is a brain changing itself,
with some help.
Hi! My name is Catia, I compress hundreds of neuroscience studies in practice-oriented workshops on the biological nature of addictions, attachment, depression, anxiety, trauma. I also teach neuroscience basics: "Brain as a prediction making machine" and "Multiplicity of psyche and the brain" are top organizers' choices. All workshops include
- experiential games about the brain, for fun and confidence
- materials for clients to take psychoeducation to the next level.
Cรกtia Vinnik, MD, PhD,
neuroscientist
neuroscientist
Who are these workshops for? Whether in training, starting their career or seasoned therapists, workshop participants can all expect to deepen their knowledge of the brain, find tools to strengthen their confidence in sessions, and get excited again about their practice.
who are these workshops for? Whether in training, starting their career or seasoned therapists, workshop participants can all expect to deepen their knowledge of the brain, find tools to strengthen their confidence in sessions, and get excited again about their practice.
.
.
What Makes These Workshops Unique: The Games
Forget passive lectures. In Catia's workshops, participants BECOME the nervous system. In interactive mini-group exercises, you might play the role of a molecule, a neuron, a neuronal network, or a global network of brain ares โ and physically experience how neural circuits process fear, attachment, or reward.
These games make complex brain mechanisms intuitive and memorable. Thousands of psychologists worldwide have experienced this format and consistently rate it as the most impactful part of the training.
"This course was an intellectual dessert!" โ workshop participant
Forget passive lectures. In Catia's workshops, participants BECOME the nervous system. In interactive mini-group exercises, you might play the role of a molecule, a neuron, a neuronal network, or a global network of brain ares โ and physically experience how neural circuits process fear, attachment, or reward.
These games make complex brain mechanisms intuitive and memorable. Thousands of psychologists worldwide have experienced this format and consistently rate it as the most impactful part of the training.
"This course was an intellectual dessert!" โ workshop participant
who are these workshops for? Whether in training, starting their career or seasoned therapists, workshop participants can all expect to deepen their knowledge of the brain, find tools to strengthen their confidence in sessions, and get excited again about their practice.
.
.
What Makes These Workshops Unique: The Games
Forget passive lectures. In Catia's workshops, participants BECOME the nervous system. In interactive mini-group exercises, you might play the role of a molecule, a neuron, a neuronal network, or a global network of brain ares โ and physically experience how neural circuits process fear, attachment, or reward.
These games make complex brain mechanisms intuitive and memorable. Thousands of psychologists worldwide have experienced this format and consistently rate it as the most impactful part of the training.
"This course was an intellectual dessert!" โ workshop participant
Forget passive lectures. In Catia's workshops, participants BECOME the nervous system. In interactive mini-group exercises, you might play the role of a molecule, a neuron, a neuronal network, or a global network of brain ares โ and physically experience how neural circuits process fear, attachment, or reward.
These games make complex brain mechanisms intuitive and memorable. Thousands of psychologists worldwide have experienced this format and consistently rate it as the most impactful part of the training.
"This course was an intellectual dessert!" โ workshop participant
Cรกtia Vinnik,
MD, PhD
MD, PhD
Neuroscience made FUN and USEFUL
- MD, PhD in cognitive neuroscience
- Author of scientific papers on systems neuroscience and neurobiology of sensory perception
- University lecturer for bachelorโs and masterโs students in psychology and neuroscience
- Speaker at international conferences, incl. for associations of IFS, EMDR, CBT, schematherapy and EFT;
- Lead trainer of neuroscience courses for psychologists (attended by thousands);
- Author of a neuroscience chapter in a book IFS collected wisdom: Conversations with Experienced Voices in Internal Family Systems (2025)
- Co-author of a textbook on foundations of psychotherapy (in press),
- Author of Neuroscience games for psychologists
- Based in Lisbon, Portugal
What Makes These Workshops Unique:
Forget passive lectures. In Catia's workshops, participants BECOME the nervous system. In interactive mini-group exercises, you might play the role of a molecule, a neuron, a neuronal network, or a global network of brain ares โ and physically experience how neural circuits process fear, attachment, or reward.
These games make complex brain mechanisms intuitive and memorable. Thousands of psychologists worldwide have experienced this format and consistently rate it as the most impactful part of the training.
"This course was an intellectual dessert!", said one of the workshop participants
These games make complex brain mechanisms intuitive and memorable. Thousands of psychologists worldwide have experienced this format and consistently rate it as the most impactful part of the training.
"This course was an intellectual dessert!", said one of the workshop participants
THE GAMES
MATERIALS FOR CLIENTS
One practical situation - one card. Explain to your clients what happens in the brain in anhedonia, bullying, various types of anxiety and other cases. Show your clients what changes after therapy to help them trust you and the process. This is helpful at the beginning of the client's journey and at certain points during the process. All the materials have links to scientific papers. Video example below.
BRAIN COPING CARDS
It is not difficult to understand the biological fundamentals of mental health and therapy.
There are principles one needs to know.
There are key aspects of the most common clinical situations.
One can learn all that in my workshops.
There are principles one needs to know.
There are key aspects of the most common clinical situations.
One can learn all that in my workshops.
Cรกtia Vinnik, MD, PhD,
neuroscientist
neuroscientist
Psychotherapy seminars
Multiplicity of psyche
and the brain
and the brain
The biology of beliefs for CBT therapists
LECTURES
1-6 HOURS
1-6 HOURS
โ GAMES โ
MATERIALS
FOR CLIENTS
FOR CLIENTS
Neurobiological effects of CBT
Make great presentations, longreads, and landing pages, as well as photo stories, blogs, lookbooks, and all other kinds of content oriented projects.
Neurobiological effects of CBT
Make great presentations, longreads, and landing pages, as well as photo stories, blogs, lookbooks, and all other kinds of content oriented projects.
EMDR: what do the data say?
Make great presentations, longreads, and landing pages, as well as photo stories, blogs, lookbooks, and all other kinds of content oriented projects.
EMDR: what do the data say?
Make great presentations, longreads, and landing pages, as well as photo stories, blogs, lookbooks, and all other kinds of content oriented projects.
Clinical seminars
Neurobiology of depression, trauma and dissociation
Neurobiology of attachment: from social behaviour to personality disorders
Neurobiology of ADHD: surprising new insights
Neurobiology of anxiety: the conflict between the need for safety and other needs
The addicted brain: loosing self in compulsive behavior
LECTURES
1-6 HOURS
1-6 HOURS
โ GAMES โ
MATERIALS
FOR CLIENTS
FOR CLIENTS
Have you read and heard a lot, but there is still a no certainety you get the full picture?
This workshop helps create a systematic understanding of the clockwork of the brain.
How do molecules turn into neurons? How do neurons turn into neural networks? How do neural networks fit into the global architecture of the brain?
And most importantly, how is all this related to a personโs internal experiences and behavior?
This workshop helps create a systematic understanding of the clockwork of the brain.
How do molecules turn into neurons? How do neurons turn into neural networks? How do neural networks fit into the global architecture of the brain?
And most importantly, how is all this related to a personโs internal experiences and behavior?
DURATION 1-6 HOURS
+ GAMES
The Brain as a system:
put ALL the pieces of the puzzle together, at last!
Offline (Europe, US) and online workshops
"A very engaging and inspiring lecturer, vivid cards for memorization, systematic delivery of information, and most
importantly for me โ the practical side of scientific research."
importantly for me โ the practical side of scientific research."
What Hosts Say About Working With Catia
"Since I work daily in a clinic using cognitive behaviour and schematherapy, what I was looking for in this course was information to improve my understanding of what happens with trauma and depression.
In particular, what changes can be expected as a result of specific therapeutic interventions. It is very rare that one seminar can provide answers to all questions. But dr.Vinnik succeeded on that.
I am grateful that on many topics, such as rumination, I became more confident in offering my clients certain strategies to decrease this process, and it was easier for me to work with clients, explaining the importance of these actions.
I think this course is unique because it provides information that can be used in the future for a deeper understanding of the processes as well as the psycho education of clients. If you are planning to level up your professional competence, to be aware of the basics of neuroscience in the context of psychotherapy, and to apply an effective scientifically proven approach in psychotherapy, then this course is for you".
In particular, what changes can be expected as a result of specific therapeutic interventions. It is very rare that one seminar can provide answers to all questions. But dr.Vinnik succeeded on that.
I am grateful that on many topics, such as rumination, I became more confident in offering my clients certain strategies to decrease this process, and it was easier for me to work with clients, explaining the importance of these actions.
I think this course is unique because it provides information that can be used in the future for a deeper understanding of the processes as well as the psycho education of clients. If you are planning to level up your professional competence, to be aware of the basics of neuroscience in the context of psychotherapy, and to apply an effective scientifically proven approach in psychotherapy, then this course is for you".
"...this knowledge is necessary for practitioners - psychologists, psychotherapists who daily analyze the state of those who come to them for help and who contribute operating in a higher professional level, which minimizes mistakes that are extremely undesirable in our work".
"The lecturer's interest in the questions and topics of discussion was especially valuable, and the discussion was vivid and deep..."
"The lecturer's interest in the questions and topics of discussion was especially valuable, and the discussion was vivid and deep..."
"Ekaterina loves what she does and that is reflected in her work. Her expertise in neuroscience and professional presentation skills make the perfect blend. Moreover, she is meticulous about scientific details and adapted her courses to meet our team needs and goals. Our team of mental health professionals is thankful for the great courses and care of our needs."
Ilona Krone
Lyudmila Polyanova, PhD
Emฤซls ลชdris
CBT therapist, schematherapist. Supervisor, Board Member of the Latvian Association of Schematherapy, Board Member of the Latvian Association of KBT Therapy, ex Board member of International Society of Schematherapy
Vice President of European Confederation of Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy, Founder of the "Center for Promoting the Development of Modern Psychoanalysis"
Psychotherapy, Founder of the "Center for Promoting the Development of Modern Psychoanalysis"
Program manager,
Pusaudลพu resursu centrs
Pusaudลพu resursu centrs
THERAPISTS SAY:
- A lot of opportunity to discuss and think. The level of professionalism and the organisation of the course! I feel the greatest respect and gratitude for it! Thank you, I learned - in many ways!
- An accessible presentation of neurobiological information combined with examples of psychotherapeutic practice. Visual materials. Availability to come back to the lectures.
- In addition to very important and interesting webinars, which provided a huge amount of information that I would like to revise, think over and apply in my work, I am very grateful for the materials provided - cards (!!!), articles. There were also very interesting comments and discussions on Facebook.
- Your very style in conducting the webinar and communicating, Catia, is very comfortable and pleasant. It was a great pleasure! I definitely hope to learn more from you in the future.
- This course was a a pure intellectual dessert!
- Wonderful visualizations and references to research studies
- Uncluttered slides, the style of the course lecturer, cards, homework (the need to post them and the ability to read other participants' points of views, all very interactive).
THERAPISTS SAY:
- A lot of opportunity to discuss and think. The level of professionalism and the organisation of the course! I feel the greatest respect and gratitude for it! Thank you, I learned - in many ways!
- An accessible presentation of neurobiological information combined with examples of psychotherapeutic practice. Visual materials. Availability to come back to the lectures.
- In addition to very important and interesting webinars, which provided a huge amount of information that I would like to revise, think over and apply in my work, I am very grateful for the materials provided - cards (!!!), articles. There were also very interesting comments and discussions on Facebook.
- Your very style in conducting the webinar and communicating, Ekaterina, is very comfortable and pleasant. It was a great pleasure! I definitely hope to learn more from you in the future.
- This course was an intellectual dessert!
- Wonderful visualizations and references to research studies
- Uncluttered slides, the style of the course lecturer, cards, homework (the need to post them and the ability to read other participants' points of views, all very interactive).
More...
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