DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND a second course is now available - book early to reserve your place

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PRIMITIVE REFLEXES IN OSTEOPATHY

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Speaker: Laurie Kolfoort, DO 

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Date: 20-21 September 2025 (9am start Saturday/4.30pm finish Sunday)

 

Venue: St Leonard's Hall, Edinburgh, EH16 5AY

 

Cost: £370 per person for course, lunches and refreshments

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Primary reflexes are present in utero and have an important function in the birthing process.  These reflexes are genetically programmed and exist in everyone.  After birth, their role is mainly for survival and protection of the baby.  Ideally, reflexes are active in a particular sequence in relation to the child’s neuro-sensory-motor and physiological maturation.  In conjunction with the reflexes, there is development of the central nervous system in which the reflexes are integrated, and then conscious, coordinated sensorimotor activity eventually develops.

 

If for some reason the child experiences stress, such as physical, emotional or chemical trauma, this can cause a, often unconscious, state of fear, shifting the CNS to a fight/flight/freeze mode and the primary reflexes can remain active to protect the individual.  This can be seen in learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit (hyperactive) disorder (AD[H]D), autism, cerebral palsy and many other diagnoses which challenge children and adults alike.  In adults they are called ‘lifelong reflexes’.

 

Therefore, it is important osteopaths are able to recognize the reflexes, to know whether this reflex should still be present or should have already been integrated at brainstem level, and to learn the full meaning of the reflex on a sensory, motor, cognitive and emotional levels.

 

Learning Objectives

In this course you will learn, using osteopathic philosophies, how to test and work with up to fifteen important primitive reflexes.  Different treatment approaches will be discussed and practical skills taught with reference to the biodynamic point of view of osteopathy.  The importance of reflexes at birth, in the first four months of life, as well as their significance during childhood and into adulthood will all be covered.

 

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to observe the presence or absence of reflexes in a baby and adult and treat as needed, as well as a child who is stuck emotionally or cognitively or who has difficulty with their motor function. Obviously knowing how to correct any dysfunction caused by retained reflexes in babies, children or adults is a tremendously valuable tool for all osteopaths.  Primary and lifelong reflexes is an area which has been little explored within mainstream osteopathy, but an osteopath, in particular, can help a lot by identifying and treating the cause of the persistence of the reflex.

 

Eligibility – some understanding of the involuntary mechanism and biodynamic approach is required.

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LAURIE KOLFOORT DO

 

In 2004 Laurie qualified as an osteopath and in 2006 completed the paediatric program at Panta Rhei, the main postgraduate school in the Netherlands dedicated to teaching traditional osteopathic skills.  She started on the Jim Jealous Biodynamic pathway in 2005.  As well as working in private practice she has lectured extensively.  She has taught on the children’s program at Panta Rhei, as well as presenting paediatric courses in Norway, Denmark, Germany and Poland.  In 2018 Christian Sullivan asked her to teach the reflex course at the paediatric school in Barcelona (CODI) and has taught 4 new intakes of students.  After successively studying physical therapy and osteopathy, balanced ligamentous tension and all biodynamic phases with Christian Sullivan, Laurie has more recently studied Dr Masgutova’s Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI) programme and has blended this with her traditional osteopathic knowledge. 

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07714 239636 or osteopathicstudiesscotland@gmail.com

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