virtual autism treatment; sensory processing, ADHD

brainconnex@gmail.com

Clinically proven online movement & sensory programs to improve development, learning, sensory processing, behavior, and attention & focus in children.

Brain Connex Therapy online primitive reflex & brain integrations program was created for children with developmental & neurological delays, autism, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and more. Our foundational programs provide a combination of primitive reflex integration, neurodevelopmental movements, sensory stimulation, and brain hemispheric balance techniques to bring optimal results…all in the comfort of your home. We focus on accelerated outcomes and greater access to care for all families in need.

Brain Connex Therapy is designed to develop:

*Balance;

*Muscle tone, stamina, and controlled motor movements;

*Posture and control;

*Body and sensory awareness;

*Gross and fine motor movements;

*Self-control, persistence and organization;

*Language, rhythm and communication skills;

*Attention, listening and processing of sound;

*Self-esteem and confidence;

*Improved reading, writing, and learning ability.

Children who demonstrate delays and/or difficulties in the following areas can benefit from our program:

*Concentration/Attention/Memory

*Speech, Language

*Written Expression & Reading Comprehension

*Social Communication/skills

*Behavior

*Fine motor delays

*Gross motor delays

*Anxiety, Depression, Decreased self-worth

*Processing Speed

*Sensory Processing

“Our mission is to improve as many lives as possible while empowering clients with knowledge, and passionately learning from continued research in neurological movement to continuously improve treatment methods for optimal results.”

Results seen with Specific Conditions

Autism

ADHD

Sensory Processing

Dyslexia & Learning

Dyspraxia

Vision Issues

brainconnextherapy

Impulsivity is a lack of top down control. Natur

Impulsivity is a lack of top down control.

Naturally our brain stem (aka survival brain) develops and matures in a bottom-up manner until the "thinking brain" develops. Then our prefrontal cortex is able to have top-down control & regulation. This is why we normally see young children who are super active, super truthful and have emotional regulation issues. This is normal behavior, until the prefrontal cortex (PFC) develops and is able to inhibit certain behaviors, thoughts, actions, and we are able to have more control.

When an older children, usually with developmental delays or learning challenges, has not fully developed their PFC we see abnormal behaviors similar to what we see in young children....hyperactivity, impulsivity, poor emotional regulation, inability to filter their thoughts/actions, etc.

To help older children develop their PFC, we must start from the bottom-up, just as the brain naturally develops. We re-wire the brain with neuro-developmental movements (like primitive reflexes). We then continue to challenge the neurological system to create new neural pathways that are efficient, helping your child learn easier and struggle less.

Sample Brain Training. Simple activities you can d

Sample Brain Training. Simple activities you can do at home to develop the cerebellum. This “course” engages the vestibular system, visual, cognitive, and proprioceptive.

When our child's brain-body develops in a proper m

Repost from @drnicolebeurkens
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We 💯 % agree‼️

This is exactly why we COACH parents on how to help their kids, rather than do it for them. It EMPOWERS parents to understand what is really going on when their child who has challenges and how to help at home!

The old paradigm of sending your kid to other professionals because they are the "experts" is OVER!! You (the parent) are the expert of your child! You have the power to help! You can do this!! We believe in you 😉
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
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After almost 25 years in practice, I know this to be true: Parents hold the keys to unlocking progress for children with neurodevelopmental, mental health, and behavioral challenges. ⁣
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The primary focus of almost any intervention for a child should be on parents. Not because they cause the problems, but because they are the most powerful force for improving symptoms.⁣
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Parents are not to blame for their child’s challenges. And they have the most important relationship and opportunity to effect change in every part of their child’s development and function.⁣
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But what have we done collectively in the fields of mental health, medicine, and education? We’ve told parents:⁣
*We are the experts-not you.⁣
*We know what to do and you need to turn your kids over to us to do those things.⁣
*You don’t matter in this equation. Your needs, strengths, and challenges are not relevant.⁣
*Your role is to get your child into therapy and school. Make sure they take their meds.⁣
*There’s a waiting list for the things we’re telling you do to? Suck it up in the meantime, as there’s nothing else for you to do.⁣
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We know from decades of research and practice that there are many things that can be done without direct professional support.⁣
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Our focus should be on empowering parents to understand what’s happening with their kids; control the things they can; and be the incredible force for change that their kids need.⁣
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I’m not suggesting professional intervention isn’t beneficial. I’m suggesting that an educated, supported, and empowered parent can create far more positive change.⁣
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It’s time for our professional fields to refocus our efforts and start acting accordingly.⁣

To create the quickest changes in the brain, neuro

To create the quickest changes in the brain, neuroplasticity, engaging the vestibular system is highly effective. BUT I'm not talking about swinging. If you walk into the majority of OT clinics you'll see swings as the main focus of therapy. Not in our space.

Engaging the vestibular system, along with proprioception, coordination, and FOCUS is the best way to get changes fast. This goes for kids and for adults. A growing number of research studies state when we are laser focused is when we learn and retain information the best. Novelty, focused attention, and creating a new challenge also contributes to quick changes in the brain. And REPETITION. The more we do a task, including overcoming failure, the quicker myelination of new neural pathways happen.

For the children we see with neuro-developmental delays, we first engage the vestibular and proprioceptive systems via reflex integration of the core reflexes which include the tonic neck reflexes involved with movement of the head, and thus the inner ear. Plus proprioception via neuro-movements or strength training.

As the children grow in age and skill, we move on to more challenging postures using balance with head movements, coordination, and cognitive tasks that will engage every important area of the brain needed for efficient neuroplasticity.

Engaging the vestibular system alone (as many clinics do) is not enough to create neuroplasticity. All it does is either calm the nervous system (linear movement) or rev it up (rotational movement). There are better ways to calm the nervous system with vagal activation then swinging. Swinging is a great tool to use at home with kids but for therapy we should be looking to engage the neurological & sensory systems in a more strategic way for best possible gains.

#vestibularsystem #otmethods #swinging #vestibularengagement #melillomethod #autismtherapy #neuroplasticity #neuroplasticityforautism #focus #repetition #brainchanges

Primitive reflexes are the foundation of the nervo

Primitive reflexes are the foundation of the nervous system. They help to develop volitional motor movements and cognition -- learning, reading, math, organization, memory, etc.

But even MORE foundational than primitive reflexes is SYMMETRY. The symmetry between flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. We develop these symmetries with movements. And imbalance in symmetry can be seen in many infants and young children with developmental delays and is indicative of a brain imbalance. The asymmetry or imbalance will create one brain hemisphere being strong while the other is weak.

For optimal function and cognition, humans need to be balanced in an upright posture. Imbalances in our posture create negative forces in our bodies that develop pain over time and even affect things like our digestion, mood, and sleep. When you see an adult who has that "computer hunched" with inward turned shoulders you can almost be certain they have poor digestion, headaches/muscle aches, and possible depression. Our brain and organs rely on a correctly aligned body for the nervous system to work optimally.

Children's imbalances may not be as obvious but can be seen most often with crooked smiles, feet differences, tilted heads, and misaligned eyes. The asymmetry in children will develop troubles in learning, behavior, and sensory interpretation. We can remediate the asymmetry through primitive reflex integration paired with the #melillomethod brain balance techniques.

To give our children who struggle the best opportunity to improve we must look at all areas of development and how they work together.

There are many reasons a child can plateau from tr

There are many reasons a child can plateau from treatment, and below we will cover five of the most common reasons that cause your child to remain in a state of less-than-optimal function that maybe you haven’t thought of before…..
1️⃣ENVIRONMENT: You cannot heal your child in the same environment they got sick in. Environment encompasses many things including the outside environment surrounding us, the indoor environment, and the emotional environment in the household.

2️⃣NUTRITION: Your child does not get enough nutritious foods. Macro-nutrition from carbs, fats & protein + Micro-nutrition from fruits, vegetables, and nuts are imperative for antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

3️⃣WRONG THERAPY/FREQUENCY/DURATION: When our child is struggling and we go to traditional medical doctors we are referred to traditional medical treatments. Many of these treatments are considered “top-down” approaches. These approaches start from the symptoms (ie, bad behavior, can’t read, poor balance) and work on the symptoms.

4️⃣MOM: I know this may be a triggering topic and we, as moms and caregivers, definitely do not need more guilt about our child’s struggle. But this topic is a serious one that needs to be considered when your child is stuck no matter what treatment or special diet or guru you have followed.

5️⃣LACK OF CONNECTION: Children need to feel safe and connected in order to flourish. Connection to their family members or loved ones and a connection to nature. We have turned into an indoor society where we eat, sleep, play and work indoors. Rarely going outside beyond the weekends. Our kids who are addicted to screens don’t have connection to real people.

To read more about each topic & our recommendations head to our blog: http://www.brainconnextherapy.com/5-reasons-your-child-is-stuck/

Movement is the basis of neural development. Primi

Addressing your child’s diet should be the first

Addressing your child’s diet should be the first thing ☝️ you do when working to improve learning & behavior challenges.

Many of us have been told to eliminate gluten & dairy to reduce inflammation in the body and brain 🧠 But have you heard of FREE GLUTAMATE and what it can do to the body?

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that sends messages in our brain (in simple terms). Excess glutamate is found is almost all processed foods that our children eat — so majority of kids are having way too much! When a child has excess glutamate in their system we see hyperactivity, tics, non-stop “loops” of activity/thoughts/words/actions, and being spaced out. These are just some of the symptoms. Have you ever seen a child’s behavior completely change immediately after eating certain foods?! This is partially bc the excess glutamate has that excitatory factor.

Our brain functions best when we have a balance between GABA and GLUTAMATE. GABA is the calming, inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps maintain balance in a mature, developed child.

From a brain 🧠 perspective, the right hemisphere controls GABA while the left hemisphere controls GLUTAMATE. Which is why we see kids on the spectrum & with ADHD, who generally have a weaker right hemisphere, have more hyperactivity, inability to control their thoughts, actions and movements.

There are two ways to help:
1️⃣ Reduce Glutamate in the foods you eat. To do this accurately you first have to figure out the 100’s of names Glutamate (aka MSG) can go by on a label. Then read labels, cook Whole Foods at home, eliminate gluten & dairy and as many processed foods as possible. Learn more by following the REID diet @nourishedblessings
2️⃣ Balance the brain 🧠 with brain integration techniques. Learn simple movements and sensory stimulation to strengthen the weaker hemisphere at home with our Guided Primitive Reflex & Brain Integrations program 👉 link in bio.

#glutamate #freeglutamate #msg #brainbalance #brainintegration #reid #nutritionforautism #nutritionforadhd

What if you experienced everything in life through

What if you experienced everything in life through a magnifying glass 🔍?

You could see every detail of a flower 🌺, a persons face or the cars 🚗 as you drove by.

You could hear 👂 everything in your surroundings. The airplane overhead, air conditioning running, birds 🐦 chirping and wind 💨 blowing.

Living life in detail is how children with a right brain weakness (generally speaking autism & ADHD) see the world 🌍

The left hemisphere is better at details while the right hemisphere interprets the “big picture”. When we have an imbalance between the brain 🧠 hemispheres we see kids with strong skills on one side, and weaker skills on the other.

A balanced brain is important for everything from our cognition to our sensory systems, motor systems, immune function, and more. Tipping the control to one side too much results in altered behaviors and learning.

Remediation of a brain imbalance can be achieved by a practitioner specifically trained in the #melillomethod through a series of simple movements and sensory stimulation. For clients unable to find a practitioner nearby, we offer a GUIDED brain 🧠 integration program, next availability is August 1st. Sign up today to save your spot 👉 link in bio.

Summer ☀️ vacation 2021 🏖 This is our fam

Summer ☀️ vacation 2021 🏖

This is our families current situation 😁 We will but out of the office all of JULY, starting back with our GUIDED programs August 1st.

I’ll do my best to check email and messages every few days but please be patient, it may take a few days for a response. If you are a current client of course you take priority and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

Our self-guided reflex & brain 🧠 integrations program and our Professional Training are both OPEN right now.

Have a fun summer!! 👙

These are three of my favorite (must-do) developme

These are three of my favorite (must-do) developmental activities to enhance our child’s growth:

1️⃣Game Play on the STOMACH – performing activities on their stomach helps strengthen a child’s back as well as gives intense input to the vestibular system (an important component to sensory integration). Try rolling a ball back & forth while lying on the stomach; pretend you are airplanes by lifting both arms & legs.
2️⃣Crawling – Even after a child has grown past the stage of crawling it is a wonderful activity to improve coordination, increase strength, and improve brain development. Research has shown that children with developmental delays were more likely to not have crawled or had an awkward crawl (army crawl, one leg straight crawl). Make it fun by crawling to get items in the kitchen; have them give their toys a “horseback” ride on their back while crawling.
3️⃣Specific CORE strength activities – Core strengthening is super important for people of all ages, but children need it done differently. For the activity to be successful it must be fun. Children do not typically enjoy route exercises so make it a game. Lift into a bridge from a prone position and drive cars underneath; pull the child on a blanket around the room while seated, their core will kick in to stabilize them; do the wheelbarrow walk to retrieve items in a treasure hunt; hold yourself into a ball and pretend to be a roly-poly; or walk out over a ball into a plank.
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Incorporating these activities throughout the day on a regular basis will improve your child’s development and growth.

We continue to be sold a bill of goods that keeps

We continue to be sold a bill of goods that keeps us sick, sad and stressed. It's so constant and insidious we don’t even notice it.

Every day, a new medication being advertised, a new food product hits the grocery store, the next 21 day fix is released.

It’s impacting all of us. 1 in 3 in this country will have diabetes by 2050 and 1 in 3 children is obese. 1 in 4 will die of heart disease, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer. 1 in 32 diagnosed with autism. I saw a headline recently that read “the cancer industry is not looking for a cure; they’re too busy making money.” You could say that about a lot of the medical industry. It’s the sad truth and it’s time for of us to wake up to it.

And yet there are simple solutions:
Put your feet on the ground and move your body for 15 minutes --> chronic inflammation drops significantly, along with chronic pain. You sleep better and your mood improves.
15 minutes in the sunshine and your brain function improves, blood pressure drops, muscles get stronger, and you’re preventing things like heart disease and cancer.

Eat an apple, and over 10,000 cancer fighting, health-promoting phytonutrients, antioxidants and vitamins flood your bloodstream. Eat kale, and your get another 10,000. There’s absolutely nothing- no drug, vitamin or supplement- that can do for the human body what whole food, simple movement & sunshine can do!

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” -- Socrates

Healthy food won’t “sell” itself or be shown in ads on TV. And yet whole foods are more powerful and potent than any prescription a doctor can write. The benefits of nature and whole foods are cumulative and work over time, so start today.

Each day is a fresh start. Get your family involved and the kids helping with gardening, cooking, and an after-dinner walk. If you can't garden at home, consider an aeroponic system --> our favorite is the Tower Garden by Juice Plus. We use it at our home and recommend it to others. Grow organic at home @eatgreens_growyourown

#wecandobetter #plantprevention #plantpowerrx #boostyourimmunesystem #childhoodconditions #obesityepidemic #shred10 #healthylivingrevolution #groworganicathome

Do you feel empowered to help your child? Or like

Do you feel empowered to help your child?
Or like a servant to others opinions?

The traditional medical 🏥 model takes parents out of the equation. They tell parents the only way to help your child is by listening to the “experts” and letting others teach your child for 20-40 hours per week.

This time, especially the younger years, is ⭐️crucial ⭐️ time that YOU should be with your child, working with them, teaching them, playing with them, bonding with them...not a stranger. Our children are not meant to be trained. They can learn how to naturally develop skills with the right coaching.

At Brain 🧠 Connex Therapy we firmly believe parents should feel EMPOWERED to help improve their child’s life and lifestyle. We do this by coaching our parents to know what movements and activities are best to do at home to develop your child’s brain. We understand how changing the lifestyle (food, environment, sleep, outdoors, sleep) is essential to your child’s improvements. And how the caregivers mental health and attitude is just as important to healing 💕

Learning that your child is struggling can be a scary time. But please don’t trust professionals blindly. Do your research. Find programs and therapists and natural professionals that resonate with you and how you want to raise your child. You are the EXPERT of your child 👶

#parentsampowered #autismparenting #parentcoaching #saynotoaba #neurologicaltreatment #healingautism #nutritionforautism

Practice does not always make perfect 👌 . I rem

We are all in a super stressful spot trying to bal

We are all in a super stressful spot trying to balance schoolwork, housework, our own work, and being a happy 😃 family while staying at home 🏡....what crazy times!!
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Schooling a child with special needs adds another layer of stress to families. I’m personally giving myself grace on schoolwork and having my son do more PLAY activities that help the foundation of his brain 🧠 so that learning & academics will be easier for him in the future! ⭐️
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If you and your kiddos are butting heads on schoolwork it’s time to take a break! Add in playful movements that help the brain grow & make new connections... ⭐️ playing with balls - throwing, catching, rolling, using hands and feet
⭐️ floor play - belly crawl, bear crawl, scooter board, all 4’s crawl, log rolls
⭐️ outdoor play - climbing trees 🌲, digging holes, collecting pine cones & leaves 🍁
⭐️ vestibular play - swing, jump, twirl, roll
⭐️ balance play - use balance beams, single leg hops, pillow trails
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Play is super beneficial to brain 🧠 development because the child has intrinsic motivation during play... meaning they want to play and are happy during it! When kids are happy, curious, and enjoying themselves they make the most growth.
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So give yourself a break and set up play stations for your child to do in between schoolwork. You’ll get a break from the whining and they’ll be building strong 💪 neural connections to help them learn even better!!
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#play #outdoorplay #freeplay #brainconnections #quarantineschool #homeschool #homeschoolspecialneeds

The cortical brain literally grows out of the moto

The cortical brain literally grows out of the motor system as we develop in infancy.
When we think of the motor system, many simply think of muscles that help us run and jump. But our muscles do so much more.
* Muscles help us speak -- we need good oral-motor function to talk, articulate, and speak.
* Muscles help us understand non-verbal communication. If our muscles don't know how to frown, furrow the brow, wink, etc then we won't understand the same movements on someone elses face.
* Muslces help us learn. When we move our body we think better. We work through problems. Our brain needs movement to process information.

The majority of children struggling with behaviors and learning challenges (although not all) also have low muscle tone, poor coordination, and were delayed in their developmental milestones.

Improving motor function will improve cognitive function.

#cognition #movement #movetolearn #muslcememory #braindevelopment #socialengagement

My personal SSP testimonial. Calm your child’s

My personal SSP testimonial.
Calm your child’s nervous system and improve their brain connections.

#truestory Our bodies need to have the right balan

#truestory
Our bodies need to have the right balance between parasympatehtic and sympatheitc nervous system in order to engage, be social, have appropriate digestion, and sleep well.

Many kids on the spectrum suffer from too my sympathetic nervous system actviation. This occurs when the brainstem is in control of the body, rather than the cortical brain.

The best ways to improve balance between our PNS & SNS is by integrating primitive reflexes and balancing brain hemispheres. We also recommend starting with a passive pathway via a vagal regulation listening program that helps to stimluate the vagus nerve which controls digestion, heart rate, and other internal responses.

DM or email 📧 to get started today!

#restanddigest #parasympathetic #fightorflight #sympathetictone #safeandsound #socialengagement

“Brain Connex therapy has been absolutely life c

“Brain Connex therapy has been absolutely life changing for my son! Integrating reflexes, core strength exercises and stimulation of the weaker hemisphere massively helped with regulating emotions, stopped bed wetting and his academic performance is incredible now. He is a completely different child. Kara is amazing and her support is fantastic. 🙏🙏🙏”

#testimonialthursday #reflexintegration #hemisphericbalance #virtualcoaching #occupationaltherapy

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