One-Day Practitioner Training Course in collaboration with Sleepwell AU/NZ
When?
18th May 2025
Who is this course for?
Speech and language pathologists, orofacial myofunctional therapists, physical therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, integrative medicine practitioners, breathing practitioners, dental practitioners and naturopaths.
How long is the course?
8am-5pm
Where?
Brisbane- (Location TBA)
What is Integrative Breathing Therapy?
Integrative Breathing Therapy (IBT) is a unique, comprehensive, and personalized approach to nasal and upper airway rehabilitation. This course provides the theoretical knowledge and practical skills clinicians need to systematically improve patients' nasal breathing and upper airway function according to the principles of IBT.
Adequate airflow through the nose and upper airway is the foundation of healthy breathing. Nasal breathing is the ideal way to breathe; however, many people are chronic mouth breathers. Nasal breathing difficulties are not always fully explained by pathology or structural issues and can be due to functional problems like empty nose syndrome, chronic “nasal disuse,” nasal hypersensitivity, or dysfunctional breathing.
Structures of the upper airway that can impede airflow include the tongue, pharynx, and larynx. Factors such as posture, muscle function, and dysfunctional breathing can impact the function of the upper airway and contribute to sleep-disordered breathing, laryngeal breathing disorders, and other issues.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the theoretical principles and clinical tools of Integrative Breathing Therapy.
- Recognize the practical importance of functional and neurological links between the upper airway (nose and throat disorders) and dysfunctional breathing.
- Identify nasal, tongue, and upper airway dysfunctions from a breathing systems perspective.
- Learn IBT approaches and techniques to improve nasal and upper airway function.
Lecturer
Dr. Rosalba Courtney ND, DO, PhD is an osteopath with over 45 years of experience as a practitioner, teacher, researcher, and writer. She holds a PhD in breathing and has a deep interest in how breathing and airway function affect health.
Dr. Courtney was one of the first practitioners trained in the Buteyko Method in the 1990s and was the founding chairperson of the Buteyko Practitioners Association. She has trained practitioners in this method in Australia, the USA, and the UK, leading to a broad interest in breathing therapy in general. She received her PhD from RMIT University in 2011 for her research on "Dysfunctional Breathing: Its Parameters, Measurement and Clinical Relevance."
Internationally recognized for her work in this field, Dr. Courtney has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters on the topic. She has also completed training in orofacial myology and integrates this into her clinical practice. Dr. Courtney has presented at numerous national and international conferences and is actively involved in research and mentoring osteopathic students. She is renowned for her ability to synthesize complex information from scientific literature and extract its practical significance for clinicians.
Dr. Courtney practices in Sydney, Australia, offering osteopathic treatment and breathing programs for adults and children both face-to-face and online. She also provides various practitioner training programs in Integrative Breathing Therapy.
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