In this case study, school refusal and social anxiety emerged for the client around age ten. We worked through his withdrawal, or retreating behavior rooted in his active fear paralysis, to build upon confidence and social engagement
Interoception is an awareness of one’s own internal sensations and signals. Movement supporting reflex integration can unlock an important awareness in therapy, and by actively participating in response, clients gain an understanding of their bodily connections and set important internal boundaries.
When someone explores a social context without safety or the properly integrated reflexes to cope, defensive reflexes take over and behaviors emerge. RMTi and the practice of rhythmic movement in therapy is a critical pathway to feeling safe and self-aware.
Preparing your child for a successful school year must encompass foundational connections in the brain, or reflexes, that shape our social, emotional and physical well-being and prepare him for life’s daily interactions. In a classroom setting, a child’s reflex integration is critical to their learning, and simple, targeted exercises can strengthen their ability to succeed this school year.
In this case study, I received some wonderful client feedback. For a child that was restless and struggling with sleep issues, we supported her parasympathetic nervous system through reflex integration work, allowing for meaningful change and thankfully, more peaceful slumber.
In this case study, a client reflects on ‘added benefits’ to our reflex integration work. Work that we put in to address behavioral challenges in the classroom unlocked meaningful connections between upper and lower body as well as her visual and vestibular system. This led to an improved and more coordinated athletic performance.
In this case study, the client’s immature limbic system, or emotional center, resulted in challenges assessing the safety of social interactions depicted on screen. Our reflex integration work helped establish more secure patterns in coping with fear. The client was able to build stronger neural networks through his safety and security system.
From the time I started teaching reflex integration workshops, the excitement and interest in understanding rhythmic movement patterns has exploded. Consistently I hear that what the RMTi community is sharing fills a crucial gap in therapeutic modalities, and our work offers a deeper understanding and empowerment in client work.
In this first-hand account, a client’s mother shares the story of her son’s paralyzing separation anxiety and school refusal. Through thoughtful and transformative reflex integration work at Thrive, he was able to overcome combative and often physical school refusal.
As older children confront end-of-semester exams and the challenge of juggling preparation for multiple tasks at once, we get a glimpse at their ability to focus, memorize and perform under pressure. By incorporating movement and reflex integration work into test prep, those executive functioning skills are strengthened.
