Hands-On & Memoir Class: Cognitive Wellness Through Hands-On Exercises & Living Stories
Fall 2025
Fall 2025
Active BHQ Lab: Hands-On Strategies to Stay Smart is a dynamic class designed to promote brain health and enhance cognitive functioning through practical tools and engaging activities. This course combines a brain-healthy curriculum with hands-on experience using BrainHQ, a scientifically designed brain training program.
Weekly Email Updates: Receive a weekly email outlining topics and activities for the week.
BrainHQ License: All registered students in this class will receive a semester license for BrainHQ.
Weekly Zoom Classes: Engage with classmates through weekly Zoom sessions.
Self-Graded Quizzes: Most weeks feature a quiz to reinforce learning.
Recorded Lessons: Weekly lesson recordings are available on the class website for review.
Unique Weekly Lessons: Explore a variety of topics that support brain health and cognitive fitness, incorporating BrainHQ exercises.
Welcome! We are thrilled to begin this new semester and embark on an exciting journey together in this class. Let’s make it a semester of growth, learning, and success!
Watch this short video tutorial on how to log in to your BrainHQ account and get access to the exercises (2 minutes).
ylorberfeld@sdccd.edu
eperalta@sdccd.edu
Yael Lorberfeld has been teaching Brain Fitness since 2019. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology by the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She has been working since 1997 in Mental health as a Psychotherapist, School Psychologist and teaching topics related to Mental Health and Wellbeing, in Spanish and in English. She has a certificate on Family Leadership Coaching by The San Diego University for Integrative Studies. She is the cofounder of a nonprofit organization and an active volunteer in her community, working as an educator for children to develop social responsibility. She loves to teach and to study. She enjoys to read, to hear music and travel.
Erika Peralta
Erika Peralta is a dedicated public health advocate with a master’s degree from NU and a bachelor’s from UCSD, both in public health. As a Certified Health Education Specialist, Erika is committed to promoting wellness, preventing diseases, and addressing health disparities in underserved communities. Her passion lies in intergenerational collaboration and tackling infectious diseases, emphasizing inclusive, tailored solutions that resonate with diverse populations. As a first-generation college graduate, Erika brings a unique perspective and deep empathy to her work, fostering connections and prioritizing community well-being.
Join Erika in building healthier, more inclusive communities through education, empathy, and action.
Desiree Harguess
Early in Desiree's higher education journey, she studied anthropology and psychology. While earning her Master's degree in Kinesiology, she taught Fitness/Wellness classes at the University of Texas and also managed an oral history project for the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team. After moving to San Diego, she earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Her clinical education included training in geriatrics, physiology, neuroscience, and neuromuscular rehabilitation. Desiree has been practicing as a licensed physical therapist in San Diego since 2017, and most enjoys working to improve the lives of older adults. In Spring 2025, she began teaching Health Education for Older Adults in the Emeritus program and is excited to bring her diverse experiences to the Brain Fitness Program!
We have a website just for Emeritus students. You can access it by going to (sdcestudent55.com). On this site, you will find:
Information for Fall 2025: Complete schedule, registration tutorials, details, etc.
Student Guides (Guide to understanding online instruction, Guide to using Zoom, Guide to find your class on the sdcce.edu website)
Student resources (Job opportunities, list of resources from SDCCE available to students, classes from previous semesters)