CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral therapy is a light touch therapy that engages the natural healing ability of the body to clear imbalances resulting from stressors. In doing so, this therapy also alleviates pain and discomfort in the body. CranioSacral Therapy uses the body’s own inherent physiological mechanisms to release areas of tension in the central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord which governs all body systems, by means of light touch structural bodywork.
The experience of CranioSacral Therapy is different for each person. The therapist provides a neutral, therapeutic presence so the client’s body can do what it needs to do. Sometimes our systems are missing resources for a number of different reasons. This therapy can recruit those missing resources by providing a clear suggestion for the best treatment plan, as intended by the client’s inner wisdom.
While all bodywork has an energetic component, CranioSacral Therapy is anatomy based as well. The therapist is highly trained in the systems and anatomy of the body, especially bones and tissue surrounding the central nervous system, as these structures are where the body’s wisdom and its inherent ability to shift and change are often seen.
The experience of CranioSacral Therapy is different for each person. The therapist provides a neutral, therapeutic presence so the client’s body can do what it needs to do. Sometimes our systems are missing resources for a number of different reasons. This therapy can recruit those missing resources by providing a clear suggestion for the best treatment plan, as intended by the client’s inner wisdom.
While all bodywork has an energetic component, CranioSacral Therapy is anatomy based as well. The therapist is highly trained in the systems and anatomy of the body, especially bones and tissue surrounding the central nervous system, as these structures are where the body’s wisdom and its inherent ability to shift and change are often seen.
CranioSacral Therapy has facilitated relief from migraines, chronic low back pain, physical and emotional trauma, sinus problems, chronic pain and long-term unresolved health concerns for adult clients.
Clients report significant shifts and personal changes from their sessions, and CranioSacral Therapy has been shown to be effective for the following:
Children benefit from CranioSacral Therapy as well, click here to read more about this specialty.
Clients report significant shifts and personal changes from their sessions, and CranioSacral Therapy has been shown to be effective for the following:
- Migraine Headaches
- Chronic Neck and Back Pain
- Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
- Motor-Coordination Impairments
- Autism Spectrum
- Central Nervous System Disorders
- Orthopedic Problems
- Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
- Scoliosis
- Learning Disabilities
- Chronic Fatigue
- Emotional Difficulties
- Stress and Tension-Related Problems
- Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
- Neurovascular or Immune Disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Post-Surgical Dysfunction
Children benefit from CranioSacral Therapy as well, click here to read more about this specialty.
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY SPECIALISTS
Catherine Whelan, LMT, CST-DCatherine is our lead CranioSacral Therapist, she works with adults and children.
Catherine also leads our CST Intensives, and many Multi-Therapist sessions. |
Kay Schaefer, PT
Kay is a physical therapist who has been in practice for over 30 years, she uses CranioSacral Therapy as a primary modality. Kay is a lead therapist in Intensive sessions and also offers Multi-Therapist sessions.
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David Paad, CNM, RN
David's practice specialty is newborns, infants, and pregnancy, he also works with adults. David offers Multi-Therapist sessions.
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Elizabeth Sanders, LMT
Elizabeth provides full CST sessions and can incorporate some CST into Therapeutic Massage sessions as well.
Elizabeth offers Multi-Therapist sessions. |
"It is with therapeutic presence that the therapist creates the space and safety for a client to bring the non-conscious to the conscious awareness.
This enables the body to connect the parts to the already whole and healed inner wisdom."
This enables the body to connect the parts to the already whole and healed inner wisdom."
- CATHERINE WHELAN
MORE DETAILS ABOUT CST
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) can help to release tensions in the central nervous system. The central nervous system governs all of the body systems so decreasing tensions in the central nervous system can be felt by you in many different ways depending on which part of the central nervous system is affected. If the tension is in the cranial base you may noticed reduced headaches, sinus pressure, changes in hearing or eyesight. If the tension is somewhere in the dural tube improvement will most likely be felt in the corresponding tissues related to that spinal cord segment. If the tension is in the sacrum or lower part of the dural tube you may gain relief from low back pain, digestion issues, or leg pain.
CranioSacral Therapy helps the body to relax by going into parasympathetic mode (rest/digest) instead of sympathetic mode (fight/flight/freeze). When the body is in parasympathetic mode it can heal and decrease pain, inflammation, anxiety. Each body is unique and therefore the ways CranioSacral Therapy can help you are uniquely individual. It can help release old traumas and belief systems that are no longer serving you. CranioSacral Therapy may also help with healing from injuries, concussions, surgeries, and chronic illness.
CranioSacral Therapy helps the body to relax by going into parasympathetic mode (rest/digest) instead of sympathetic mode (fight/flight/freeze). When the body is in parasympathetic mode it can heal and decrease pain, inflammation, anxiety. Each body is unique and therefore the ways CranioSacral Therapy can help you are uniquely individual. It can help release old traumas and belief systems that are no longer serving you. CranioSacral Therapy may also help with healing from injuries, concussions, surgeries, and chronic illness.
IS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you have read this far and are curious, planning a CST session might be a good idea for you. It is a therapy that is far easier to understand as you experience it than by reading about it. In general we suggest that clients experience 1-3 sessions of CranioSacral Therapy, at that time they will have a good sense of whether CST is going to be a help and the therapist will know their body well enough to be able to make more specific recommendations for a treatment plan.
How long it will take to resolve an issue requires a very individual answer. Often people feel relief after their first session, generally there is more work to be done. We have many clients who have resolved issues and return occasionally for maintenance, and others who find that for their more chronic situation, CST is a regular part of their health care. We are happy to talk more with you about what to expect for your individual situation.
How long it will take to resolve an issue requires a very individual answer. Often people feel relief after their first session, generally there is more work to be done. We have many clients who have resolved issues and return occasionally for maintenance, and others who find that for their more chronic situation, CST is a regular part of their health care. We are happy to talk more with you about what to expect for your individual situation.
HOW DOES IT FEEL? WHY IS THE PRESSURE SO LIGHT?
CranioSacral Therapy is gentle manual therapy, the pressure is meant to be light, five grams or less. Your body’s consciousness might not be aware of the work because it is so light. This is done intentionally so as not to illicit the body’s defensive mechanisms. This may be a reason why you didn’t feel much or anything. Also your body awareness may be expecting deeper work and it may take a few sessions before you are aware of the different sensations. Sometimes when the body has experienced pain and trauma it may shut off messages from that part of the body. As we proceed with treatment you may notice more sensation in your body.
"The beauty of CranioSacral Therapy is that it works gently to facilitate the free flow and ease of movement of all the body's fluids, membranes, muscles and fascia."
