Entries by Elizabeth Hickman

 Support Where You Need It Most

At Thrive, I approach therapy as a team effort. With my youngest cases, caretakers play an equally important role in extending therapeutic care beyond our offices. My goal is to support caretakers at home, so they are able to confidently maintain the RMTi program during the time we’re not in office. Whether it’s days between our sessions, weeks or months, I’m invested in my client’s success. That means finding a routine that works simply and effectively in everyday life.

System Overload

A viral infection or an unbalanced gut biome compounds the load on the body’s critical immune function. During the busy end-of-year season, the strain on the system due to changes in schedules and diet redirects energy to respond to threatening triggers through inflammation. That compounding pressure exposes our weakest link, and challenges associated with active reflexes often manifest during times of illness.

Professional Impact- Joy Lantz

After working as a registered dental hygienist for nearly twenty years, Joy Lantz embraced the field of oral myofunctional therapy in 2016 and has been operating her own practice for the past year. As the current IAOM President, she is a true collaborator who has built a network of professionals that prioritize lifting patients up and supporting their developmental goals. Her interest in the value of muscle movement and body work led Joy to discover Thrive Therapy and its instrumental value in supporting her patients and her own family’s needs.

Listening to Himself

In this case study, our client is a young boy struggling with sensory processing and emotional regulation. With a focus on integrating his defensive reflexes, he has been able to brave loud auditory environments and access calm without acting out in controlled environments like his classroom.

Professional Impact – Gerri Huffman

As a dental hygienist for over 50 years, Gerri Huffman is a passionate wholistically minded professional, who broadened her knowledge with extensive research in the field of airway dentistry. As part of the team at Beyond Smiles, her work delivering one of the most extensive oral, facial and cranial assessment programs in the Chicagoland area was enhanced by her discovering of RMTi.

Navigating Routine Changes

A major shift in daily routines, like the start of the school year, can be challenging for students. Transitions are best approached with an open, honest and collaborative approach to quell anxiety and support confidence in change. For those with immature reflexes, resetting routines can feel threatening but involving children in planning and setting expectations helps them not only feel safe but gives them agency in navigating change.

Preparing for Take Off

For many young people today, the path to independence is filled with fear, doubt and anxiety. Supporting our young adults means acknowledging the mix of internal and external factors that contribute to their personal growth, and building confidence in their executive functioning skills. It is our neurological connections that help young adults navigate and engage with each new milestone. By creating a strong sense of self and supporting emotional resilience, we are helping our young adults to feel safe when they falter and find strength in the lessons they learn.

Professional Spotlight- Summer Squillacioti

As an OT practicing eight years in the field, Summer has connected with a broad professional network to build her Orlando-based practice. After meeting Elizabeth and attending a workshop on the road, Summer sought opportunities to share RMTi with her own knowledgeable and passionate team, and apply the principles to her work with even the youngest of clients.

Finding Calm and Clarity

In this case study, our client battled several compounding stressors and a condition known as POTS that sent her fear paralysis into overdrive. Through rhythmic movement therapy, she was able to regain control over her body and mind and in the process, found inspiration for a new career path.