PERTH · FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE
Primitive reflex integration for children in Perth
Where others see labels, I see the opportunity to improve balance and communication between the brain and the body.
Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner · Brain Gym® Consultant · Qualified primary school teacher · Mum of three
Does this sound familiar?
Frustrated with an education system and IEPs that don’t equate to progress?
Tired of waiting for referrals and appointments, along with the cost?
Is your child struggling with learning, focus, coordination or big feelings?
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR
Retained reflexes can look like
W sitting · Toe walking · Poor balance · Messy handwriting · Bedwetting after toilet training · Motion sickness · Trouble focusing · Sensory sensitivity · Low muscle tone · Reading and maths struggles
HOW IT WORKS
Simple, playful, and built around your child
1. Free phone chat
Free
We talk through what you are noticing and whether I can help.
2. Initial assessment
$150
60 to 90 minutes. Brain and body organisation, side dominance and a check of which reflexes need integrating.
3. Weekly sessions
$100
About 45 to 60 minutes of movement and play, with “home play” in between. Most families see changes in 5 or 6 weeks.
THE BASICS
What are primitive reflexes?
Primitive reflexes are automatic movements a baby is born with. They help with survival and development in the first months of life and usually integrate by 4 to 6 months as the brain matures. Under stress that sequence can be interrupted and a reflex can be “retained”, which can affect movement, learning and behaviour later on. Integration exercises help the brain finish that job.
Possible reasons include birth method (for example caesarean compared with vaginal delivery), trauma, illness, exposure to toxins, anaesthetics and medications. None of these automatically causes a retained reflex, but they are possible contributors.
The reflexes I see most often
- Moro reflex: the startle reflex.
- ATNR: turning the head moves the arm on that side.
- STNR: links the head with the upper and lower body.
- Spinal galant reflex: triggered by touch along the lower back.
- Palmar reflex: the grasp reflex.
- TLR: linked to balance and muscle tone.
In my work with children, I look beyond these symptoms to understand the underlying developmental skills, postural stability, motor planning, coordination and the possible influence of retained primitive reflexes that may be contributing to these challenges.
HOME PLAY
Exercises to keep going at home
Weekly sessions are movement and play, with “home play” in between to strengthen the new connections. Positive results are usually seen after 5 or 6 weeks, and faster when the exercises are practised at home. Some of the exercises we practise together in my sessions are easy to keep going at home:
- Cross crawl, or lizard crawl
- Lazy 8 eye exercises
- Calming, rhythmic movements at bedtime
For more ideas, try my animal walks for kids, movement and brain breaks, Brain Gym® exercises to help kids calm down and crossing the midline activities.
“I have noticed Skye is trying new things more, even when its something she thought she couldn’t do, she is a giving it a go.”
WHAT PARENTS SAY
Rated 5.0 by the families I work with
★★★★★ 5.0 from 3 Google reviews
“We visited Michele for our 4yo little girl who struggled to stay on task, sit still, lacked coordination and struggled with separation. … By week 3 we had visitors comment on the changes to our household. By week 12 we had a completely different little girl, shes relaxed. She still has her beautiful spark, amazing imagination and sense of humour, life is just slower now.”
SARAH ANDERSON · GOOGLE
“From the very first session, she created such a calm, supportive, and understanding space … The strategies and tools we’ve learned have made a real impact on his ability to regulate, connect, and thrive both at home and school.”
NATASHA WEIR · GOOGLE
“Michele identified some unintegrated reflexes and gave us some simple, easy to do at home exercises … From the first session we saw less reactivity; and from consistently doing the exercises at home my daughter can now remain calm in situations that would previously have caused a lot of distress.”
ANALISE MONGAN · GOOGLE
PARENT MESSAGES
What parents have noticed
A few messages parents have sent me.
Before
Toileting, having lots of accidents
After, in a parent’s words
“I think we have finally cracked the toilet training … He can now be put in undies when we are at home and goes to use the potty by himself for wees and poos … Thanks for all your help, I’m sure it sped the process up!”
A parent, in a message to Michele
Before
Learning, concentration at school and coordination
After, in a parent’s words
“… he’s skipped 5 reading levels this term and is looking at a high B or A for English. I really feel like what you’re working on is making a huge difference.”
A parent, in a message to Michele
Before
Social groups, confidence and motivation to join sports
After, in a parent’s words
“Honestly, what he has been doing with you in Brain Gym is incredible!!! He seems really confident today. … thank you for offering such an amazing course.”
“The work you did with him was amazing. Honestly he is so confident and content these days. He is playing soccer this year which is so good to see.”
A parent, in a message to Michele
Before
Focusing on activities and emotional regulation
After, in a parent’s words
“… my cousin is in town, we last seen him in September, he cannot believe how calm and focused [she] has become. … we went Christmas shopping and returned home to wrap, write name cards and put the gifts under the tree. [She] was able to complete the whole task which took about 2 hours!!!”
A parent, in a message to Michele
Working with me
For children
Primitive reflex integration and Brain Gym®, from babies to school age. Face to face in Perth or online.
NDIS and additional needs
I work with children with Dyspraxia and Down syndrome, and I welcome self-managed NDIS clients.
MEET MICHELE
Helping children reach their full potential through movement and play
I’m a mum of three, a qualified primary school teacher, a Primitive Reflex Integration Practitioner, and I have over 200 hours of Brain Gym® training. I studied Sports Science and Nutrition at Edith Cowan University.
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
- RMTi (Rhythmic Movement Training international) Level 1 and 2
- Optimal Brain Organisation and Touch for Health 1 & 2 – part of my Brain Gym® training
- Bachelor of Science – Sports Science
- Graduate Diploma of Education Primary
QUESTIONS
Common questions
At what age should primitive reflexes be integrated?
As the brain matures, these reflexes are meant to integrate in sequence, most of them by around 4 to 6 months, making way for the more mature, controlled movements we use for the rest of our lives.
What ages do you work with?
Babies from birth (preventative exercises up to 2.5 years) and children from 2.5 to 15 years. Parents usually come to me once their child has started full-time school, as that is when the struggles become more apparent, but before 5 is ideal because it is more preventative and prepares children for school.
What happens in a primitive reflex assessment?
In the initial appointment, which takes 60 to 90 minutes, I assess brain and body organisation, side dominance and which primitive reflexes need further integration. From there we build an individual plan together.
What happens in the first session?
Our first session is all about getting to know your child, discovering their strengths and interests, and understanding your family’s goals. I want your child to feel comfortable, confident and supported as we begin our journey together.
Through gentle, age-appropriate activities, I observe your child’s movement patterns, coordination and primitive reflexes. I also look at their dominant hand, foot and eye to better understand how their brain and body work together to support movement, coordination and learning.
This initial session helps me build a clearer picture of your child’s individual needs and develop a personalised approach to support their development and help them reach their potential.
How long before we see a difference?
Positive results are usually seen after 5 or 6 weeks. Practising the exercises at home between sessions helps the new pathways strengthen faster.
Do you see children face to face or online?
Both. I offer face to face appointments in my home office in Perth, which creates a safe and comfortable environment, and online appointments.
What are the signs my child’s nervous system is overwhelmed?
Some signs a parent might notice are struggling with emotions, finding it hard to concentrate, seeking constant movement, being sensitive to their surroundings, struggling with coordination, having difficulty with transitions, and becoming withdrawn or shutting down. I explain each one in Calming Your Child’s Nervous System.
Is there research behind it?
Yes. Primitive reflex integration exercises are researched for their effect on childhood motor and neurological patterns. See the research.
Not sure where to start?
Book a free phone chat and we’ll work out the next step together.