The Role of Primitive Reflexes in Neurological Organization
The Role of Primitive Reflexes in Neurological Organization
The Peak Potential Institute is excited to announce Dr. Courtney Neill’s online program “The Role of Primitive Reflexes in Neurological Organization”. Unlock the foundational keys to understanding neurological development and dysfunction through the lens of primitive reflex integration.
In this online seminar, Dr. Courtney Neill explores how retained or aberrant primitive reflexes influence motor coordination, postural control, sensory processing, and overall neurological organization. Whether you’re working with infants, children with developmental challenges, or adults with chronic compensatory patterns, understanding these early neurological milestones is essential for delivering effective, lasting chiropractic and cranial care.
Build a Stronger Clinical Foundation. Primitive reflexes are more than developmental milestones—they are neurological blueprints. Join us and learn how to identify, assess, and address these foundational patterns to help your patients reach their fullest potential.
Register now and get immediate access to this powerful educational resource.
What You’ll Learn
- The origin, function, and expected integration timeline of key primitive reflexes
- How retained reflexes contribute to structural and functional imbalances
- Evaluation strategies for identifying aberrant reflex patterns
- Clinical correlations between primitive reflexes and learning, behavior, posture, and sensory issues.
Resources Provided
- Online video lectures
- Visual demonstrations
- Downloadable PDF workbook
- Certificate of completion (CEU credits available where applicable)
Course Contents
8 Modules | 8 CTAs
Class 1 – What are Primitive Reflexes
Class 2 – Neurological Pathways of the Brain
Class 3 – Milestones and Brain Development
Class 4 – Primitive Reflexes
Class 5 – Demonstration of Infant Primitive Reflexes
Class 6 – Primitive Reflexes in Older Children
Class 7 – Demonstration of Older Child Reflexes
Class 8 – Integration of the Reflexes
Meet the Instructors
Dr. Courtney Neill is the founder and driving force behind Foundations Family Chiropractic, a beacon of wellness nestled in Beverly, Massachusetts. With a profound dedication to pediatric and prenatal care, Dr. Neill specializes in nurturing the health of young ones and supporting mothers through their transformative postpartum journeys.
A graduate of Parker University in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Neill’s journey in chiropractic care began in 2008. Returning to her roots on the North Shore of Massachusetts, she embarked on a mission to make a difference. Immersed in a clinic focused on brain-injured children, Dr. Neill recognized a crucial need for chiropractors to deepen their understanding of pediatric development and neurology.
Driven by a passion for learning and a commitment to excellence, Dr. Neill embarked on an extensive postdoctorate journey. She attained certification as a Pediatric Specialist from both the Academy of Family Practice and the International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association. Further enriching her expertise, she pursued certification in Pediatric Spinal and Cranial SOT® protocols through the Peak Potential Institute under the mentorship of Drs. Martin Rosen and Nancy Watson.
Foundations Family Chiropractic stands as a testament to Dr. Neill’s unwavering commitment to holistic care. It represents the culmination of her vision—a nurturing space where families can thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Dr. Neill finds her greatest fulfillment in guiding infants, children, and expectant parents toward optimal health and vitality. Through her work, she not only transforms lives but also inspires and educates fellow chiropractors, empowering them to deepen their skills and serve this cherished population with excellence.
Feedback From Our Students
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Dr. Kylie Phillips
My three takeaways:
1. Correcting vertebral subluxations is the most important thing that we do as Chiropractors, ensuring good body-brain communication is essential for a developing nervous system.
2. We need to be aware of signs that a nervous system is not coping or developing as it should be and this is where primitive reflexes come in.
3. Developing a good exam flow is really helpful to identify issues but allows you to efficiently assess what is happening.It has added to my knowledge to help keep looking after the children in our community to develop into their best possible selves and it has given me ideas to make my flow in the office better.
I think a big learning was to focus on the subluxation first. Too often we want to jump into giving exercises/homework for retained reflexes when a child comes into the office for primitive reflex issues, but we need to make sure that the nervous system is clear and functioning at its best first. It is good to have little reminders to bring you back to core principles!!
Yes, I would recommend this course. I think it would be good for those who are new to primitive reflexes but also have something to offer to those who have been learning about them already – you can always learn something new.
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Dr. Teri Hohl
My takeaway is that any class I have taken I always find good information that serves either as a reminder or good clinical pearls.
It increases my certainty and clarity about working with infants and children.
Doing a quick assessment of the reflexes before an adjustment and then seeing them gone after.
Yes, I would recommend it. Even though taught before, it is always a great reminder and helps with your certainty with kiddos and other pediatric professionals.
It was a good class.
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Dr. Brandi Benson
Three takeaways about the role of primitive reflexes in neurological development are: – Understanding neurological development and the order of development can help clue us in to where things may have gone off course. – Primitive reflexes are a window into how well the nervous system is integrated and organized. – Ultimately, as chiropractors, addressing subluxation first helps lay the foundation to how the nervous is balanced and when a subluxation remains, it is harder for the brain to integrate sensory information, properly integrate reflexes, and ultimately can impact how the brain is able to learn and achieve milestones in higher centers of the brain.
This course was a great review on not just what the reflexes are and how to test for them, but on the importance in understanding foundations of neurodevelopment to better assess our young patients in practice.
This course helped deepen my ability to better communicate levels of development with parents/patients and tie together neurological organization and how altered input can alter development.
I would recommend this course to other chiropractors because it provides a strong foundational understanding of the sequence of neurological development and helps deepen insight into how primitive reflexes influence that process. It goes beyond simply identifying a reflex and learning how to test for it – there is meaningful context and clinical application that helps connect reflex patterns to overall development and patient care.
More Courses from Peak Potential Institute
This course provides chiropractors with specialized training in caring for pregnant patients, emphasizing the unique biomechanical and physiological changes during pregnancy. Participants will learn SOT®-based techniques, including blocking procedures, sacral corrections, and ancillary procedures to support maternal and fetal health.
This course offers a deep understanding of the neurological and reflexive relationships between the occipital fibers and organ function. Participants will learn to evaluate, analyze, and apply soft tissue reflex techniques to address systemic dysfunctions.
This advanced training presents Dr. Major Bertrand DeJarnette’s 1977 Sutural Technique, a precise, step-by-step cranial protocol developed to guide chiropractors through comprehensive cranial balancing within proper SOT® categorization.
Designed specifically for chiropractors, this course integrates sutural assessment, TMJ evaluation, dural balancing, and CSF normalization into a cohesive clinical system. These techniques are particularly indicated when:
- Category II patterns are not resolving as anticipated
- TMJ dysfunction (TMD) is present
- Swallowing, craniofacial, or temporal stress patterns persist
- Cranial and cervical compensations remain after standard care
- Somaticized recurrent or embodied patterns (PTSD, emotional or physical trauma)
