NeuroMovement® for Children in San Mateo, CA
Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays
How NeuroMovement® Supports Children with a Wide Range of Needs
When your child is facing developmental challenges, it can be hard to know how to help. You may feel caught between wanting to support their growth and not knowing what will truly make a difference. Some children have movement-related challenges like cerebral palsy, brain injury, or genetic conditions. Others experience differences in attention, learning, communication, or sensory processing. Many children face a combination of both.
NeuroMovement® is a gentle, non-invasive, hands-on approach that uses movement with awareness to engage the brain’s natural ability to learn, adapt, and grow. Rooted in the science of neuroplasticity, this approach supports the development of new neural pathways that help children improve how they move, think, and relate to the world around them.
This method can benefit children across a wide range of needs, including autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and more. Whether the challenges show up in movement, speech, attention, or emotional regulation, we meet each child where they are and offer them the opportunity to discover new possibilities.
Through slow, mindful movement experiences, the brain gets the information it needs to organize itself in more effective ways. Unlike approaches that rely on drills or correction, NeuroMovement® invites exploration, learning, and growth without pressure or repetition. Over time, many children experience improvements in coordination, communication, focus, and confidence.
We are here to support your child in discovering new ways of moving, thinking, and connecting with themselves and the world. Each small shift can open the door to real change.
Olga and Mark Lubarsky
Somatic and Coaching Center in San Mateo, CA
NeuroMovement®
“Whole-body Learning. Mindful Movement for ease, clarity, and focus.”
This work is deeply personal to us. It’s shaped by advanced training, life experience, parenting, and everything we’ve learned along the way.
What Makes Learning Through NeuroMovement® So Powerful
When our children grow, they do it through learning, learning every minute, with every action, nonstop. No matter what health conditions, talents, or predispositions a child may have, their experience and life trajectory can be shaped by how and when learning happens.
This learning occurs through experience, through moving, feeling, figuring things out, and connecting with the inner and outer world. Our focus is on this learning process, helping the child overcome limitations, become more resilient, and unlock their full potential.
Many traditional methods focus on fixed milestones or repetitive drills, but NeuroMovement® takes a different approach. Grounded in the science of brain plasticity and the connection between movement, thinking, and feeling, it supports the child’s own discovery process and honors their pace. This powerful method helps the brain become a more effective learner, leading to real, lasting changes not only in movement, but also in communication, emotional regulation, and how a child engages with the world around them.
Conditions We Commonly Work With
We work with children of all ages and a wide range of abilities, helping them discover their own path to development through gentle, awareness-based movement. Every session is an invitation to the brain to learn something new, without pressure, without expectation, and always with deep respect for the child.
Parents often bring children with a wide range of diagnoses or concerns and report noticeable improvements over time. Some of the most common include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- ADHD / ADD (diagnosed or undiagnosed)
- Sensory Processing Sensitivity or Disorders
- Cerebral Palsy (CP), Stroke, or Brain Injury
- Developmental Delays or Global Developmental Delay
- Genetic Disorders
- Undiagnosed or mixed motor and cognitive issues
- Learning, behavioral, or emotional regulation challenges
We support both children with special needs and those navigating milder or undiagnosed challenges, creating a welcoming and inclusive space for growth.
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- Cerebral palsy (CP) stroke or other brain trauma
- Undiagnosed developmental delays
- Global brain damage
- Genetic disorders
- Other learning, behavioral, or developmental challenges
What Our Clients Are Saying
We’ve been honored to support children of all ages and abilities through NeuroMovement® from San Mateo and all over the Bay Area. Families often share how much shifts over time: improved coordination and movement, greater focus and calm, increased confidence, smoother communication, and new ways of connecting with the world.
Because this work is personal and private, most stories stay between us and the families we serve. The reflections below offer a small glimpse into the kinds of positive changes that can happen.
Curious to hear more? We’re happy to share examples and explore how this approach could support your child.
"Mark is a kind and patient Anat Baniel Method practitioner who works with my 10-year-old son with mild Autism and ADHD. He engages my son with attentive, good humor, and his calm, upbeat demeanor puts my son at ease, and they are able to connect and share a laugh. I notice that my son uses a lot more spontaneous language and comments on more things after his lessons with Mark. Since scripting (reciting movie/show dialogue) is his preferred way of speaking, this growth in his language expression is exactly what we, as parents, were hoping for, and we are excited to keep building on this success."
"My son and I have been working with Olga and Mark for over a year now. Anat Baniel Method is revolutionary and makes a tremendous difference in how our brain connects to the body movement. My son's physical capabilities have accelerated steadily since working with Mark. His mood and energy levels are always high after each session. It has led him to develop much more confidence, first in crawling and then by developing the strength to walk. His muscular strength is more stable, and his alertness to movement increases. We love Mark's and Olga's passion and dedication to their work! It makes a great deal of difference for our family."
"My 5-year-old son goes to Occupational Therapy to work on his fine motor skills, sensory sensitivities, and crossing the mid-line tasks. Since we started seeing Mark for ABM sessions this summer, his OT has noticed a drastic improvement in his handwriting. One day at home, he entirely dressed and went to the bathroom on his own (number 2, which he usually avoids). He feels more comfortable in his body. Mark is very patient and calm, and my son enjoys talking to him. We are happy he has had the chance to have these sessions as he transitioned to kindergarten this year."
"... We started ABM lessons for our daughter last summer and were happy to get the chance to get her more ABM lessons. Olga approached Jewel with such gentleness, integrity, and sweetness which made Jewel trust her right away. She allowed Olga to work on her, and her body slowly transformed, getting softer and opening up, as if moving forward. Going from tightness to openness, from congestion to open airways."
In 2018, the first documentary film describing NeuroMovement, “Life Unbound” started its showing across the globe.
Supporting Research
This system has its roots in the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (aka Feldenkrais Method), with whom Anat Baniel studied for many years before expanding the method into what is now known as NeuroMovement®. Anat Baniel’s work with thousands of children and adults gave her many experiences from which she concluded how the brain works. Anat was using principles of brain plasticity many years before brain science caught up and began validating her work. Anat is working closely with other leading renown experts in Movement Science, Neurology and Brain plasticity, including:
- Dr. Michael Merzenich (Alzheimer’s, BrainHQ/Posit Science, “Father of Brain Plasticy Science”),
- Dr. Martha Herbert, MD, PhD (Pediatric Neurology)
- Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor (Stroke recovery)
- Norman Doidge, MD (Psychiatry)
Recommended Reading for Parents and Caregivers
Our teacher and mentor, Anat Baniel, is the author of the books ‘Move Into Life’ and ‘Kids Beyond Limits’.
These books have been translated into multiple languages and describe the evolution of this method, its core principles, and philosophy.
Curious About How It Works?
These are some of the most common questions from families exploring NeuroMovement® and looking to understand how it fits their child’s unique needs.
What is NeuroMovement®, and how is it different from traditional occupational or physical therapy?
NeuroMovement® is a learning-based approach that uses gentle movement and awareness to help the brain form new connections. Unlike therapies that focus on repetition or specific milestones, NeuroMovement® invites the brain to become a more effective learner. This can lead to unexpected breakthroughs in movement, communication, emotional regulation, speech and connection.
One of the reasons this approach is so potent, and why improvements can be seen across various conditions, is that it helps develop functional patterns that connect intention and action. It is grounded in the connection between movement, thinking, and feeling.
We don’t push toward fixed outcomes. Instead, we support the child’s own discovery process, helping them find new options from the inside out. The work is grounded in principles of brain plasticity, and it’s especially effective when traditional approaches haven’t quite met the child where they are.
Many of our clients have a large support team that includes various therapies. Some families see our work as an alternative to occupational or physical therapy, while others find it a valuable complement to other programs. Whatever a child is learning, the work they do with us often helps them improve in other areas too.
That said, we highly recommend speaking with us before starting any new therapy or activity while in the program, especially during or around intensives. This helps ensure the learning integrates well and isn’t unintentionally overwritten.
Does my child need a diagnosis to benefit from this work?
Not at all. Some families come to us after receiving a diagnosis such as autism, ADHD, sensory processing challenges, or cerebral palsy. Others are still figuring things out. We also see many children without a formal diagnosis but who experience developmental delays or differences in areas such as movement, emotional regulation, attention, or keeping up with peers at school or at home.
We are not medical providers, and we do not diagnose or treat medical conditions. We work with the child in front of us, focusing on their potential for learning and growth. Every child can benefit from a process that honors their pace, supports their curiosity, and engages their whole brain and body.
What is the best fit for my child and our family: NeuroMovement® or ADHD/family coaching?
It depends on your child’s age, needs, and what kind of support you’re looking for. If your child is younger, we often recommend starting with NeuroMovement® because it provides a gentle and effective way to access learning through the body, especially when verbal communication or emotional regulation are still developing.
As we get to know your family, we may suggest incorporating coaching as well. Through coaching, we can either support you as a parent or help your child build tools and learn practical skills as they grow and become more coachable. Most of the time, Family coaching can make the child’s NeuroMovement® program more effective and help reduce friction and overwhelm at home.
Our Family coaching is designed for a wide range of needs, not just those tied to ADHD. It’s especially helpful for families navigating emotional intensity, sensory integration issues, behavioral challenges, or support needs around executive functioning. These things affect nearly every household with a neurodivergent or uniquely wired child — including families with children diagnosed with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Whether it’s Family coaching or 1:1 ADHD coaching, these approaches can work beautifully alongside NeuroMovement®, depending on your child’s age and readiness. This integration is one of our core specialties, and we’ll help you find the right rhythm for your family.
How is your approach different from other practitioners who use NeuroMovement® or offer coaching?
What makes our approach unique is the way we integrate deep, professional training in both NeuroMovement® and ADHD/family coaching. While other practitioners may offer some form of coaching or parent support, our coaching is grounded in evidence-based practices and specialized training in executive functioning, communication, and family dynamics.
We bring more than a decade of experience working with children through NeuroMovement®, along with years of professional ADHD coaching for adults, teens, and parents. Our work is rooted in a deep understanding of neurodiversity, sensory challenges, and real-life pressures that affect families every day. We don’t treat coaching as an add-on. It’s a complementary profession we’ve trained in extensively.
This blend allows us to meet your family where you are, whether your child is best supported through somatic learning, structured coaching, or a thoughtful combination of both. You can read more about our approach: Our Story page.
Is NeuroMovement® covered by insurance?
Because NeuroMovement® is a learning-based approach rather than a medical treatment, it is generally not covered by insurance. We do not diagnose or provide documentation for insurance reimbursement. However, some families with flexible spending or HSA accounts may be able to use those funds toward sessions. If you’re unsure, check with your plan administrator for guidance.
We’re always happy to discuss your options during a free consultation and help you figure out what feels realistic and sustainable for your family.