What is CranioSacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy is a light touch therapy that releases tension in the body, improves the functioning of the central nervous system and therefore helps to reduce pain, dysfunction, stress, and increases overall well being.

The craniosacral system is the soft tissue and fluid that protects, nourishes and cleanses the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system). It is responsible for the production, reabsorbtion and circulation of craniosacral fluid. It is influenced by the nervous system, the muscoskeletal system, the respiratory system, the lymphatic system, the vascular system and the endocrine system. Tension or dysfunction in these systems may influence the craniosacral system, which in turn may affect the central nervous system.

Who developed CranioSacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy was developed by Dr. John Upledger who first witnessed the rhythmic movement of the craniosacral system in 1970. After many years of research, he established the Upledger Institute in 1985 in order to teach healthcare practitioners about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. Now more that 80,000 practitioners worldwide have been trained in the use of CranioSacral Therapy.

How can CranioSacral Therapy help me?

CranioSacral Therapy can help everyone by enhancing their physical and emotional well being. This happens because stresses and restrictions on the craniosacral system that reduce its performance efficiency can be removed.

An imbalance or dysfunction in the craniosacral system can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological dysfunction. Specific problems, such as accidents, trauma and infections can be addressed. Where there is a restriction, the body is less able to detoxify itself. Gentle techniques to release such restrictions enhance the body’s ability to heal itself, and to attain its optimal balance at any given time.

This kind of preventative treatment can reduce healthcare costs, because we are taking a proactive approach to our health and health care needs.

What is Somatic Emotional Release?

Somatic Emotional Release is a body-mind approach to releasing trauma from the body. Trauma affects us on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.

Physical trauma can result from an accident, an injury or abuse. For example, if a bone is fractured, it takes our cells a while to get back to our norm.

Emotional trauma could be a conscious or an unconscious memory or energy that can affect our thought processes and the normal functioning of our bodies.

Any kind of trauma, unless released, could hold us back in our personal growth.

No-one wants to relive trauma. Somatic Emotional Release uses body-work combined with dialoguing to release trauma in the best way possible for each individual. This is a very personal, client-led therapy, and is facilitated only when the client feels safe and ready to proceed.

How is CranioSacral Therapy performed?

CranioSacral Therapy is performed on a client fully clothed. A very light touch is used to monitor the cranial rhythm in order to detect potential restrictions and imbalances. Delicate manual techniques are then used to release restrictions and correct imbalances, so that the body can return to its optimal level of performance at that time.

How many sessions will I need?

Generally 4 to 6 sessions are recommended. This may be determined after 1 or 2 sessions. This is very individual. It may depend on some of the following factors:

The client’s state of health is a critical factor to take into consideration. Consider the following scenarios:

Suppose the client is in pretty good health and then catches the flu. She may need 2 sessions to put her back on track.

On the other hand, if a client is suffering from a chronic condition, 4 sessions may give her a good boost, and then monthly maintenance would be advisable if there is a positive response to the treatment.

A client with chronic pain could have a couple of sessions, determine what has changed after each session and whether the response is positive, and then establish a treatment plan with the therapist or referring doctor.

Some clients simply feel great after a treatment and decide to come on a regular basis.
Other clients may wish to explore the depth of CranioSacral treatment and work to clear emotional trauma and associated physical ailments from the body.

I didn’t feel much. Why not?

This kind of treatment is gentle, subtle and non-invasive. The intention is not to provoke the tissue’s defense mechanism. It is relaxing and the practitioner takes cues from the body about whether a point of resistance has been reached. If the body needs to move beyond this point of resistance at that particular point in time, then it will do so at it’s own pace and the practitioner’s job is to facilitate that by reading the cues that the body is giving. This means that the client may not feel much, except maybe a sense of release or relaxation when a release has occurred.

Some clients may be used to other therapies, such as massage or chiropractic treatment, where they clearly feel something. They may need to get used to sensing what is happening in their bodies during this more subtle treatment. Others may not ever feel much during a treatment, but may notice 2 days later that their pain has gone away or that their problem seems to be resolved. This varies from person to person.

How come I feel pain in my (fill in the blank) when I didn’t feel it before the session?

It is possible that as we address one problem area, another may show itself because our body often carries many layers of stresses, whether physical or emotional. Once the top layer of dysfunction has been addressed, another layer could reveal itself, especially if the body is ready to deal with that layer as well. This could be triggered by a physical, emotional or spiritual readiness, and may be the result of a fairly recent strain, or something that can be traced back to one’s childhood, or something in between.

The body may continue to release memory of what is stored in the tissue long after the actual treatment. If a new pain is felt, then it may be an opportunity for the client to reach a new level of health and shed some dysfunction that he or she has been living with but has not been conscious of as a dysfunction.