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Despite advances in medical care, the developing fetal brain is often placed in a mismatched NICU environment during a critical window of neurological maturation. Research shows that early trauma can significantly impact long-term development, increasing the risk of retained primitive reflexes, nervous system dysregulation, sensory processing challenges, and feeding delays.
New evidence underscores the importance of supporting the autonomic nervous system through a whole-body treatment approach. Interventions such as Body Work provide a powerful new perspective for evaluating and treating infants and young children across all care settings.
This course covers the prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal stages of development and examines the factors that influence neonatal function across the developmental trajectory. Topics include:
Designed for OTs, PTs, and SLPs, this course delivers hands-on techniques and evidence-based strategies to help clinicians support early development in their most vulnerable clients. The instructor will also provide family education strategies to help parents and caregivers reduce both physiological and physical stress in their infants and children, supporting better short-term outcomes and long-term development.
Course Requirements:
Kristen has been practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist for the last 22 years. She received her clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in 2002. She has worked in several different settings including inpatient hospital, outpatient clinic, school systems and NICU. She owns a pediatric clinic, Connect Pediatric Therapy, in Lincoln, NE that specializes in working with children with feeding delays. She enjoys mentoring other therapists and has lectured on various topics related to sensory processing, self regulation, primitive reflex integration and feeding. She is a Certified Primitive Reflex Clinical Specialist and is in the process of acquiring certification as a Functional Vision Rehabilitation Specialist. In her spare time she enjoys exploring outdoors and traveling with her husband, three children and black Labrador
Financial Disclosure: Kristen receives honoraria from CIAO for the presentation of her live courses and royalties for the sale of her online courses.
Non-Financial Disclosure: There are no non-financial relationships to disclose.
Mary Vanesko MTO, OTR/L, CIMI, CPY, REIKI-2 obtained her Bachelor's of the Arts in Psychology from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. She completed her Master's degree in the field of Occupational Therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia. Mary has since been certified as an infant massage instructor, pediatric and adult yoga instructor and is Reiki certified. She is currently obtaining her certification in Pre and Perinatal psychology education. Mary has been a licensed practitioner for over 17 years and has worked in various facilities and settings across the country, providing care to families and infants all the way through the end of life. Mary has extensive clinical training and experience as a NICU therapist and has practiced in several neonatal intensive care units, including level II, III, and IV NICUs over the last decade. Mary has served as the NICU expert subject matter to hospitals nation wide with an emphasis on program development and developmental, family center education. Mary continues to provide independent consultative private practices, Mary also provides course content development through evidence-based research and course instruction for International companies such as Philips Health Care solutions, International Loving Touch foundation as well as Summit Education Resources.
Mary is founder and operator of WELL-Nurtured Development, LLC, a Family Centered Wellness and OT Practice that offers comprehensive wellness and Occupational and Physical therapy services to families and children of all ages. Mary offers interdisciplinary one-on-one mentorship services for therapists/colleagues who are looking for professional development in the areas of infant and pediatric practice. Mary serves as board member of Autism Awareness NEPA. Financial Disclosure: Mary receives honoraria from CIAO for the presentation of her live courses and royalties for the sale of her online courses.
Non-Financial Disclosure: There are no non-financial relationships to disclose.
CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.
CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)
This is a new course, there are currently no reviews. Please check back. Thank you and have a great day, CIAO!
