Map & Compass Neuro-Developmental Therapy

26/09/2025

🍴 Mealtimes can feel like a battle when your child is a picky or sensory eater. Maybe they gag on textures, stick to beige foods, or feel anxious at the table. It’s exhausting — for them and for you.

But here’s the truth: eating isn’t just about food. It’s shaped by development, sensory processing, emotions, and nutrition all working together. When one piece feels out of sync, it can make mealtimes overwhelming.

🌱 That’s why the best way forward is a wrap-around approach.

✨ At , we support the developmental foundations through reflex integration

✨ At , families receive specialist feeding support from a paediatric dietitian and OT.

Together, this “dream team” can help children — and their parents — move towards calmer mealtimes, wider food choices, and less stress around the table.

💬 We’d love to hear from you:
👉 What’s the hardest part of mealtimes in your house?
👉 Save this post if you need encouragement on the tough days.
👉 Share it with a friend who feels stuck in the picky eating cycle.

You don’t have to navigate this road alone — we’re here to walk it with you. 💛

24/09/2025

Map & Compass Neuro-Developmental Therapy… not just for kids!

Have you considered Ronnie Gardiner Method UK??

Find out more here: https://www.mapandcompasstherapy.com/rgm

Planning and organising are essential executive functions — and rhythm can help structure them.
In the Ronnie Gardiner Method, participants follow rhythmic sequences that involve planning ahead and coordinating actions over time. Whether clapping, stepping or calling out colours, the brain has to map out what comes next.

This rhythmic rehearsal builds planning skills in a way that’s active and memorable.

22/09/2025

Next Wednesday we are holding an online webinar with SENAC. To book your place contact Elaine. Details on the poster.

22/09/2025

This is a fascinating study with implications for education, economy, government, social services, children in care, etc…

Research shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds often start school with less developed physical skills.

But a pilot project in Southern Scotland has revealed something significant about how we can address this gap.

After introducing targeted movement activities, children receiving free school meals completely caught up with their peers in neuromotor development. Just ten minutes of daily movement exercises helped level the playing field for children who might otherwise struggle academically.

This isn't only about physical skills. When we strengthen children's neuromotor foundations, we're giving them better tools for focus, coordination, and learning readiness.

The implications are considerable: simple, evidence-based movement programmes could help address educational inequalities at their root.

Every child deserves this opportunity to develop the physical foundations they need for learning success.

21/09/2025

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Look at this! This is how we begin to see a shift in the way schools approach development and Neurodevelopmental delay.

“Children learn with their bodies before they learn with their heads. Movement is our first language. Because our Education system has focused on the cognitive and the Health Service has focused on disease, we have missed out on the nurture of this vital transitional phase, which needs to be fostered in early development. This programme redresses this imbalance and provides a physical education in its truest sense, as part of a holistic education to nurture the whole child.” (Dr Arthur Paynter)

Next training opportunity for educators: 21st February 2026 hosted by Kinected Moves in Derry. Book your place

https://bookwhen.com/inpp-uk/e/ev-sqmg-20260221100000

19/09/2025

If you are wondering if an INPP Programme at Map & Compass would be a helpful next step for your child, you can book in for a free 30 min enquiry call when you can ask any questions you may have, learn more etc.

https://www.mapandcompasstherapy.com/service-page/enquiry-call-free-consultation

Every baby is born with primitive reflexes: automatic movements like the Moro (startle) reflex or rooting reflex. These reflexes help with survival in the first few months of life, but they're designed to fade as the brain develops.

When they don't fade, or are retained, they can interfere with how a child's brain and body function.
According to Dr. Tony Ebel, retained reflexes can impact:

Balance and coordination
Sensory processing
Emotional regulation
Sleep and attention

For example, a child with a retained Moro reflex might be stuck in 'fight or flight' mode, overreacting to sound, light, or unexpected changes.

This constant stress response can look like anxiety, meltdowns, or hyperactivity.

Retained reflexes don't mean something is 'wrong' with your child. They simply indicate that development might need more support to help the brain catch up. With the right tools, these reflexes can be gently integrated, opening the door for calmer, more connected behaviour.

17/09/2025

INPP School Training in Derry! Feb 2026!

Teachers are often the first to spot when a child is struggling – but did you know that difficulties in the classroom can sometimes be linked to neuromotor development?

Our One-Day Teachers’ Course: Implementing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning will give you the tools to:
- Assess neuromotor readiness using INPP screening tests
- Understand the physical foundations of learning
- Implement movement-based strategies to support children

🗓 Saturday 21 February 2026
📍 Londonderry, Northern Ireland

👉 Contact Pauline directly for further information, or click here to book your place : https://bookwhen.com/inpp-uk/e/ev-sqmg-20260221100000

16/09/2025

😣 Trouble concentrating, restless nights, noise sensitivity, misophonia, strained conversations…
These challenges can affect both children and adults — and they’re often linked to how the brain processes sound.

Johansen IAS (Individualised Auditory Stimulation) is a gentle, home-based sound therapy programme. Using music customised to your listening profile, it helps the brain organise auditory processing — the foundations for:

💡 Attention & focus
🗣️ Clearer speech & communication
📖 Reading, spelling & learning
🤸 Balance & coordination
💛 Calmer mood & emotional regulation
🌍 Coping with noise & sensitivities

✨ Families and adults often notice growing confidence, calmer moods, easier social connections, better sleep, and steadier progress in learning, study or work.

📈 For a child or adult who can take a reliable audiogram, one of the key benefits of JIAS is that progress is measurable. An audiogram is taken at each review to track auditory development, while the recordings are adjusted to each person’s unique needs. This customisation makes JIAS stand out among other non-customisable auditory stimulation programmes.

Suitable from around age 3 through adulthood, the programme involves just 10–15 minutes of daily listening, with regular reviews to adjust the music as your needs change.

Support is available for both children and adults. If you’d like to find out whether Johansen IAS could be a help, contact Map & Compass.
👉 Message or use the link below to find out more or book a free enquiry consultation. 💙

https://www.mapandcompasstherapy.com/johansen-ias

💬 Have you or your child experienced sensitivity to noise, misophonia, or difficulties with listening and focus? Share your experience below — your story might resonate with someone else scrolling today. Or do you have a story to tell of how JIAS has made a difference for you or someone you love? Share it here to give other people an idea of what it was like for you!

16/09/2025

If you are attending and have been thinking you’d love to find out more about the work of Map & Compass Neuro-Developmental Therapy, I will be there and available to chat! I would love to be able to explain more about the programmes and methods I work with including INPP (Reflex Integration) Johansen IAS Individualised Auditory Stimulation, and RGM (Bilateral Integration).
Come by and say “Hi!”
I’d love to meet you. 👋

Meet our Exhibitors at the Neurodiversity Conference!

We’re excited to have an excellent lineup of exhibitors joining us at Action Trauma’s Neurodiversity Conference 2025 on 19 September at Crowne Plaza Belfast. They’ll be bringing a range of services, solutions, and support for neurodivergent individuals and those who support them.

What to Expect
• Explore the latest in assistive technologies, therapeutic approaches, educational resources and mental-health support.
• Get hands-on: many exhibitors will be demoing tools and answering your questions.
• Discover new organisations and build your network.

Why Visit Them
Whether you’re looking for tools to help you in work or study, strategies to support someone you care about, or just new ideas and inspiration — our exhibitors are here to help.

Plan Your Visit
Make sure to check the exhibitor area during breaks — flyers, conversations, special offers might only be there in person.

We can't wait to see you there!

15/09/2025

😣 Trouble concentrating, restless nights, noise sensitivity, misophonia, strained conversations…
These challenges can affect both children and adults — and they’re often linked to how the brain processes sound.

Johansen IAS (Individualised Auditory Stimulation) is a gentle, home-based sound therapy programme. Using music customised to your listening profile, it helps the brain organise auditory processing — the foundations for:

💡 Attention & focus
🗣️ Clearer speech & communication
📖 Reading, spelling & learning
🤸 Balance & coordination
💛 Calmer mood & emotional regulation
🌍 Coping with noise & sensitivities

✨ Families and adults often notice growing confidence, calmer moods, easier social connections, better sleep, and steadier progress in learning, study or work.

📈 For a child or adult who can take a reliable audiogram, one of the key benefits of JIAS is that progress is measurable. An audiogram is taken at each review to track auditory development, while the recordings are adjusted to each person’s unique needs. This customisation makes JIAS stand out among other non-customisable auditory stimulation programmes.

Suitable from around age 3 through adulthood, the programme involves just 10–15 minutes of daily listening, with regular reviews to adjust the music as your needs change.

Support is available for both children and adults. If you’d like to find out whether Johansen IAS could be a help, contact Map & Compass.
👉 Message or use the link in bio to book a free enquiry consultation. 💙

💬 Have you or your child experienced sensitivity to noise, misophonia, or difficulties with listening and focus? Share your experience below — your story might resonate with someone else scrolling today. Or do you have a story to tell of how JIAS has made a difference for you or someone you love? Share it here to give other people an idea of what it was like for you!

14/09/2025

This newsletter from Eden Consultancy is an IMPORTANT read for families who read the kind of articles she is referring to and feel discouraged. Be ENCOURAGED. You ARE seen. You ARE heard. Find the kind of professionals who will help and guide you on your way. We are here. You are NOT alone.

Thank you Eden Consultancy NI for your voice. Keep using it!

Another headline.... and another clickbait article.

This week’s newsletter looks the recent claims about “overdiagnosis” in children and why these narratives are so damaging for families.

Instead of blame, what our children really need is funding, early intervention, and inclusive classrooms.

I’ve broken it down so you feel equipped to join the conversation with confidence.

👉 Read the full newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/edenconsultancyni.com/eden-equips-overdiagnosis