Team Spotlight: Amber Davey

We sat down with Amber Davey, LoveYourBrain’s Retreat Manager, to learn a little more about the new LoveYourBrain Mindset, and what she’s most inspired by.

How long have you been with LoveYourBrain, and in what capacities?

My path to LYB began through a college friend who had attended a LYB Retreat in Vermont as a participant. My friend shared how impactful her experience was and encouraged me to get connected to the organization.

In the fall of 2017 I became the Development Intern, then transitioned into a full time role in 2018, supporting both Development and the Retreat program. I quickly recognized my passion for our Retreat program and my desire to grow that program.

I transitioned into my current role as Retreat Manager overseeing the growth, development, and expansion of our Retreat program nationwide. Since COVID, I’ve been involved in the development of the LYB Mindset. I’m particularly excited that I was able to co-design and implement our Mindset Facilitation Training program - through it I’ve been able to uplift and support our whole community, including our yoga partner teachers, Retreat alum, and Ambassadors. Together, we’re building a wide-reaching program that has the capacity and potential to increase our geographic reach and provide more resources to those affected by TBI. 

2020 has had a significant impact on the LoveYourBrain Retreat program. How have you adapted?

We had three brand new retreat programs slated to run in the Spring of 2020 (including our first ever Retreat in Colorado). When COVID cancelled these programs, along with all of our Yoga series programs for the spring, we knew we had an opportunity to innovate and serve our community. The beauty of working for LoveYourBrain is the strength of our team. The collaboration between our Yoga program and Retreat program teams created the foundation for the Mindset program. This allowed us to give our program participants (including all those who had planned to attend our three spring Retreats) a virtual offering. The Mindset program fosters connection, builds community, and hones in on resilience. Weekly virtual sessions with small groups allows folks to connect from all over the globe. It is truly remarkable to be a part of! Being immersed in our community through our programs is the highlight of my career at LoveYourBrain. The Mindset offers a similar community connection that is at the heart of what I’ve always loved about the Retreats. 

What are some similarities between the Retreat program and the Mindset program? In your experience, how do these programs complement each other?

The Mindset, Yoga program, and all of our Retreats grow from the same approach: building community, and fostering resilience. The Mindset might look a little different in its virtual delivery, but the core of what it offers is still the same as any other program at LoveYourBrain. It’s still our goal to offer space for connection, where people can be seen, heard, and valued, recognizing the resilience that our program participants already have. The Mindset offers the same tools - like mindfulness and yoga - that our community would find within the Yoga or Retreat program. At our Retreats, we intentionally design spaces to create opportunities for discussion, shared experience, and collaboration. In the Mindset program, this too happens, for either 45 minutes or an hour and 15 including a live yoga class. What’s exciting about the way the Mindset is delivered, though, is that people can access it from wherever they are! This enables us to reach people from around the globe.

What’s one thing the LoveYourBrain community would be surprised to learn about you?

Great question… What comes to mind first is that I’m an introverted extrovert. Many folks who have been to a Retreat with me have experienced that I often am speaking in front of the full group: sharing schedules, insights, leading art, among many other things… and in fact I prefer a great 1:1 conversation over large groups any day.