DOPAMINE: FRIEND OR FOE

Dopamine is often described as the brain’s “pleasure chemical”, but the real story is far more fascinating.

Join us for Dopamine: Friend or Foe?, an engaging webinar exploring what dopamine actually does in the brain and how it influences motivation, reward, learning, attention and behaviour. We’ll move beyond popular “dopamine” myths to unpack the science behind this important neurotransmitter and its connection to stress, anxiety and emotional wellbeing. We’ll explore how chronic stress, anxiety, disrupted sleep, technology use and reward-seeking behaviours can influence the brain’s motivation and reward systems and how these systems can, in turn, shape the way we feel, think and behave. Most importantly, the session will translate current neuroscience into practical, evidence-informed strategies that can help you better understand stress and anxiety, support healthy brain function and develop more balanced reward-driven habits.

What we’ll explore

• What Is Dopamine?
• Dopamine and the Reward System
• Dopamine, Stress and Anxiety
• The Stress–Reward Cycle
• Supporting Healthy Brain Function

By the end of the webinar, you will be able to:

• Explain the basic role of dopamine in the brain and nervous system.
• Understand how dopamine influences motivation, reward and behaviour.
• Describe the relationship between stress, anxiety and the brain’s reward systems.
• Recognise how chronic stress may affect motivation, concentration, mood and reward sensitivity.
• Understand how sleep, exercise, nutrition and everyday habits support healthy brain function.
• Identify practical strategies for managing stress and anxiety and promoting healthier reward patterns.
• Separate popular “dopamine” claims from what current neuroscience actually tells us.

Dopamine isn’t inherently your friend or your foe.

It is part of a complex network that helps us learn, adapt, pursue goals and respond to our environment. By understanding how dopamine interacts with stress, anxiety and everyday behaviours, we can make more informed choices about our habits, coping strategies and overall wellbeing. 

Join us on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, to discover what dopamine is really doing and how understanding your brain can help you work with it, rather than against it.

SPEAKER

Jogini Packery is the Head of Campus at the Johannesburg campus of the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP) and a registered Counselling Psychologist with over a decade of experience in higher education, community mental health, leadership, and professional training. She is passionate about creating psychologically safe, inclusive, and engaging learning, teaching, and working environments where students and staff can thrive. Her professional interests include identity development, leadership, career development, psychological wellbeing, and the development of young people as socially conscious leaders. She is particularly passionate about mentoring student leadership teams, supporting emerging professionals, and helping individuals discover purpose and meaning throughout their personal and professional journeys.

Denisha September is a Registered Counsellor, researcher and academic with a passion for all things Psychology, people and the stories that shape us. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social and Psychological Research from Wits University and specialises in trauma and bereavement counselling. When she’s not exploring the fascinating world of human behaviour, she’s working in higher education and finding new ways to make psychological conversations more relatable, meaningful and accessible.

Register now to secure your seat.