Health Continued Education
Researcher and Consultant

I’m Dr. Jennifer Van Schoick—a research psychologist, educator, speaker, and founder of BrainWorks. My interest in behavioral neuroscience and physiological psychology began long before it became my profession. When I was fifteen, I had my bags packed and began moving between friends’ couches, relatives’ homes, and temporary places to stay. By seventeen, I had lived in several more homes. I also carried large gaps in my childhood memory. Friends sometimes laughed about how little I remembered. What none of us understood then was how a nervous system adapts when life feels unpredictable for a long time. My family, like many families, was affected by mental illness, addiction, absence, fear, and deeply held beliefs that often, caused harm. I share that without blame. There has also been love, growth, forgiveness, and healing. Those early experiences left me with questions that shaped my life: What does chronic stress do to the brain and body? Why do familiar patterns follow us into adult relationships? And once we recognize those patterns, how can we begin to change them? Do we have freewill or are we destined to struggle? Those questions became even more personal as I encountered unhealthy relationships in adulthood, including intimate partner violence and the effects of addiction. Over time, I learned
to look beyond the question, “Why did this happen to me?” and ask, “What had my nervous system learned to see as familiar?” That shift did not excuse anyone’s behavior. It gave me a way to understand my own patterns, rebuild trust in myself, and make different choices. Science gave me language for experiences I had struggled to explain. It also gave me hope. Our histories influence us, but it does not have to define every choice that follows. I began my career in the environmental field, where I became interested in how our surroundings—including toxic exposures, stress, and social environments—affect health and behavior. I later earned a Ph.D. in Health Psychology and studied the connections between the brain, body, behavior, and environment. My work has included research on sleep, stress, wellness, and intimate partner violence, along with teaching Physiological Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Research Methodology. Today, I bring my personal and professional experience together through BrainWorks. I translate research into practical psychoeducation that helps people understand patterns, regulate stress, strengthen relationships, and take realistic steps toward better health and well-being. I offer anger-management education, continuing education and professional training, workshops, speaking, and consultation for businesses and community groups. For organizations, I focus on healthier workplace relationships, communication, employee well-being, and the human factors that influence engagement and productivity. My work is educational and supportive. It is not therapy, and it is not built on judgment. I believe people are more likely to change when they understand what is happening in the brain and body and can see a clear path forward. I offer live virtual programs, but I especially value in-person learning. Human connection matters. When people can participate, reflect, ask questions, and practice ideas together, information becomes more meaningful — and meaningful experiences are more likely to be remembered and used. Whether you are here as an individual, a professional, or an organization, my goal is simple: to help make the science of human behavior understandable, relatable, and useful in everyday life.