Gail McDonald sits down with Dayna Haig-Conway, Registered BC Clinical Counsellor, Certified K-12 Educator and founder of CAMP Mental Health, to explore the real stories and lived experiences that shaped her work in resilience, motivation, and belonging.

Dayna shares her nonlinear path, from outdoor education to youth care to school counselling, and the earthquake in New Zealand that changed everything. She talks candidly about postpartum struggles, shame, asking for help, and how the thread tying it all together was one core human need: belonging.

Together, Gail and Dayna unpack:

• Why belonging and connection are the foundation of emotional resilience

• How childhood experiences, expectations, and family narratives shape our reactions

• The difference between fixing, helping, and supporting

• What teens, parents, and leaders really need in order to feel motivated

• How to have hard conversations without judgment

• Why modelling emotional intelligence matters more than lecturing

• What inspired the creation of the CAMP (Calm & Connect, Assess Needs, Meaning & Values, Propose Solutions) framework

• How CAMP is helping families, caregivers, educators, and organizations across Canada

• Dayna also shares real-life stories—from messy vans to smelly dogs to the “milk in the wrong spot” moment—that reveal how everyday life becomes an opportunity to practice clarity, compassion, and connection.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by expectations, struggled to ask for help, or wondered how to motivate someone you care about, this conversation offers grounding insight and gentle, practical guidance.

Dayna Haig-Conway, MA:

CAMP Mental Health

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