passionate environmentalist and advocate for social justice, she balances her professional work with family time and enjoys traveling, hiking, and surfing. Her latest venture, The Outdoor Psychologist, explores the intersection of ecopsychology, mindfulness and neuroplasticity.