Learn about the "Becoming a Tongue Therapist" Course
The most common complaint that I hear from people after taking a myofunctional therapy introductory course is that they learned so much new information, but they don’t know how to actually implement what they have learned to start helping clients. This is exactly how I felt after multiple myofunctional therapy courses.
What I realized is that we are learning myofunctional therapy differently than we should be. This course is designed for RDH’s, SLP’s, and DDS’s, in all of those fields we learn by getting REAL supervised practice before we venture out on our own. That is what I am determined to bring to myofunctional therapy training- learning by doing, not learning by being told what to do. In the 15-week “Becoming a Tongue Therapist” course you will get the most comprehensive look at myofunctional therapy of any of the courses on the market.
What is different:
More interactivity than any other course, this isn’t an intro course were you just tune in for lectures. This course is designed for you to begin practicing myofunctional therapy processes, on each other and with real clients that we will see as a group. If you are wanting to leave feeling ready to jump into seeing clients, there is no other course where you get this amount of ACTUAL practice time.
More myofunctional tools and resources included than any other course. You should know and have experience with the tools on the market so that you can advise your clients on what tools are beneficial for them.
Additional books are included to expand your knowledge past myofunctional therapy. This includes books on Buteyko breathing, vagus nerve activation, oral-tie treatments and more.
Get experience with other modalities and interventions that can accompany myofunctional therapy because comprehensive client care involves so much more than assigning exercises. In this course you’ll learn about breathwork, bodywork that accompanies myofunctional work and oral tie releases, oral tie release protocols, TMJD treatments, surgical or orthodontic interventions and so much more.
Learn how to begin marketing your myofunctional therapy services and finding clients from someone who went from part-time myofunctional therapy, to seeing clients full-time in less than a year!
Becoming a Tongue Therapist starts December 2024!
Here’s what to expect out of the program:
Week 1- Intro to Myofunctional Therapy
Live meeting week of December 2nd, 2024. (Exact day of live meetings to be determined based on cohort voting.)
Outlining the Basics of Myofunctional Therapy
Coexisting Conditions Seen in Clients with Poor Oral Function
Assignment:
Review the oral function guidebook that is included with this course.
To prepare for your partner myofunctional evaluation practice, take your evaluation photos of yourself and fill out your symptoms and history intake information.
Week 2- Adjuncts to the Myofunctional Therapy Process and The Evaluation Process
Live meeting week of December 9th, 2024. (Exact day of live meetings to be determined based on cohort voting.)
Multidisciplinary Approach: Other Possible Interventions Along with Myofunctional Therapy
Sleep Disordered Breathing and Sleep Studies
Discussing the Evaluation Process and What to Look For
Assignment:
Watch the full recorded appointment of a myofunctional evaluation.
Send your evaluation materials from last week to your evaluation partner. Schedule a time to meet before week 4.
Week 3- Learning Myofunctional Exercises
Live meeting week of December 16th, 2024. (Exact day of live meetings to be determined based on cohort voting.)
Identifying the Types of Myofunctional Exercises and Reviewing Examples for Each
Passive Exercises
Active Exercises
Lips and face
Oral and tongue
Chewing and bolus gathering
Oral propulsion
Dissociation
Breathing Exercises
Understanding Myofunctional Exercise Programming
Assignment:
Meet with your evaluation partner for your practice evaluations.
Review full exercise library
Off for Christmas Week
Week 4- Preparing for Real Client Evaluations and Hold First Client Evaluation
TWO live meetings week of December 30th. (Exact day of live meetings to be determined based on cohort voting.)
Deciphering Real Client Evaluation Materials (An adult, a teen and a child)
First Live Client Myofunctional Evaluation
Assignment:
Review findings from real client evaluation and practice programming exercises.
Refresh real client evaluation materials before the next two evaluations.
Week 5- Hold Second and Third Client Evaluations
TWO live meetings week of January 6th, 2025 (Exact day of live meetings to be determined based on cohort voting.)
Second Live Client Myofunctional Evaluation
Third Live Client Myofunctional Evaluation
Assignment:
Review findings from the two real client evaluation and practice programming exercises.
Week 6- Determining Recommendations and Programming Exercises for all Three Evaluation Clients
Live meeting the week of January 13th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review findings from all three evaluation clients
Set forth recommendations for each client based on those findings
Program potential exercises for each client based on those findings
Week 7- Tethered Oral Tissues and Functional Releases + Live Client Practice
Live meeting the week of January 20th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review Tethered Oral Tissues
Lingual, Labial, and Buccal Frena
Understanding function vs. appearance and how to identify when they are restrictive to functional movement
Discuss the fascial connection of tethered oral tissues
Implications of not treating restrictive frena
Understand the differences in tethered oral tissue procedures; frenuloplasty, frenectomy, frenotomy
Review and understand myofunctional exercise considerations following tethered oral tissue releases
Watch functional frenuloplasty procedure
Bring client on for first session following comprehensive evaluation
Assignment:
Review dental anatomy if needed. Look through guidebook breakdown on different types of orthodontic interventions, appliances and jaw surgeries.
Week 8 - Orthodontic and Surgical Considerations + Live Client Practice x2
Live meeting the week of January 27th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review ideal dentofacial development
Importance of wide and forward jaw growth
Ideal dental arch size
Identifying visible queues of suboptimal dentofacial development
Review CBCT scans to see the correlation of dentofacial development and airway size
Understand surgical and orthodontic interventions for suboptimal dentofacial development
Review when different interventions are indicated
Understand the differences in protocols based on age and sex
Bring 2nd client on for first session following comprehensive evaluation
Bring 3rd client on for first session following comprehensive evaluation
Assignment:
Practice the exercises outlined in your Buteyko Breathing Handbook yourself, then coach a friend or family member through some of the exercises.
Week 9- Buteyko Breathing Principles, Understanding the Power of Changing Our Breathing Patterns + Live Client Practice + Holotropic Session
TWO Live meeting the week of February 3rd, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review the principles of Buteyko breathing practices
Ideal breathing mechanics
Benefits of slow breathing
Benefits of a high CO2 tolerance
Learn the basic Buteyko breathing exercises
Discuss other types of breathwork, and when they may be indicated.
Bring 1st client on for their second session.
Second meeting for a full holotropic breathwork session
Week 10- Considerations for Clients with Excessive Muscle Tension or TMJD + Live Client Practice x2
Live meeting the week of February 10th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Identify the muscles of Mastication and their specific roles
Understand the relationship of TMJD and excessive tension to oral function and airway issues
Effects of muscle compensation patterns and how to identify different compensations
Revisit the fascial connection of tethered oral tissues
The relationship of tongue posture, airway and bruxism
Malocclusion or suboptimal dentofacial development
Techniques for alleviating symptoms of TMJD and excessive tension
Bring 2nd client on for their second session.
Bring 3rd client on for their second session.
Second meeting for a full holotropic breathwork session
Assignment:
Practice vagus nerve activation exercises and take notes of any effects that you notice.
Week 11- Nervous System Regulation and its Impacts on Digestion, Sleep, ADHD, Anxiety & Depression +Live Client Practice
Live meeting the week of February 17th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review the functions of the autonomic nervous system & understand the purposes of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches
Understand the relationship of breathing, sleep quality and nervous system engagement
Identify the effects and symptoms of excessive sympathetic nervous system engagement
Stress, anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms
Digestive issues; bloating, burping, gassiness, irregular bowel movements
Review vagus nerve activation techniques and undestand which myofunctional or breathing exercises can help stimulate the vagus nerve.
Bring 1st client on for their third session.
Assignment:
Begin working on your Client Report. Find a family member, friend or someone else to evaluate. Over the next few weeks, you will:
Complete your evaluation
Record your findings from the evaluation and write up your recommendations.
Program a potential exercise plan for their needs
Locate provider options for your client for any other services that may be needed- Releases, Ortho, Bodywork, etc.
Week 12- Tools That Can Be Used Along With Myofunctional Therapy + Live Client Practice x2
Live meeting the week of February 24th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review different tools on the market that can be beneficial to the myofunctional therapy process
Breathing aides
Exercise aides
Evaluation aides
Identify when to supplement with additional tools
Bring 2nd client on for their third session.
Bring 3rd client on for their third session
Assignment:
Continue working on your Client Report. Find a family member, friend or someone else to evaluate. Over the next few weeks, you will:
Complete your evaluation
Record your findings from the evaluation and write up your recommendations.
Program a potential exercise plan for their needs
Locate provider options for your client for any other services that may be needed- Releases, Ortho, Bodywork, etc.
Week 13- Discussing the Fascial Connection, Postural Impacts and the Benefits of Body Work + Live Client Practice
Live meeting the week of February March 3rd, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Dive deeper into the fascial connections through the body
Understand the benefits of bodywork and identify when different modalities are indicated
Review the effects of fascial tension, tethered oral tissues, breathing and oral dysfunction on body posture
Presentation from bodyworker
Bring 1st client on for their fourth session
Assignment:
Continue working on your Client Report. Find a family member, friend or someone else to evaluate. Over the next few weeks, you will:
Complete your evaluation
Record your findings from the evaluation and write up your recommendations.
Program a potential exercise plan for their needs
Locate provider options for your client for any other services that may be needed- Releases, Ortho, Bodywork, etc.
Week 14- Possibilities for Your Myofunctional Services, Marketing your Services, How to Coordinate with Other Providers + Live Client Practice x2
Live meeting the week of March 10th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review possibilities for working as a myofunctional therapist
Incorporating into dental office or current SLP practice
Working separately as a myofunctional therapist
Considerations for DDS’s vs. RDH’s vs. SLP’s
Marketing your services
Networking and coordinating with other providers
Bring 2nd client on for their fourth session
Bring 3rd client on for their fourth session
Assignment:
Submit your final Client Report
Week 15- Business Logistics for Implementing Myofunctional Therapy, Final Class Q and A
Live meeting the week of March 17th, 2025 (Exact day of live meeting to be determined based on cohort voting)
Review considerations and logistics for implementing myofunctional therapy
In-person vs. Virtual
Setting up a business license if needed
Supplies for services
Setting up pricing and taking payments
Working with insurance for SLP’s and DDS’s
Final Q and A