Catherine Burns, registered somatic movement therapist (RSMT), and craniosacral therapist (CST), is the mother of two beloved rascals who have led her on a journey of bringing movement and mindfulness to women, babies, partners and caregivers for birth and early childhood.

Catherine has taught classes independently and for Ramsey County Resources for Child Caring, St. Paul Public Schools, Anne Sullivan School, the Minneapolis School District, Southwest Family Room Way to Grow, YWCA Early Childhood program, Minnesota Association of Education for Young Children, the Dakota County Family Day Care Association, Minneapolis JCC, St. Paul JCC and the University of Minnesota.

The Active Role of the Baby in Birthing has been published in Currents, the national journal of the Body-Mind Centering‚ Association and has been presented at national and regional conferences. Catherine’s articles, Physiological Rhythms for Natural Childbirth, Tummy Time and The Active Role of the Baby in Birth have been published by the Childbirth Collective, the Minnesota Caesarian Awareness Network and Southwest Family Room Way to Grow. She has spoken on KFAI radio on birth preparation and on early childhood development.

MamaBebe is a movement and body-work practice based on principles of infant development and experiential anatomy pioneered by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. MamaBebe explores the developmental movement patterns that are the underlying evolutionary design of body and mind. In MamaBebe Catherine incorporates practices from Buddhist mindfulness, Hakomi, modern dance, Kripalu yoga, qi gong and tai chi. Catherine’s work draws on research and studies of the brain, molecular biology, education, ethno-pediatrics and other relevant interdisciplinary fields.

Certificates

Registered Somatic Movement Therapist (RSMT), credentialed by International Somatic Movement Therapists and Educators Association (ISMETA). September 2004 to present.

Certificate in Infant Developmental Movement Education (IDME), School for Body Mind Centering®. Jan 2004.

Certificate in Craniosacral Therapy (CST), Birth to Age 14, Dr. Benjamin Shields, Milne Institute, July 2007 and Level IV, Dr. Carol Phillips, Nov 2003.

Certificate in Detection and Remediation of Neuro-Developmental Delay in Children with Specific Learning Difficulties or Coordination/Movement Difficulties, Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology. Sept 2003.

Certificate in Hakomi Professional Skills. Hakomi School of Somatic Psychotherapy. Dec 1997.

Certificate in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Dec 1994.

Therapy Practice

MamaBebe: Developmental movement therapy, craniosacral therapy and somatic bodywork support for babies and toddlers with developmental challenges or delay. 2001 to present.

Tender Sprouts in partnership with Plan for Learning: Developmental movement therapy, craniosacral therapy, neuro-developmental training, and somatic bodywork support for preschoolers and school age children with developmental delay, learning challenges, attention deficit, autism and brain injury. September 2006 to present.

Whole Child Institute: Developmental movement therapy for young children ranging from children with developmental delays to autism and brain injury. 2001 to August 2006.

Riverside Alternative Therapies: Associate practitioner in clinic specializing in support for pregnant women and babies. Provided craniosacral therapy and developmental movement therapy for babies and craniosacral therapy for pregnant women and adults. March 2004 to May 2005.

PreNatal: Somatic bodywork and emotional release work with pregnant women and couples for birth preparation. 1997 to 2005.

Teaching experience

Early Childhood Education

Lead Developmental Playgroups for mothers and babies teaching developmental movement patterns and their affects on baby’s developing body, brain and mind. 1999 to present.

Developmental Movement and Brain Development workshops, consultations and presentations for early childhood providers on impacts of developmental movement patterns on body, brain and mind development.

• Ramsey County Childcare Resource and Referral Network; trainings. 2001 - present
• Washington County Licensed Family Child Care Association; training. 2005
• Anoka County Childcare Conference, trainings. 2002 - 2003
• Perpich Center for Arts Education; trainings. 2003 - 2004
• Minnesota Licensed Family Childcare Providers; training. 2003
• Brain Based Learning conference at Hamline University, St. Paul. 2003
• Early Childhood Education; Winona State University, trainings and consultation, 2003
• Minnesota Association of Education for Young Children conference (MNEAYC); trainings. 2000 - 2001
• Practitioner workshops at BMCA conference. 2001 - 2002
• St. Paul Public Schools Childcare Center staff development workshop. 2001
• Dakota County Family Child Care Association; training. 2001
• Large Motor Developmental Movements for YWCA early childhood staff. 1999

Movement for Learning in Primary Grades

Taught Developmental Dance classes for primary school teachers and children with dance educator Ric Watson. Led staff development workshops on kinesthetic learning and brain organization.

• Urban Arts retreat. 2000
• Staff Development for 1-3 grade teachers, Anne Sullivan Communications Center. 2000
• 1st grade and 2/3 grade classrooms; Anne Sullivan Communications Center. 2000
• 1st grade classes, Anne Sullivan Communications Center. 1999

Pre-Natal classes and workshops

Taught MamaBebe pre-natal classes for pregnant women and for couples, helping women to access their own physiological rhythms, kinesthetic connection with baby, and internal resources of movement and mindfulness for birth preparation. 1993 to 2002

Other somatic workshops

Active Role of the Baby in Birth: Parent presentation for Childbirth Assistant Collective; annually and biannually. 2004 to present

Your Amazing Newborn: Parent presentation for Childbirth Assistant Collective; annually and biannually. 2005 to present

Introduction to Body-Mind Centering: Organs substituted for Margie Fargnoli, University of Minnesota. 2005 - 2006

Articles

Understanding Developmental Movement. Co-authored with Linda Vetruss, special education teacher. Parent handout. 2005.

Movement and Brain Development: Attention and Cognition. Catherine Burns, author, with Lenore Grubinger and Martha Eddy. Unpublished paper. 2003.

Tummy Time & Public Health Campaign. Currents, Journal of Body Mind Centering® Association. 2001.

Active Role of Baby in Birth, Currents, Journal of Body Mind Centering® Association. 1999.

Active Role of Baby in Birth, International Cesarian Awareness Network (ICAN) newsletter. 1999.

Accessing Physiological Rhythms for Birth, MN Childbirth Assistants newsletter. 2000-2001.

Tummy Time series, Way to Grow newsletter. 2000 to 2001

Softening into the Organs in Twin Cities Wellness. 1996

Training

• Body-Mind Centering® training, School for Body-Mind Centering® (BMC) and certified teachers and practitioners of BMC®. 1985 to 2004

                Certificate in Infant Developmental Movement Education. Jan 2004, 200 hours

                Systems of Body-Mind. 332 hours

                NeuroDevelopment of Body-Mind, including Developmental movement, Basic neurological patterns, Senses and perceptions, Central nervous system,                 Brain, and Reflexes, righting reactions and equilibrium responses. 686 hours

NeuroDevelopmental Education

• HANDLE program for NeuroDevelopment, Janet Oliver of HANDLE Institute. April 2006. 12 hours
• Developmental Reflex therapy, Dr. Sally Goddard, Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology. Sept 2003. 8 hours
• Boost-Up Program, Dr. Lyelle Palmer, Winona State University. June 1996. 30 hours

Craniosacral Therapy

• Dr. Benjamin Shields, Milne Institute. Birth to 2 year olds and 2-14 year olds. June – July, 2007. 64 hrs
• Dr. Carol Phillips, Levels 3 - 4, Oct - Nov 2003. 24 hours
• Apprenticeship with Angel Phillips at Riverside Alternative Therapies. Jan 2004 – June 2005. 60 hours.

Perinatal support and Lactation support

• Supporting Baby’s Wholeness from the Beginning of Life. Wendy Anne McCarty, Santa Barbara Institute. Oct, 2006. 8 hrs.
• Lactation Education for Health Care Professionals. Evergreen Perinatal Education. Fairview Health Services. Mar, 2006. 42 hrs
• Belly Mapping. Gail Tully, Dakota County Technical College, Feb 2006. 3 hours
• Breastfeeding: Beyond the Basics. Linda Smith, La Leche League of Minnesota and the Dakotas. 7.2 hrs
• The Future of Birth: A workable approach to improving outcomes. Ina May Gaskin, Red Cedar Medical Center. Sept 2005. 2.5 hrs
• Sensational baby: Initial newborn care. Promoting infant brain growth.  Omega 3 PUFA.  13 C’s of Patient Education. Emotional intelligence at work. Maureen Shogan, RN. Regions Hospital. Sept 2005. 6 hours.
• Infant loss and the subsequent pregnancy. Joann O’Leary. Abbot Northwestern Medical Center. April, 2005. 8 hrs
• Postpartum Disorders. Dr. Suzanne Swanson. Minnesota Childbirth Assistants Collective. Oct 2004. 2.5 hours
• Magda Gerber’s Educarer approach to care of babies. Phyllis Porter. Ramsey County Childcare Resource and Referral. Mar 2001. 2.5 hrs
• Doula and Childbirth Assistant, Gail Tully and Kim Garret. Sage Femme Midwifery School, 1999. 19 hours
• Hypnotherapy for Birth Support, Phyllis Klaus, Abbot Northwestern Medical Center, 1999. 18 hours

Integration of Arts and Education

• Dance Education Initiative workshops, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Feb – June 1999, 24 hours
• Arts Integration with Academics for primary grades, Annenberg Arts for Academic Achievement of the Minneapolis Public School district, 1998 – 2000. 18 hours
• Certificate in Hakomi Professional Skills, Hakomi School of Somatic Psychotherapy. Dec 1997. 143 hours
• Anatomy and Physiology, University of Minnesota, 1986-1987. 74 hours

Updated: 07/07/07

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Thanks to families and photo credits