An Integrative Breathing Therapy program for children

Breathing, relaxation, posture and muscle function retraining for children using

  • fun exercises
  • music
  • mindfulness
  • movement and play.

This program teaches children over 6 weekly sessions how to correct poor breathing habits and how to use breathing in combination with mindfulness and relaxation to manage symptoms, behaviour and stress.

Breathing, relaxation, posture and muscle function retraining for children using

  • fun exercises
  • music
  • mindfulness
  • movement and play.

This program teaches children over 6 weekly sessions how to correct poor breathing habits and how to use breathing in combination with mindfulness and relaxation to manage symptoms, behaviour and stress.

The program is offered as Group classes or Private consultations.

Online course – begins Monday 19 June 2023

Our next Online course starts June 2023 –

5-6pm Mon 19 June
5-6pm Mon 26 June
5-6pm Mon 31 June
5-6pm Mon 10 July
5-6pm Mon 17 July
5-6pm Mon 24 July

Join us online! During these days of COVID we have being treating children via Zoom video conferencing, and these consults have been proving to be a very effective way of working with children. So we are very keen to present the “Healthy Breathing, Healthy Child” online. This is the first time we’ll be presenting this course in this way, and we are preparing lots of support material to make it a very worthwhile and engaging way to learn and practice!

Join us for what will be a very rewarding experience for you and your child.

Numbers are limited, so book soon! Course is $650

Register-now

About breathing and children’s health and development

Like good nutrition, correct breathing creates foundations for health and is fundamental for growth and learning. Poor breathing can have negative effects on many aspects of a child’s health, wellbeing, mood and behavior.

Incorrect breathing also affects the function of muscles controlling speech, swallowing and posture in ways that disrupt facial, dental and structural development.

The good news is that poor breathing and incorrect muscle function can be corrected through breathing exercises and functional retraining exercises.

The program is for children with:

  • mouth breathing, tongue thrust, abnormal swallowing
  • asthma, blocked and runny noses
  • sleep disordered breathing, snoring and/or sleep apnea
  • poor breathing patterns
  • hyperventilation
  • anxiety related breathing disorders.

The program can be adapted for children of all ages. Group sessions are suitable for most children over the age of 6.

Each child is assessed individually and if the program is not suitable, or if your child needs some other type of treatment before starting, you will be recommend to the appropriate health professional.

Dr Rosalba Courtney teaching a remedial breathing class

What does the program involve?

The Healthy Breathing, Healthy Child program has been developed and refined over 25 years by Dr Courtney to draw together techniques and therapy for maximum benefit. It involves:

  • an initial assessment by Dr Courtney
  • 6 weekly therapy sessions of 1 hour, individually or in a small group
  • practice at home between sessions
  • a follow-up assessment

Parents/caregivers also attend all the sessions so that they can support their child to practice well and achieve the best results.

Cost

Classes: The therapy classes are one hour sessions each week for 6 weeks. The cost of the Group classes is $650.

Assessment: the initial assessment takes about an hour and costs $210.

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What make this program uniquely effective?

  • Making it fun!

The blend of techniques taught in this program is designed to be fun and engaging for children.

  • Making it easy to learn

The techniques are set to music and we use movement, sound and storytelling to aid learning and help with home practice.

  • Professional assessment

Each child is assessed for breathing, postural and muscular-skeletal dysfunction and then re-evaluated after therapy/classes to assess progress.

  • Integrative treatment

The program integrates evidence based breathing rehabilitation and mind-body strategies with well-tested breathing techniques such as the Buteyko Method and Resonance Frequency Breathing.

Breathing assessment

Rosalba-workshop-child-small

The initial assessment

The initial assessment identifies causes and contributing factors to breathing and oral dysfunction. We undertake a dysfunctional breathing assessment (CO2, O2, breathing pattern assessment, breathing symptoms) and a structural assessment (posture, breathing,muscles, lip and tongue function).

Then Dr Courtney can advise if the Healthy Breathing, Healthy Child program is likely to be the best next step for your child and/or refer for other treatment or other health professionals if necessary.

The follow-up assessment

After the 6 sessions it is recommended that your child is re-assessed to evaluate progress and advise on any other treatment needs.

Healthy Breathing Healthy Child program structure

The next step

To book an initial assessment please call the clinic.

To register for therapy classes see the class schedule.

Or please contact Dr Courtney if you would like to discuss how this revolutionary program could help your child.

The program is offered as Group classes or Private consultations.