History

2021: All office visits  were virtual.  Helen virtually attended Carol Ann Erickson’s Movement Exploration Brain Gym^® courses.  Purification and 10-day Hormone programs were promoted to clients.

2020: Because of COVID, Options shortened the hours of operation, most office visits were done by phone and group meetings were done virtually.

2019: On June 22-25, Carol Ann Erickson, world reknown educator, taught the first course of Movement Education.  Movement Education is a series of courses that Carol Ann has created. Picture of event is located here under June 22-25, 2019.

2018: On June 21-24, Denise Hornbeak, author of The SuperConfitelligent Child: Loving to Learn through Movement and Play, taught two Brain Gym Vision courses, Learn Through Movement and Play and For Your Eyes Only, Vision Rejuvenation.  Patrice [Beau] Walker joined Options staff.

2017: On June 15-18th, Cindy Goldade from Minneapolis came to Options Center and taught Brain Gym Teachers’ Practicum.  This course is a pre-requisite for licensure.  Two of the students who attended were able to finish their  licensure as a result of taking this course.

2016: On June 17th through 19th, Options coordinated Visioncircles, a Brain Gym® workshop taught by Jeanne Aken who is from Chicago. The workshop was held at Options Center.

2015: Options is 30 years old. Mary Casterline joined the staff. Sponsored Double Doodles Workshop, June 20th.

2014: TMA website portion of Options’ website is revised and is much more user friendly!!!  Group meetings started.   Topics included Detoxification/Purification, Healthy Skin Products and GI functioning.

2013: On August 10th and 11th, Options coordinated Optimal Brain Organization, a Brain Gym® workshop taught by Cindy Goldade who is from MN.  The workshop was held at Options Center.

In August, Options coordinated a Touch for Health workshop taught by Norma Harnack from St. Louis.  The workshop was located at Options Center.

2012: On June 2nd and 3rd, Options coordinated a Rhythmic Movement Training Level I workshop taught by Kate Wagner who is from Naperville, IL.  The workshop was held at Options Center.

On July 19, 20, 21, Options coordinated a Touch for Health workshop taught by Norma Harnack from St. Louis.  The workshop was located at Options Center.

Options offering Cardio Metabolic and PreDiabetic testing.

2011: On September 10th and 11th, Options coordinated a Brain Gym® workshop taught by Carla Hannaford.

2010: Options coordinated a Rhythmic Movement Therapy workshop taught by Carol Ann Erickson.

2010: Options is 25 years old!

2009: 0n July 11 and 12th, Options coordinated a second Brain Gym® workshop taught by Isabel Cohen, from South Africa and author of Hands On.

2008: On June 28 and 29th, Options coordinated a Brain Gym® workshop taught by Isabel Cohen.

Helen was recertified by the Brain Gym® Foundation to be able to teach Brain Gym® 101 certification workshops.

A website was created to give clients comprehensive information about the hair analysis interpretation. This enabled Options’ clients to process the information at their own pace and served as an easy reference guide if questions arose after the initial appointment with Helen.

2007: Becky Montgomery joined the Options staff in January 2007 as the Office Assistant. When Cricket decided she needed to move on, she groomed Becky to take over as Office Manager. Becky officially became Office Manager in June 2007.

On June 23 and 24th, Options coordinated Physiology of Learning, a Brain Gym® workshop taught by Victoria Tennant, MS, from Spokane, WA.

Helen was recertified by the Touch for Health Foundation-Kinesiology to be able to teach Touch for Health Workshops.

2006: Mary Maubach retired after many years as Options’ Office Manager. Cricket Mara took over the Office Manager duties when Mary retired.

On June 24 and 25th, Options coordinated a Brain Gym® workshop taught by Victoria Tennant, MS, from Spokane, WA.

2005: Options is 20 years old!

On June 25 and 26th, Options coordinated Physiology of Learning, a Brain Gym® workshop taught by Victoria Tennant, MS, from Spokane, WA.

2004: Helen was licensed by the State of Illinois to be a licensed dietician nutritionist.

Health & Education email courses were written and sent to new clients and students.

2003: On June 20-22 Options Center and Dr. Carla Hannaford, an internationally known educator, presented a program in Peoria.

Biweekly health email newsletters began.

2002: In May, Helen was recertified by Touch for Health Foundation to be able to teach Touch for Health Classes Levels 1-4.

In June, in coordination with Options Center, Dr. Carla Hannaford, an internationally known educator, presented a program in East Peoria.

Helen was recertified by the Brain Gym® Foundation to be able to teach Brain Gym® 101 certification workshops.

Options became a weekly pick up location for a local natural foods producer and continued for four years.

Options Center moved to 4316 N. Prospect Rd. on October 25th, and opened for business on Monday, October 28th. Options created a resource list of other practitioners such as massage therapists.

2001: Options first participated in Wellness Weekend in the Wild at Wildlife Prairie Park and continued for a number of years.

Options offered Brain Gym® workshops for Aurora college credits continuing until 2009.

2000: In October, Options & Naturally Yours sponsored a healthy eating program to taste test and get ideas for school lunches.

1999: On June 9, Dr. David Watts, Ph.D., DC & Dr. Richard Malter, Ph.D. gave a lecture on hair analysis in Peoria.

1998: On April 1st, Dr. Richard Malter gave a conference at ICC on children with ADD/ADHD.

Options became a distribution point for Timber Creek Organic Farms with deliveries every two weeks and continued for many years.

Dr. Patrick Haskell D.C. joined the Options staff and remained on staff for the next four years.

1997: Helen developed a nutritional program to coincide with the hair analysis reports.

On April 18th & October 1^st, Psychologist Dr. Richard Malter, PhD of Chicago, gave seminars on children’s learning problems and hair analysis.

Options became incorporated!

Helen received her LNC (Licensed Nutritional Counselor) certification from the state of Illinois.

Creative Self Awareness classes taught by Pat Ceresoli & assisted by Nicole Cox were held at Common Place.

1996: Options first offered Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.

On November 15 – 17, Dr. Carla Hannaford, an internationally recognized educator, presented a program at Illinois Central College (ICC), coordinated by Options Center.

Illinois Central College (ICC) noncredit classes were offered on holistic topics taught by Options staff and continued for several years.

1995: The Vision Therapy program was incorporated into the Brain Gym® classes. Later the same year, the Mnemonics program was incorporated into the Brain Gym® classes as well.

The Discovery Team was formed consisting of educator, Richard Morris; nutritionist & Brain Gym® educator, Helen Cox; and Dr. Patrick Haskell, a chiropractor with specialization in Sacro-Occipital Technique.

1994: The book, Alternative Health, Space Age Interpretations of Age-Old Truths, co-authored by Helen Cox and Blaine Patino, was published.

Creative Self Awareness classes taught by Wayne Forbes were in Peoria Heights Monroe School & South Side Catholic School.

1993: Mr. Richard Morris introduced his Mnemonics program to students at Options Center. He continued teaching at Options until 2003.

1992: In March, Options began providing services for students in Pontiac, IL, which continued through the summer.

1991: On April 1, Options moved to a new location in Peoria Heights. At this location, seven rooms were designed to provide a proper atmosphere for counseling, seminars, learning enhancement and wellness programs.

In July, Options started the Vision Therapy program under the supervision of Dr. Robert E. Schmidt, OD. Dr. Schmidt was a consultant for the next four years.

In September, Options was named by the National Learning Foundation as one of the exemplary demonstrations of Brain Gym® by the Edu-Kinesthetics Foundation.

1989: In June, Options conducted the summer school at Brimfield Grade School.

1988: In June, the education center expanded and academic classes incorporating Brain Gym® exercises were started.

Art therapy was offered to students & continued for about 10 years.

Massage and Foot Reflexology sessions were first offered at Options Center and continued until 2001.

In December, Options conducted a holiday camp for one week between the Holidays which was designed in particular for students living longer distances from Options.

1987: Options Education Center was established. At its inception the classes only consisted of Brain Gym® exercises.

Monthly newsletters were written and distributed until 1997.

1985: On June 20^th, Options Health Center started.  Helen used iridology, Nature’s Sunshine Herbs, nutrition, polarity, Touch for Health, and other energy field techniques with her clients.