Liam’s Story: Making the Most of Brain Training

Taking care of our brains should always be a top priority, but it’s an easy thing to overlook when facing mental illness or hardship. While things like limiting social media and getting out in nature are helpful, developing skills and strategies that can help you navigate everyday life is essential in supporting mental health and wellbeing. Brain Training is an innovative program from Coast that combines Cognitive Remediation and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) techniques with games and other proven methods to help people living with mental illness build strategies and develop skills that help them to rewire cognitive pathways affected by mental illness and regain confidence in their cognitive functioning and mental health. And it does it in some pretty unique ways!

Brain Training runs at a number of different Coast locations, allowing residents and community members to access the program close to home. Part of a group he calls “the keeners,” Liam is a regular at the weekly Brain Training sessions in his building. Working together on puzzles and challenges, Liam’s Brain Training group practices the strategies being taught in real time, tackling the daily New York Times games and learning new skills while building important connections.

One of the parts of Brain Training Liam said that he enjoys the most is the comradery and connection he’s found with the group, “As I kind of grow, everybody else kind of learns as well, like how to get along with each other and how to make the most out of a session while working with each other. We get to see each other’s strengths, and we get to help each other in times of difficulties.” The group does a check in and check out at each session. Starting the session, each member has an opportunity to share how they are feeling, something they have enjoyed the past week or something they are looking forward to. And then checking out at the end, they can share if their emotions from the beginning of the session have changed and they are encouraged to set a goal for the coming week, putting into practice what they’ve learned.

This atmosphere of care and connection blossoms because of the dedicated staff running the program. Liam called out the amazing Brain Training team for their clear passion for the work and “ongoing willingness, a DBT skill” to hear and action requests from the program participants. Recently, Liam and his crew requested the program hours be extended for their sessions to one and a half hours from the one hour a week. The Brain Training team, led by Melanie, enthusiastically agreed and confirmed it with the housing manager. “Melanie always goes above and beyond for her clients, I can tell she absolutely loves her job (as does Janelle, the second staff member who usually comes with Mel).” It certainly makes sense that Brain Training is the highlight of the participants’ week!

Liam is a great example of applying the skills he’s developed in Brain Training in his everyday life. With Warhead candies at the ready, in case he needs a reset in a heightened moment, Liam knows he can manage challenging situations and environments as they arise. From claustrophobic transit rides to heightened emotions when supporting friends through difficult times, to channeling ‘wise mind’ to help him balance his rational and emotional minds when faced with challenging decision making, Liam is able to tap into the lessons when needed. Liam’s favourite DBT skill is ‘opposite action,’ when you do the opposite of what your gut might urge you to do, like opening an email or two when your anxiety is severe and you are overwhelmed by the unknowns of a full inbox. Liam says that “this skill has allowed me to develop and learn to avoid emotionally and physically shutting down and going to bed when I’m anxious or fearful, which has changed my life dramatically for the better.”

Something Liam has learned about himself in these sessions is that he is often very self-critical, but through the work of Brain Training and through training as a Peer Support worker with Coast, he has been able to build his confidence and recognize his positive impact on those around him. The Coast training he has completed has provided Liam with greater confidence in his knowledge and ability to support his peers and those in his building and broader community through things like continued acts of kindness, helping with chores and tasks, and more.

Brain Training goes beyond the classroom, providing participants with core skills they can take with them, improving both their own lives and experiences and, as Liam demonstrates, the experiences of those around them. A sense of community and belonging comes along with the lessons, made possible by an engaged and enthusiastic group and a passionate staff, creating a lasting impact on all involved. Thanks to donor support, Brain Training continues to improve the cognitive health and wellbeing of Coast clients across the lower mainland.

Next time you pick up your phone, consider flipping over to a word or puzzle app to challenge your brain into new ways of thinking. Learn more about Brain Training in this video we shared at the 2026 Courage to Come Back Awards and donate today to support innovative programs like this that are changing the lives of people living with mental illness in BC.