What is Insula Collective?
Welcome to Insula Collective, born from the dual inspiration of Moses Sumney’s Græ and the insula, the part of the brain that bridges emotion, empathy, and self-awareness. What began as a reflection on isolation has grown into a sanctuary dedicated to combating the loneliness epidemic through connection and care.
Islands are self-sufficient and resilient on their own accord, but they thrive when interconnected. I often feel the same about people.
Rooted in service to BIPOC communities and proud allies of the queer community, Insula Collective has provided spaces where vulnerability, authenticity, and belonging are honored as essential to well-being. As we evolve, we look forward to extending our peer counseling and support offerings to all who seek community and healing.
Meet the Team
Briana Boyd
Founder and Certified Peer Support Specialist
With over 13 years of experience in the music industry, I came to understand how burnout, emotional fatigue, and life transitions can deeply affect our sense of well-being—especially in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. That realization led me to expand into mental health work, with a focus on providing accessible and culturally responsive support to those often left out of traditional systems of care.
I am a certified peer support specialist in both California and New York, trained to offer non-clinical support grounded in empathy, lived experience, and mutual understanding. Peer support is built on the idea that healing happens in connection—with others who have walked a similar path. In every group I facilitate, I draw from my personal journey to foster community, promote emotional resilience, and create space for honest, affirming dialogue.
In April 2024, I founded Insula Collective, an independently run and fully self-funded mental health initiative offering sliding-scale support groups for the BIPOC community. Since its launch, I have personally facilitated all 50+ groups, covering themes such as life transitions, loneliness, identity, and the impact of current events on mental health. These groups are rooted in values of safety, accessibility, and collective care.
My work as a peer support specialist has been both transformative and clarifying—it ultimately inspired me to pursue a deeper path of service. I am currently a graduate student training to become a licensed therapist, committed to continuing this work through a clinical lens while staying grounded in the community-centered values that first brought me here.
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist [California]- California Mental Health Services Authority (CALMHSA) - Issued 3/5/2024
Integrative Wellness Pop-Up Barber Shop - The Copeland Center -Issued 7/30/2024
QPR Gatekeeper Certificate - TWLOHA via QPR Institute (Question, Persuade, Refer - Suicide Prevention Training) - Issued 10/14/2024
Youth Mental First Aid - National Council for Mental Wellbeing via NAMI Urban LA - Issued March 2025
Certified Peer Support Specialist-P [New York]- New York Peer Support Specialist Certification Board - To Issue June 2025
