a.
12-week training in applied neuroscience and brain health. September — December 2025.
Practical neuroscience training for coaches, therapists & educators
The Neuroscience Academy brings professional development and training in applied neuroscience and brain health to a global audience.
- Designed for leaders, coaches, therapists, educators, mental health and wellbeing practitioners.
- Students work towards a certificate in Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health, equivalent to 34 hours of continuing professional development.
- Features a comprehensive neuroscience and brain health curriculum fully updated for 2024.
Taught by Dr Sarah McKay, an Oxford University-educated neuroscientist, author and science communicator.
AUD + Payment plan options under FAQs (scroll to bottom of page).
Advance Your Career: Stand out in your field with specialised knowledge in applied neuroscience and brain health.
Introducing the Neuroscience Academy
Who is the Neuroscience Academy for?
The Neuroscience Academy is a foundational course in applied neuroscience for professionals working in leadership, human behaviour, mental health, education and wellbeing.
Neuroscience Academy alumni tend to fall under the umbrella of ‘helping professionals’ and include:
- Coaches (we offer ICF CCE hours)
- Human Resources and Leadership Development Professionals
- Mental Health and Allied Health Practitioners
- Psychologists, Therapists and Counsellors
- Educators, Teachers and Trainers
- Meditation and Mindfulness Practitioners, Neurofeedback Providers and Yoga Teachers
The Neuroscience Academy is ideal for professionals who:
- Value juicy conversation and appreciate the value of human connection, community and laughter.
- Wish to improve their neuroscience literacy and their ability to apply new knowledge to their work critically.
- Are curious about the brain’s capacity to re-wire and change but wonder, “How can I begin to understand and use neuroscience concepts in useful ways?”
- Never had the opportunity in their education or early career to study science — our course is accessible for people without a background in biology or psychology.
- Believe that health, well-being and peak performance come from embracing the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual.
- Work in a crowded market and want to stand out from the rest and carve out a niche as a Neuroscience Academy graduate.
40 hours continuing professional development (CPD) + certificate.
Benefits & Outcomes
Benefits of joining Neuroscience Academy include:
- Comprehensive curriculum: Updated for 2024, covering all aspects of neuroscience and brain health.
- Lifetime membership: Enjoy ongoing support and training.
- 2025 Brain Coach Bootcamp: Automatic enrolment included.
- Certification: Earn The Neuroscience Academy Certificate in Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health and 40 CPD hours, recognised globally.
- Practical: Learn how to apply neuroscience-based strategies to transform the lives of your clients, patients, or students.
- Insights: Gain knowledge on brain plasticity, emotion, attention, habits, resilience, and motivation.
- Up-to-Date Findings: Integrate new research on stress, neuroplasticity, the gut microbiome, mindfulness, and aging into your practice.
- Global community: Connect with like-minded professionals from around the world.
- Boost your confidence: Our students report feeling confident and expert enough to discuss the brain with health and wellbeing professionals.
Curriculum
Introduction to Health Neuroscience
We’ll take a look at the seductive allure of neuroscience. You’ll be introduced to a foundational model of the course, the Bottom-Up Outside-In Top-Down framework. We’ll discuss what neuroscience can and can’t tell us about ourselves, and you’ll learn essential tips to tease out neuro-fact from neuro-fiction. And upon completion, you'll never again use the phrase 'lizard brain'!
Overview of Nervous System Anatomy
I’ll take you on a whistle-stop tour through the brain to the peripheral, autonomic and enteric (gut) nervous systems. You’ll learn how researchers have traditionally studied 'where in the brain' (the concept of functional localisation), and how advances in data sharing via brain biobanks, brain imaging and artificial intelligence are transforming neuroscience. We’ll also discuss the mind and where it might be found.
Neurons, Synapses and Neural communication
In this lesson, we’ll look at the nuts and bolts of how neurons communicate electrically and chemically. You’ll understand how synapses function, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, receptors and synapse plasticity. Finally, you'll learn simple and effective analogies and metaphors to communicate this information with others.
The neurobiology of neuroplasticity
What is neuroplasticity? Do we produce new brain cells (neurogenesis) throughout life? What is Hebbian plasticity, cortical reorganisation, synapse pruning, and neurogenesis and when, where and why do they occur? Can we 'change the brain' outside critical periods of development?
The Cognitive Brain
You’ll receive a simple overview of the prefrontal cortex and its role in executive functioning. You’ll learn how the brain pays attention, learns and remembers and why it can’t multi-task. We’ll examine how attention and working memory are entwined and touch on the often controversial topic of intelligence and IQ.
In this lesson, we’ll continue exploring how thinking and feeling are entwined. We’ll review the classic view of emotions and discover the contemporary neuroscience of constructed emotion. Finally, you'll receive a primer in the neurobiology of anxiety and depression.
The Neuroscience of Motivation
You’ll get clear on the neuroscience of motivation. You’ll be introduced to another foundation model, ‘The Will, the Wont and the Way’. We'll explore the concept of goals and how they're influenced by mental time travel. You'll also receive a short primer on health psychology and models of behaviour change.
The Neuroscience of Habit and Change
Understanding habits and facilitating change are fundamental to your work with clients. But what happens in the brain when habits are formed? If the brain is plastic, why is it so hard to break an old habit, and do we form new 'good' habits instead?
The Neuroscience of Creativity and Insight
Explore the concept of flow and how it turns everyday experiences into an opportunity for self-fulfilment and mental well-being. Learn how to foster creativity and what happens in your client’s brain during insight or ‘Aha!’ moments. We’ll discuss mental rehearsal or visualisation and revise the latest research on fixed and growth mindsets.
The Mind-Body Connection
What evidence do we have for mind-body connections? And how do our early childhood experiences (ACES) influence health outcomes later in life? We’ll take a look at placebo and nocebo effects and how they relate to the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Finally, we’ll touch on psychoneuroimmunology and the neuroscience of the mind-brain-immune connection.
The Ageing Brain
We’ll consider how the brain develops and ageing by taking a quick 'womb to tomb' tour of the lifespan. We'll consider the concept of healthspan and touch on sex and gender differences in brain health and ageing. You’ll get clear on what the neuroscience research says about cognitive decline, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Learn why ageing is also about growing in experience, wisdom and judgment (and verbal fluency!)
Brain Health and Physical Exercise
Get clear on why the best exercise for the brain is physical exercise and the role of myokines in promoting brain health via BDNF. We’ll discuss the relationship between exercise, mood and mental health, and we’ll look at how exercise promotes neuroplasticity and slows brain ageing.
Sleep and Napping
We’ll delve into sleep (and napping) and circadian rhythms and learn why they are vital to brain health and performance. You'll learn about the neurobiology of sleep drive and where melatonin fits in. You'll explore up-to-date research on sleep timing and seasonal patterns of brain connectivity. Finally, we consider what happens to your brain when you dream and how researchers can 'read' the content of your dreams.
Nutrition and the Gut-Brain Connection.
You'll learn about the enteric nervous system and its interaction with your interoceptive sense. You'll examine the current evidence on the best diet for brain health. We’ll also explore the research on the gut-brain-microbiome connection. And we’ll look at the latest meta-analyses and systematic reviews on brain ‘super-foods’ and the effects of sugar, coffee, grains and alcohol.
The Social Brain
Our brain has a fundamental need to connect, and understanding this is vital to your work. You'll explore the latest meta-analyses describing the health outcomes of social relationships and loneliness. You'll look at new research on brain-to-brain synchrony and how trust and rapport are built within dyads and groups. We also explore the neurochemistry of love, affiliation and oxytocin.
Stress, Mindfulness, and Meditation.
This lesson has been designed to examine the orchestrated neurosymphony of our human stress responses, the consequences of eustress, toxic stress, and the best ways to build resilience. We’ll examine what neuroscience says about mindfulness meditation, and how it affects brain structure and function (and when and why it doesn't work).
Brain Health and Mental Exercise.
What is cognitive reserve and why is building it beneficial? What does the research say about computer-based cognitive brain training? Take a look at evidence why you should partner with your client to become their brain-training coach.
How does the Neuroscience Academy work?
- Flexible Learning Options: Attend the live 45-minute micro-training sessions for quick, impactful learning, or watch the online lectures at your own pace if you're time-poor.
- Interactive Live Sessions: Live Zoom calls feature a 45-minute micro-training followed by 45-minute Q&A and group discussions.
- Structured Program: The training spans 12 weeks, including 9 teaching weeks and 3 rest and recovery weeks.
- Engaging Content: Online lessons are delivered through short, pre-recorded videos that are simple, visual, and focused on neuroscience concepts and practical strategies.
- Resource-Rich Lessons: Each lesson includes a hand-picked library of resources for extended learning and skill development.
- Certification: Earn The Neuroscience Academy Certificate of Completion in Applied Neuroscience and Brain Health (34 hours CPD accredited) by passing an online multiple-choice quiz.
- Experienced Online Instruction: The Neuroscience Academy has been teaching professionals since 2015. In that time, I've mastered the art and science of building community, conversation, and rapport in a digital environment.
- Global Community: Learning online connects you with a planet of warm, wise, extraordinary individuals you might never meet otherwise.
"The creation of a caring, inclusive and community-focused environment which fosters connection through learning was also a key element of the course that was critical to the whole experience and really helped facilitate the absorption of a lot of new concepts in a very short period of time."
Georgia Southgate (2022 cohort)
The Neuroscience Academy offers an on-demand self-study option. Self-study suits people who do not wish to gain certification or CPD hours. Includes digital course access only and excludes live Q&A, certification/CPD, Facebook group & alumni access.
BONUSES!
- Two Ways to Learn: Pick and choose between live micro-training or pre-recorded lectures.
- Global Community: Join a supportive network of wise, warm, like-minded professionals. Course feedback frequently highlights the value of these connections and conversations.
- Summary Notes and Worksheets: Access key concepts from each lesson easily.
- Extensive Resource Library: Enjoy a curated collection of open-access research papers, books, TEDx talks, articles, and interviews, fully updated for 2024.
- Research Guides: Step-by-step instructions on sourcing, reading, and understanding scientific research articles.
- In-Depth Interviews: Explore a growing library of interviews with experts in gut-brain health, positive psychology, neuroscience in education, and healthy aging.
- Private Facebook Group: Network with peers and participate in daily Q&A with Sarah.
- Direct Access to Sarah: Benefit from Sarah's 30 years of neuroscience expertise through daily interactions in the Facebook group, weekly live Q&A sessions, and one-on-one office hours.
- Lifetime Membership: Includes free enrollment in 2025 Brain Coach Bootcamp.
AUD & monthly plans available (scroll down to FAQs)
b. About Sarah
I’m neuroscientist, Dr Sarah McKay.
I’ve distilled three decades of education, research and experience teaching neuroscience into creating this online training program.
My superpower is to make neuroscience simple, actionable, and relevant to everyday life and to provide coaches, therapists, and health professionals with evidence-based tools and strategies for doing the same in their work.
You may have noticed that too often, neuroscience research is hidden behind the paywall of academic journals, discussed at scientific meetings for other scientists, or presented in a way that is irrelevant to our daily lives.
Or the opposite is true — people with no training in brain science or minimal understanding of the complexities of research are jumping on the neuroscience bandwagon as ‘brain gurus’ and marketing the latest product, program, or magic-bullet solution, usually based on inaccurate metaphors and myths neuroscience (wave 'goodbye' to the lizard brain!).
The Neuroscience Academy is designed to change all that and make up-to-date research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and positive psychology accurate, simple, and practical for you and your work.
I hold three degrees in neuroscience, including an MSc and a PhD in Neuroscience from Oxford University. In 2008, I founded the science communications business (Think Brain), which specialises in 'explaining the brain'.
In my spare time, I present episodes of the ABC science TV show Catalyst, write a popular neuroscience blog, speak (including at TEDx events), and I've written three books on brain health.
Dr Sarah McKay is a bright, credible light who stands out in the complex yet fascinating field of neuroscience. Fusing her prestigious academic background with her unique ability to translate complex concepts into words we can all understand, she offers real-world science that we can use to better our lives. In her ground-breaking program, The Neuroscience Academy, she offers coaches, therapists and wellness pros a step-by-step blueprint to confidently integrate neuroscience into their practice. In the past 15 years, what we’ve learned about plasticity has given us unprecedented hope for repairing and optimizing brain function. This program is an absolute must for any professional gifted with the opportunity to improve the lives of their patients, clients or students.
Erin Matlock
CEO, Brain Pages and Brain Summits
As a neurofeedback provider I am well acquainted with the brain and its functions and I am always looking to expand my knowledge by hearing from other professionals. Dr. McKay is a vivacious and entertaining guide into the fascinating world of brain science. With an obvious passion to share what she has learned as an experienced and credentialed expert, she leads us on a very accessible journey into the complex world of what makes us tick. Using insightful and engaging presentations, with rich and varied reference materials to further explore, Dr. McKay shows us how the mind and body are intimately intertwined. This not not your ‘father’s neuroscience course’ — a dry, didactic review of academic studies — but an integrated programof easy-to-understand, useful information designed to improve our lives and those of our clients.
John Mekrut
Director, The Balance Brain Neurofeedback Training Centre
As a coaching psychologist, I found the Neuroscience Academy an excellent opportunity to develop a much better appreciation of neuroscience theory and most importantly, the practical application of neuroscience to support coaching clients in achieving their goals. Dr McKay shares cutting edge, evidenced based content in a highly engaging, accessible way. My learning from the programme has given me the confidence to speak knowledgeably to clients about aspects of neuroscience e.g. changing habits. On a personal level, I have developed a greater awareness of how lifestyle factors impact brain health and how to maximise my attention and focus to achieve a better balance and ‘flow’ in my life…
Dr. Mary Collins
Coaching Psychologist, Royal College of Surgeons
Sarah, you have put together an extraordinary package of learning with such fresh perspectives and approaches. You have no equal. I am telling you this because of all the programmes I have done at University, online and full time, your offering is unique. I am still active on several boards, run several companies including a Wellness Clinic and I am still studying. I won’t retire for another 15 years or more if I am still alive hale and healthy. I have just completed an advanced programme with Med school on Functional and Integrative Medicine and since last year I am also a qualified lawyer in international law and human rights. I am writing to say thank you. What a journey of learning. We appreciate the quality of your course and the effort that has gone into it to make this a learning experience of substance, not a seven day wonder, but a reflective journey which will last.
Denise Bjorkman
Vice president, The SA Council of Prof Coaches & Mentors, Director Centre for Executive Renewal
Sarah’s course is comprehensive, cutting edge, beautifully articulated, and has a brilliant abundant back up of resources to dive into. I have loved learning about the brain for a couple of years. I wanted to bring structure and credibility to my scattered and disjointed knowledge of neuroscience. Also there is a supportive community, just enough info for the therapist, and a challenge for the grey matter without bogging down in too much anatomy … just loved it all!
Carol Vaughan
B.Couns Dip.Hyp MAEPH Perth Hypnosis Clinic
Since completing The Neuroscience Academy I have developed confidence in explaining key neuroscience nuggets to clients using basic language! These nuggets can often shift perceptions and make a real life difference to how clients view their path to wellness. I also feel more confident that I understand the complexities if I need to expand further.
Emer Duffy
Specialist Occupational Therapist
In developing my decision-support framework I was looking for a neuroscience evidence base that would be accessible to me as a non-scientifically trained person, and relevant to supporting people improve their everyday decision-making, and therefore wellbeing. What I have absolutely valued about Sarah’s program is how it has enabled me to understand proven neuroscience, fenced off the flakey to almost-feasible assertions and correlations, and provided practical examples of its application. Through Sarah’s concise yet illuminating explanations, rich links to research, and a diversity of materials, I can improve the value of the advice I provide to others about how to improve their wellbeing and manage change. From a thoroughly stimulating 8 week course, I have a strong foundation, and an ongoing community, to keep learning how to apply neuroscience to the wider work I do helping people understand the futureNOW, and make sense of ‘tomorrow’ today.
Marianne Doczi
Provocateur, futurenowknowhow.com
This course is a wonderful introduction to someone who’s new to this field or study but I can see how anyone with deeper understanding would also enjoy and increase their knowledge. Whether you’re ‘in the business’ or just want to learn more about your own brain and get some great tips on promoting neurogenesis and slow down ageing overall. I’ve found that I’m re-wording the set-up key phrases for Callanetics exercises in my classes. I’ve always done this to some degree but I’ve upped this to finding different ways of setting them up and giving them something different to focus on and the sensations they’re feeling. My teaching focus is to reduce the amount of habituated patterns to encourage neurons to fire as they did when the first started the program and learnt everything from scratch.
Sandra Hanna
Callanetics Master Trainer
Sarah is like a personal shopper for neuroscience: she finds the most relevant, current, credible research regarding the brain and the coach approach and presents it to you in a way that you can actually utilise with clients. Even though I’ve been coaching for a few years her insights and up-to-date info keep me on top of my game. Sarah does a great job of being an accessible academic. She is warm and approachable with a big bag of knowledge and resources – the perfect combo!
Kathleen Buchanan
Wellness Coach and Yoga Teacher, Owner be.well.
I want to say a HUGE thank you. Being involved in your course has been one of the most positive learning experiences I have ever had. I have become completely fascinated by neuroscience and its application in helping others to improve their health (as well as my own). I feel this is just the start of a brand new journey for me from both a learning perspective and the future direction of my work and business.
Kevin McAllister
Founder: Lift Your Wellbeing
The Neuroscience Academy has proven to me more than ever that Ageless Grace is exactly what we need in our world today — as Sarah says ‘The BEST EXERCISE FOR THE BRAIN IS PHYSICAL EXERCISE!’ I’m pleased that our program of Ageless Grace uses the brain and the body in a way that is consistent with all that I learned from this fabulous course! Every week I have incorporated into my classes, seminars, trainings and personal sessions what I learned or have been reminded of. I have reposted a few of the articles you suggested for us — and have used the handouts you provided — they are excellent resources for my students and clients! I loved all the new information I have learned, it has allowed me to grow and adapt to our program to new research being done. THANK YOU Sarah for giving me this opportunity!
Denise Medved
Director, Ageless Grace
This online class is exceptional. Sarah distills a complicated topic into bite size pieces so that it matches the level of teaching to the person’s background. Her resource list to dig further into each topic allowed me to further enhance my learning in the areas that deeply interested me. I learned something new in each segment of each class. I highly recommend this program. I am a learner at heart. As an ICF certified coach, I feel it is my responsibility to be open to learning what I do not know. This was a stretch goal as my background is not in science. I am using your models to help clients understand that they are in control of their own choices, especially ones that affect wellbeing.
Melinda Harrison
Coach, Researcher, Writer, Speaker, www.movingbeyond.org
Iris Whitelock
Life Purpose Coach and Transpersonal Art Therapist
Georgia Hobart
Brand Strategist.
As a teacher I am keenly aware of the need to combine an understanding of the brain and mind with education to enhance the principles of teaching. This course has allowed me to provide an evidence based pedagogy to address the specific requirements of the developing brain. Consequently, my students have benefited from learning knowledge and skills that they can apply to improve their own lives and schooling. Dr Sarah McKay has provided a program that is informative, applicable and stimulating to any educator.
Kathy Hunter
Educator. Director, Hunter Study Solutions
It was, yet again, a delight to be a part of this group. It was so exciting to be waiting for the breakout room time and to see who would be playing in the same ‘sandpit’. And each time I felt such connection and the conversations where always stimulating, considered and considerate. Many thanks, Sarah for running such a professional online course!!
Lucia Southgate
TorchLight Healing
Since completing The Neuroscience Academy I am much more aware of all the ways that brain health can contribute to overall health & wellness; much more likely to seek evidence-based information, rather than accept unverified information. I have LOTS of ideas about how to incorporate these learnings into my creative workshops; and a long list of fascinating resources to read! The course was very well-organised. I loved the fact that I could access each lesson when it suited me; I loved all the resources; the summary notes were very helpful; and I also appreciated that I could listen to the Q&A sessions in my own time. You are a great facilitator Sarah! I really enjoyed the video presentations; your style of presentation is direct, engaging, personal and very helpful for those of us who are not scientists.
Cate Richmond
Community Arts Facilitator
FAQs
The Neuroscience Academy
Next training: September 16th — December 6th, 2024
Enrolment open 6-15 September 2024
Email [email protected] with any questions.
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© 2024 DR SARAH MCKAY