Woodinville Workshop with Dr Janet Oliver

My good friend and mentor Janet Oliver from Plan for Learning will be coming to the Seattle area to teach several very interesting reflex workshops in September 2021. If you are a therapist working with children, such as a speech, vision, physical or occupational therapist, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the impact of facial and gravity reflexes.

Facial & Gravity Reflex Workshops

Location: Children’s Therapy of Woodinville

Date: Free Information Session Friday Sept 24th

Facial Reflex Workshop Saturday Sept 25th

Gravity Reflex Workshop Sunday Sept 26th

Cost for Workshop:

Early Registration (before September 7th) $150 for each class day

Standard Registration $200 for each class day

Seniors over 65 $80 for each class day

Register At: Plan For Learning or Call 952-920-1502

Class size is a maximum of 50 people and best practice Covid-19 protocols will be in place

Session Details:

Friday 24th: Free Information Program on Reflex Therapy

On Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 with some time to mingle with Dr Oliver and other attendees after the session

For providers or parents to learn more about the practice of reflex therapy and the different struggles that can be treated. This is a high level discussion around the techniques that will be detailed in the following day’s workshops (see below).

Saturday 25th: Facial Reflexes: Improve Eating, Speaking, Balance, and Social Expression Developmentally

On Saturday from 9:00 - 4:30, with an hour break for lunch and two 15min breaks during the day.

Find the fascinating ways atypical Facial Reflexes can interfere with everyday functioning: eating, sleeping, breathing, swallowing, balance, visual functioning, auditory issues, social expression, and many others. Trauma before, during, and after birth can interfere with normal sensory-motor function throughout the body. Accidents, surgeries, and age can also suddenly change functions. Addressing primary reflexes of the face is one way to jump start sensory-motor issues and functioning.

Primary reflexes discussed and addressed in the Facial Reflex course include:

Blink reflex (Lifelong)

•  Rooting Reflex

•  Gag Reflex (Lifelong)

•  Snout Reflex

• Swallow Reflex (Lifelong)

•  Biting/Chewing Reflex

•  Lick Reflex

•  Smile Reflex (Lifelong)

•  Suck Reflex

•  Related eye and ear reflexes

• Being able to identify and check for at least eight facial reflexes

Learn the sensory triggers and drivers for eight facial reflexes

Understand the developmental issues associated with hyper or hypoactive facial reflexes

Practice activities to initiate, inhibit and integrate reflex patterns

Techniques to work with cranial nerves of the face and throat issues of:

• Eating

• teeth brushing

• swallowing

• speech

• drooling

• dry mouth

• biting

• licking

• TMJ

On Saturday from 3:00 - 4:30 participate in a Clinical Experience with Janet Oliver

• Learn to review goals and history to improve program design

• Observe testing of facial reflexes, checks on cranial nerves of the face

• Observe interaction of clients, caretakers, and clinician

• Observe write up of measurements, notes and activity recommendations

Sunday 26th: The Gravity Sense: Reflexes for Balance, Tone and Stability

On Sunday from 9:00 - 4:30, with an hour break for lunch and two 15min breaks during the day.

During the course learn to understand how referral concerns, intake histories, reflex checks and observations can help identify and measure gravity sense issues. Begin to view the gravity sense as a part of interactive and interdependent functioning of sensory-motor system, which models individual differences. Learn how to recognize subtle signs of stress around issues with the gravity sense and apply a development model with gentle encouragement to gain sustainable improvement.

Learn to observe and check a number of primary and postural reflexes to understand individual gravity and stability issues. Become familiar with activities that may be used with groups or one-on-one to enhance the gravity sense and motor responses at any age and begin seeing gravity as the first sense connected for all others.

 Issues that are affected by issues with the gravity sense:

• Movement

• Muscle tone

• Balance

• Stability

• Attention

• Eye contact

• Handwriting

• Posture

• Body awareness