Welcome! 

We know tackling mental health can feel like a big deal, so we want to hear more about you and ensure you feel supported and safe.

We’ll have an onboarding form to disclose as much or as little of your mental health, and what you want to gain with us, as you feel comfortable with. You’ll have the chance to meet us and ask any questions – and a small social to meet your fellow attendees!

Before we dive in, we need to know who we are.

Our first session covers the Psychology of personality – from quizzes to attachment theory, to the “Dark Triad” and personality disorders – and gives you a chance to get to know eachother in a gentle and playful way.

We all experience stress and go through difficult experiences. What makes an event “traumatic”? Is stress always bad for us? Most importantly, how do we feel better?

This week, we’ll look at research surrounding trauma, protective factors, and a few useful alternatives to CBT – including Internal Family Systems and a self-soothing toolbox of techniques.

Note: This session will briefly cover topics attendees may find upsetting. Attendees are welcome to reach out before or after the workshop for support, and to leave the session at any time.

How do we make great art? Why do we doodle? Are the brains of scientists and artists any different? Also, how do I stop procrastinating?

In this fan-favourite talk, we look at (digital) brains, the fine line between creativity and disorder, what eureka moments look like, why you leave that essay to the last minute, and 5 simple nudges we can use to reach creative or focused states on cue.

We will hear from an expert with lived experience on the range of neurodiverse conditions: ADHD, autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and more!

We’ll look at the strengths as well as struggles of having each, what each “feels” like, how we can create supportive environments, and how to navigate receiving a diagnosis and support.

Our expert speaker is available afterwards for guidance and follow-up questions.

Healthy interpersonal relationships are the #1 protective factor for our mental health. How do we maintain and build them in a post-pandemic digital world?

In this session, we’ll look at why a breakout room can be so awkward, the psychological mechanisms behind digital vs in-person communication, and how we can be better friends and partners.

(Yes, this includes the neuroscience behind attraction. Don’t get too spicy and make us go Jackie Weaver.)

Too often, our mental healthcare systems takes a medicalised model of finding problems, or disorders, and “fixing” them. We often come away with labels and pills feeling a bit naff.

How about the times we feel alright? What makes us happy? When do we feel in “the zone”? How do we identify our strengths? Or achieve mastery in our hobbies?

We’ll draw on our new 3 favourite grandpas – Seligman, Csikszentmihalyi, and Jung – for guidance.

Congratulations: you made it through Braincamp! 

We’ll have a final social celebration – in-person if the government don’t snipe us out with new regulation – and establish channels, check-ins, and peer support networks to continue to support you with a community after the programme.