Prenatal and Postnatal Support
The process of preparing for conception, experiencing pregnancy, birth and the postnatal time creates major changes in your physical body and psyche. Amongst it all there can be a wide range of experiences -excitement, anxiety, sleep deprivation, deep love, pain, chaos etc.
I can support your physical wellbeing as you prepare for conception, birth and your recovery after with pelvic floor rehabilitation, manual therapy for spinal and pelvic alignment, visceral mobilization and cranial sacral therapy. I will also hold space and invite you into a more embodied relationship with your pelvic floor, root chakra and all aspects of your being as you embark on this journey to motherhood.
Infants and young children - it's a family affair
Julie works with infants and young children offering comfort and ease to the family unit during integrative and inclusive treatments.
Julie honours the many infants she has worked with as her greatest teachers. They have helped her refine her nonverbal gifts of energetic and subtle touch, tracking and presence. She has also learnt to create an energetic container that includes the whole family and work with what arises for the mother, father, partners or caregivers attending the session. Babies do not yet have a fully differentiated sense of self some say up to 18 months so Julie works with the baby being held by one of the parents or primary caregivers. The Satir model and other somatic trainings have become part of this therapeutic container. She uses dialogue and invites the whole family to acknowledge what they are experiencing in the moment on all levels of their being; including highlighting each family members resources.
The listening touch of cranial sacral therapy, visceral mobilization, fascial release and gentle spinal mobilizations can help infants and young children release the restrictions and impacts and traumas in utero, birth and early developmental. Julie’s comprehensive approach can help with latch problems, sleep issues, digestive upset, oral ties and imbalances or asymmetry in development. Julie works closely with lactation consultants, public health nurses, paediatricians, and dentists. She has collaborated closely with Dr Hilary Pada at Collaborative Care Research over the last few years.
Julie worked full time in paediatrics at SunnyHill Rehabilitation Centre early in her career. This gave her a solid foundation in normal childhood development, primitive reflexes and capacity to assess and treat neurological conditions. She primarily worked on the Acquired Brain Injury program and general rehabilitation, where she saw children with spinal cord injuries and delayed development. The multidisciplinary teams she worked with were exceptional; this centre worked with families and children from all over the province and consulted to other professionals in rural communities.
Julie began her private practice in women’s health and pelvic pain in 1998 and as she was seeing many women post partum with birth trauma they would have their babies with them. Often it seemed that the babies themselves were waving to say ‘I was there too”. As serendipity would have it a pamphlet arrived at her clinic, anonymously, for an in depth Infant Body Psychotherapy training in Portland with Sheila Murphy. This went for a 2 year period 2000-2001 - four modules a year- covering normal development, perinatal psychology and a deep dive into our own in utero, birth and early years. Julie continues to learn about neurosciences, perinatal psychology and is passionate to continue her own personal growth work inorder to be grounded, centred and spiritually connected in her therapy.
References:
Allen Shore - Affect Regulation and the Origin of Self
Anodea Judith - Eastern Body Western Mind
TMJ Disorder and Oral Imbalances
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can show up as symptoms of clicking or locking of the temporomandibilar joint, assymmetry and restriction in mouth opening, clenching or grinding and may be contributing to headaches or neck pain. Posture and spinal malalignment- in particular of the upper cervical spine- can cause TMD and visa versa. Restriction or imbalances of the cranial bones and fascia of the entire cranial sacral system can be involved.
Oral ties also referred to as Tethered Oral Tissues (TOT’s) and restriction in the palate (maxilla, vomer and pallentines) and facial bones may also be a factor in TMD. It takes a good sleuth to assess and treat in a way that addresses the root causes structurally. Given that the function of this whole area is about chewing, communicating, swallowing and airway function -limitation and pain in this area can create a significant charge in the nervous system. Emotional and energetic blockages may be held from early developpment around feeding or speaking or from the impact of falls, cranial and facial injuries or dental procedures or surgery.
Julie combines her experience in Rocabado techniques, joint mobilizations, advanced intraoral techniques both in cranial sacral therapy and fascial release, spinal mobilizations and pelvic balance techniques. ‘As above so below’. There is a strong relationship between jaw/mouth/throat and the pelvis and pelvic floor. In midwifery circles they often say if you're clenching your jaw it is harder to get your baby out. Take a Big Sigh!
References:
Breathe Institute(link)
colgate.com
Headaches and Concussions
There is a lot that has already been discussed in the previous categories that are related to how I treat headaches and concussions. Assessment and treatment of spinal/pelvic malalignment, TMD and oral imbalances and the overall emphasis on balancing the entire state of the nervous system all apply.
If headaches or concussions are acute I am often working through the other major diaphragms of the body to improve circulatory drainage of the head and neck region vs going directly to the area of pain and symptomology. There are specific cranial sacral techniques to help reduce inflammation and excess pressure in the brain and cranium.
Concussions can be very complex. I believe it is important to refer and work with an interdisciplinary team to approach things from many angles. Referrals to naturopaths, acupuncturists, vision therapy, vestibular therapy and concussion clinics, neuro- opthalmalogists, neurologists and counselling may all be part of comprehensive treatment for best outcomes.