Nervous System Regulation: A Whole Body Approach to Interventions for the Developing Brain

Course overview

Despite the advances in technology, the developing fetal brain is placed in a "mismatched" NICU environment during a critical period of maturation. Research indicates that children who experience trauma early in life are at higher risk for retained primitive reflexes, nervous system dysregulation, difficulties with sensory processing and feeding delays. New evidence shows the importance of supporting the autonomic nervous system through a "whole body" treatment approach. Therapeutic interventions such as "Body Work" offers a new perspective on evaluation and treatment across all settings. This course will cover prenatal, perinatal and postnatal care. It also discusses factors that influence the function of neonates throughout the trajectory of their development including maternal/infant health, whole body regulation, and parent-child relationships. The approach taught in this course provides OT/PT/SLPs successful techniques for nervous system regulation, reflex integration, functional feeding and overall motor development. Considering the short term and long-term effects of trauma, the instructor will provide strategies for educating parents/caregivers on strategies to mitigate their infant/child's physiological and physical stress.