Happy Brain is a system of engaging children and young people in their mind matters. The project started life in 2010 as a UK Arts Council project that brought creative workers into schools to inspire teachers and help young people learn. Kay Cooke developed this system to meet a funding bid in which she promised: creative education of the next generation about mind matters to help them to become responsible for their general wellbeing through better management of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Not only was the project formally judged hugely successful, the practical activities had unknowingly generated a wealth of ‘live’ insights to surprising issues and unexpected problems that children were experiencing. Material generated during the project have become key to further developments, although sadly, government funding of this type of project has since ceased. Kay has subsequently formed a commercial model for Happy Brain, which includes teacher training, kiddie coaching, whole class/school delivery, plus the evolution of some saleable products. The reputation of Happy Brain successes now means that around 80% of Kay’s private clinic clients are children and young adults, who come along with their parents, or teachers.
Happy Brain draws from many models of education, psychology, philosophy, therapy, and science. Foundational inspirations came from the work of Dr. Richard Bandler and his human excellence technologies:
NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming)
NHR (Neuro Hypnotic Repatterning)
DHE (Design Human Engineering)
Three principles of Happy Brain
1) Simplicity
2) Resilience
3) Clarity
Simplicity
This is the principle that our reptilian brain is either switched to ‘thrive’ or ‘survive’. Happy Brain teaches how to deliberately influence the autonomic nervous system, and affect specific brain chemistry through simple and fun exercises.
Resilience
This is the principle of our limbic system influencing the formation and maintenance of our mind’s operating manual. We can nurture a flourishing and flexible mindscape and enhance the quality of living, or contribute to a vulnerable or impoverished mental landscape, which reduces the quality of living. Happy Brain play, creativity, and imagineering are vehicles to design and install bespoke software for a rich and buoyant platform through which to navigate the world.
Clarity
This is the principle of our thinking mind needing precise guidance for motivation and navigation into the future, on purpose. Happy Brain games (often involving family and friends) deliberately stimulate the most useful brain chemistry for the desired outcome, and direct clarity to any perceived obstacles, essential resources, key drivers and time-lined targets.
Although Happy Brain was created specifically for work with children, young people, parents, and teachers (next generation movers and shakers), the principles of this project now extend into all aspects of Kay’s work. She frequently utilises child-like models with corporate leaders, because as Einstein is quoted as saying: ‘make everything in life as simple as possible’. Happy Brain does this.
Upcoming Mini NLP Conferences where there will be a Happy Brain session:
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands: