Integrative Achievement Center

Welcome to the Integrative Achievement Center!

At the Integrative Achievement Center, our goal is to support brain development exclusively through Primitive Reflex Integration. Primitive reflex integration provides a unique and effective approach to support children with a variety of developmental challenges. Understanding and addressing retained primitive reflexes can be crucial for children that are struggling with learning challenges, ADHD, anxiety, OCD, social anxiety, motor coordination, emotional regulation, sensory processing difficulties, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, and autism.

What is Primitive Reflex Integration?

Primitive reflexes are automatic movements directed from the brainstem that aid in the birthing process and aid in survival and development throughout the first year of life. As a child grows, these reflexes should integrate into the body's normal neurological framework. However, if these reflexes are retained past infancy, or if they come back after a traumatic event, they can interfere with motor control, sensory processing and modulation, as well as brain development, potentially leading to various academic and behavioral challenges.

Why is Primitive Reflex Integration Beneficial?

Integrating these reflexes through targeted exercises and activities can help improve some of the difficulties associated with their retention through a root cause approach. Benefits of reflex integration may include:

Improved motor skills and coordination
Better focus and attention
More regulated emotions and impulse control
Improved social skills
Reduced anxiety and nervousness
Increased academic performance
Improved sensory processing and modulation
Increased success with reading and writing

Common Symptoms of Retained Primitive Reflexes

If your child struggles with any of the following symptoms, making it difficult to get through their day with ease, a primitive reflex evaluation and program may be helpful:

Poor impulse control, emotional regulation, or anxiety
Sensory challenges:
Craves or avoids movement, sounds, sights, tastes, textures, smells, etc.
Balance and coordination difficulties
Challenges with handwriting and fine motor skills
Hyperactivity or seeking constant movement
Difficulty with eye-tracking and other visual-motor skills
Such as catching a ball, reading, etc.
Difficulty with age appropriate childhood activities
Skipping, hopscotch, jumping, running, etc.

Most Commonly Retained Primitive Reflexes

Some of the most frequently observed retained reflexes that impact daily functioning include:

Moro Reflex: Often linked to anxiety and emotional instability.
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex: Often connected with poor organization, balance, time management, and muscle tone changes
ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex): May impact reading and writing, often related to dyslexia and ADHD.
STNR (Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex): Often related to ADHD, challenges copying from the board, skipped crawling during infancy, and poor attention.
Spinal Galant Reflex: Associated with fidgeting, attention difficulties, and potential bedwetting.
Palmar Grasp Reflex: Can affect handwriting and fine motor skills.
Rooting Reflex: May impact feeding, speech and picky eating.

Download a FREE Primitive Reflex Symptoms Checklist

Download our free primitive reflex checklist HERE to identify if your child could potentially be struggling with retained primitive reflexes. Please note, this is not a formal or standardized assessment of primitive reflexes.

Our Services

At the Integrative Achievement Center, we offer a comprehensive list of services tailored to each child's needs. Please note that while our methods complement occupational therapy, they are not a replacement for it. Our services include:

Primitive Reflex Initial Evaluation - $225
Reflex Integration in Clinic Program or Weekly Sessions
Telehealth Primitive Reflex Evaluation - $225
Telehealth Primitive Reflex Program or Weekly Sessions
Academic Movement Tutoring - $75 per session
Crawling for Brain Development Program - $375 for 6 week program
Infant and Toddler Primitive Reflex Screening - $225 (designed for children under 4)
Adult Primitive Reflex Evaluation - $225

Our clinic operates on a private pay basis, and services offered here are not covered under insurance. Please keep in mind the IAC does NOT provide occupational therapy services and should NOT be a replacement for occupational therapy.

We are committed to helping each child reach their full potential by addressing the foundational aspects of their development. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your child's journey to greater success and well-being.

What Does the Research Say?

While there is a growing body of evidence supporting primitive reflex integration, here are few of our favorite articles to read if you’re interested in learning more about integrating primitive reflexes:

About The Integrative Achievement Center

Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, CPRCS is the owner and founder of the IAC. She has over 11 years of experience as a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant and Certified Primitive Reflex clinical specialist. She opened the IAC in spring of 2025 after dedicating a majority of her career to primitive reflex and sensory integration. She has a passion for finding the root cause of her client’s challenges, in which she finds that retained primitive reflexes often go unnoticed and untreated, leading to a plethora of challenges down the road. She wrote the Crawling for Brain Development program and The Jungle Crawl books to help parents and therapists facilitate primitive reflex integration.

She works part time creating content with Harkla for the All Things Sensory Podcast. She also is the owner of Sensational Brain, a pediatric continuing education platform and home of the BrainWorks Custom Sensory Diet technology. She is a mom of two young children and loves to be outside, hike and play pranks on her husband. Rachel is excited to be working with clients in person again, after taking a break from the clinic setting to be home with her children.

Contact the Integrative Achievement Center to Learn More!

Get in touch with us for more information on our services.