Come and learn about the benefits of creative endeavors, like art and music, on brain health! Join us for the Wellness Wednesday event on April 6th at noon to hear from Dr. Lara Boyd, a Physical Therapist and Neuroscientist at UBC, who will speak to us about the connection between art and brain health. We’ll also be joined by our very own art teacher, Mady Mooney, who will lead us through an art exercise! Bring a pen and paper or whatever art supplies you have lying around to do something good for your brain!

Speakers

Dr. Lara Boyd

Art and Brain Health: Are they linked?

Dr. Lara Boyd is a Physical Therapist and Neuroscientist at the University of British Columbia where she is a professor and Wall Scholar. She is an expert in the neurobiology of learning and uses advanced brain imaging approaches to look into the brain. Dr. Boyd’s research is centered on understanding how behaviour shapes learning, unlearning and relearning.  She has published more than 180 scientific papers and her TEDx talk “After this your brain will not be the same” has over 30 million views.

Mady Mooney

Mady Mooney holds a master’s degree in psychotherapy and spirituality with a specialization in art therapy. She conducted her research on chronic pain and art therapy in women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She is presently in private practice in Vancouver where she sees clients who are exploring issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, life transitions, and abuse. She is primarily a client-centered therapist and as such believe that you have an innate wisdom and capacity for self-healing and personal growth. When she is not working, she enjoys being an artist; she loves painting and photography.