​Michelle Emanuel has 25 years experience as a Neonatal / Pediatric Occupational Therapist, with specific focus on posture, movement and connection for the precrawling baby. She has a background in neonatal intensive care (NICU), pediatric intensive care (PICU), cardiac intensive care (CICU), and outpatient population.   She has a unique and interesting way of blending traditional and complementary forms of therapeutic applications, with her main emphasis on facilitating healthy nervous system function.

Michelle has advanced training and extensive experience in a wide array of manual therapy and bodywork techniques, including CranioSacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Reflexology, Baby Facial Massage and more.  Michelle developed a unique curriculum of manual therapy utilizing Therapeutic Skin Movement and Nervous System Regulation.  She is a certified Yoga Instructor (RYT200), and is also certified in Infant Massage, Baby's First Massage, and Butterfly Touch Massage.  

Michelle is a knowledgeable and dynamic presenter.  She teaches her own classes and also speaks at various conferences internationally on the topics of Neurodevelopment, Oral Restrictions, Optimal Oral function, Play Therapy for Babies, Mental Wellness for Babies and Families and more.

​She developed the TummyTime! Method fifteen years ago in order to address the rising numbers of babies affected by sleeping on their back, developing tension patterns, torticollis and flat spots.  She offers the "secret" to helping babies and families have fun and enjoy the tummy time experience.   

Michelle also developed BabyMyo, a novel curriculum of oral habilitation involving optimal strength, endurance, range of motion, sensory processing, motor patterns, reflexes, oral and pharyngeal phases of breastfeeding and bottlefeeding for the newborn to precrawling baby.

Why does Michelle focus on the newborn to precrawling infant?  Because outside of working with pregnant women, this is the earliest time of intervention.  The precrawling stage contains critical periods of movement, reflexes, autonomic regulation and neurodevelopment.  Michelle has helped thousands of babies and families over the years.  She brings a vast array of knowledge, education and experience to this population. A well sought after therapist, mentor and teacher, she truly enjoys what she does.

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Michelle is specialty trained to administer the following neurodevelopmental tests:
General Movements Assessment (GMA Advanced Level)
​Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE)
​Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS)
Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP)
Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function  (ATLFF)
Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
Martinelli Lingual Frenulum Protocol
Infant Behavioral Assessment (IBA)
Gross Motor Functional Measure (GMFM)

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Specialties seen in Michelle's office: 

• Postural Asymmetries  (Torticollis, head turning or feeding preference to one side)
• Plagiocephaly / Brachycephaly / Scaphocephaly (cranial molding or flattening)
• Oral Restrictions (Tongue, Lip and Buccal Ties)
• GI issues, Reflux, colic type symptoms, decreased bowel movements, etc
• Fussiness, Armoring, Stiffness, Body Tension
• Babies who have difficulty with or cry consistently in tummy time position
• Babies who spend less than 10 minutes a day in tummy time
• Sensory Processing and Integration Sensitivities and Difficulties
• Latch and Breastfeeding Issues
• Oral Rest Posture / Tongue Posture Deficits
• Breathing issues:  snoring, squeaky breathing, laryngomalacia, etc

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions, interest or concern about anything I've mentioned on this website.  
Text me! (513) 404-7786