Mikailah Lehmann
My passion is observing children’s bodies change in shape, fitness, function, efficiency once they are open to receive and allow new ideas into their world.
Mikailah’s journey
I graduated from Lincoln Institute, Melbourne in 1980. I became passionate about how to move well as an undergraduate and in response to my own childhood disability. I did post graduate studies in Sensory Integration in Sydney in 1985.
In my 30’s I collaborated with Dr Meung de Yu, a Chinese Orthopaedic surgeon. He trained me in clinical observation, the assessment and therapy for postural and mechanical issues in children with cerebral palsy, autism, and coordination disorders. I will never forget his surprise in not seeing cerebral palsy but in assessing my clients with autism, and saying “same reflexes but they move faster!”.
I met practitioners in Body Mind centering ™ Wendy Morrow in 1995-6 in Hobart, and Alice Cummins in Perth WA (1996-2013). Body mind centering is a paradigm developed by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen OTR. It is not a technique but a framework of experiential training and valuing the client’s autonomy.
It is not a medical model but rather based on the anatomy and the physiology of learning, whilst providing opportunity for the child to explore, sense and develop new ways in moving and relating.
In 2013 I moved from Perth back to Tasmania and was employed at the Psychology Caffe in Latrobe. In 2016 I developed and created my 25 Actions to Say and Do cards, supporting health promotion posters, and a book Sensational Poems ( poems for big kids about the little kids sensory processing issues). Available by contacting Mikailah directly.
In 2019 I opened my practice “Join the Dots OT’ in Taroona, Hobart and in 2021 due to Covid19, expanded into consultancy and telehealth under new name “ Moving the Dots Consultancy Space”.
I am currently expanding into training parents and carers. Education allied health staff, and somatic practitioners are seeking training as well. I continue to see NDIS and Medicare clients aged 1-18 years and provide a client centered, family centered programme with individualised goals around wellness and creativity.
MY COACHING METHOD
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Lived Experience
Helpful insights into living with pain and sensory issues
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Body Mapping
Using body pictures to empower the child in the choice of program goals for their body
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Affordability
Resources with multiple uses for home programmes
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Creative Arts
Music, Rythm and Storytelling to make sessions alive
Any queries?
