CranioSacral Therapy

 CranioSacral Therapy (CST) was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies from 1975 to 1983 at Michigan State University, where he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics.

 CST is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system – comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

 Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.

 By complementing the body’s natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:

SomatoEmotional Release is when stored nonconscious memory of trauma in the soma is able to be experienced and brought to a more conscious state through a therapeutic release. The trauma response whether it be physical or emotional suppresses the memory by retaining it in the body or the nonconscious. When working with the body or the psyche one may discover that the therapeutic release requires addressing the tissue as well as the emotional components in order to restore optimal health.

How can it help me?

CranioSacral Therapy has many benefits included but not limited to; Chronic pain, headaches, and migraines, fibromyalgia, colic, scoliosis, emotional stress, TMJ, PTSD, immune and soft tissue disorders, autism, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, learning disabilities,  ect.. It can enhance the body’s own healing process. In general, most people experience relief of pain, sleep improvements, relaxation, a more regulated nervous system, and an overall sense of wellbeing.

 I like to give a general view of the wide spectrum in which this modality treats. I often find people didn’t even consider this to be a treatment for something else they have going on if they were simply coming in for a headache. They may soon discover that this might be worth trying for other issues going on. The body’s ability to self regulate and heal is profound and I hope to bring attention to that fact when introducing people to this work as an innate part of the process. Letting people know some of the immediate results can also give them a sense of what to expect from the session. 

How many sessions will I need for my _____ problem?

This can vary from client to client based on their specific health and history. I would encourage trying it 3 times to see if you are finding results you like. I personally receive it on an ongoing basis as a tool for preventative care and for more acute situations I may receive care more often. It’s entirely up to the client to feel out what suits their needs best. 

 I am cautious when giving people a time frame because I want them to ultimately lead in their decisions on what is best for their health. It is very important to me that clients know that my main priority is not about selling something and that it’s about doing beneficial work. I also like being open about how utilize this treatment in my own life to reinforce my commitment and belief in it. 

I didn’t feel much why not?

Due to the nature of the systems, we primarily work with it is essential to use minimal pressure. It is important that we consider the amount of pressure we use in order to be effective. It can be experienced as relaxing although there are many physiological changes that can occur during a session. Some feel more than others and what you feel can vary from session to session based on what is being released. 

 Sometimes this is a tricky question because I may feel a lot of therapeutic changes while working with the client and they feel nothing. I don’t want to interfere with their experience by over sharing so I typically find that if I can bring it back to the basis of why we use light touch it’s helpful for creating an understanding for why they didn’t feel much. I find it is important to acknowledge that many clients can feel quite a lot and may be surprised by that also. In the event that they have a future experience with more sensations, they will not be surprised.

 How come I feel pain in my ___ when I didn’t feel it at the beginning of the session?

There are times we may experience the shift from a compensation pattern and can experience pain. This is not uncommon. For some clients, this is part of the process toward healing. It can take a few days for the body to integrate those changes and you may experience new sensations as a result. If the pain is persistent and or gets worse please contact me and we can see if there may be more that needs to be resolved. 

 I try to help clients know that this can be a very normal experience when receiving any type of bodywork. Healing doesn’t always come without feeling and that feeling can at times be perceived as pain. The body also has its time that needs to be respected for integrating the changes that had just occurred. I always want my clients to feel they can ask questions and if something doesn’t feel right that I am happy to try and assist with a solution in any way possible.