From Meltdown to Manageable: How Primitive Reflexes Affect Sensory Integration

Joanna Holden, O.T. Related Seminars and Products

Co-Founder, Sensory Coach

PRI-Plus

If you can count to four, Joanna can probably teach you how to do a cartwheel. She spent much of her childhood doing cartwheels and much of her adult life teaching children (and a few adults) how to flip and twist. She loves how the human body works, and has always been passionate about helping children figure out how to make their bodies do what they want them to do. 

After earning her Bachelor of Arts in French, she found herself continually drawn to teaching, tutoring, and coaching gymnastics. She taught all aspects of gymnastics for almost 20 years, including preschool, beginner through advanced recreational classes, and competitive teams. 

Joanna’s fascination with how the body and the brain work together led her to begin post-graduate studies in Occupational Therapy. That, in turn, led her to pursue a career where she could integrate brain and body function. Since 2014, she has worked exclusively with school-aged children where she has focused on improving brain function through physical activities and specific sensory stimulation. This led to an interest in primitive reflexes and their impact on daily life. She has continued to study and practice primitive reflex integration. 

Her ultimate goal is to help as many kids as possible to reach their highest potential. She loves to hear a child say, “I did it!” or “I did it all by myself!” For fun, Joanna follows collegiate gymnastics and volunteers at the University of Denver’s home gymnastics meets. She also has an extensive collection of rubber ducks.