Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year, where daylight hours are fleeting and we become even more aware of light’s important role in regulating our circadian ‘clock’. Our circadian rhythms are not only responsible for guiding our sleep-wake cycle but also impact our body’s immune system, hormonal balance, cellular repair and overall cognition.
We’re pleased to introduce Keri Teague, MA, OTR/L at Thrive. A teacher, a parent, and newly, as an added resource working with clients at Thrive, Keri has been able to help her clients unlock the tools to understand and manage behavioral outcomes proactively. Her interest in the connections between sensory integration work and primitive reflexes led her to Thrive.
According to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Neurology & Experimental Neuroscience, students may benefit significantly by the incorporation of rhythmic movements in a classroom setting. By incorporating reflex integration work into a young student’s week, their learning will not only improve but just may soar.
In this case study, a client was diagnosed with a form of convergent eye deviation called accommodative esotropia. By focusing on crossing movements during his sessions, he was able to create the foundation for those fine motor movements that rehearse and integrate reflexes supporting his binocular vision and vestibular system.
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.
