Craniosacral Therapy

 

What is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral therapy is a form of treatment which has its origins within the field of osteopathy and which has grown and developed into an effective treatment form in its own right. It is a subtle yet effective form of body therapy which acknowledges the connection between body and mind.

It is beneficial in the treatment of adults, children, and babies. Treatment involves the use of light physical touch.

About Craniosacral Therapy

Life experiences such as birth, accidents, injuries, toxicity, emotional problems, stress and prolonged strain may affect the body and cause disease.  During these events the tissues in the body contract and if there is an emotion linked to the event, the tissue may find it hard to balance. This might manifest in back pain, migraine, digestive problems or maybe emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression or more severe illnesses.  The ‘memory’ of these events or traumas can stay in the body for a long time.

Origins of Craniosacral Therapy

It has been developed from discoveries about the body’s subtle physiology, made by osteopaths in the USA around 100 years ago.  These findings show that all cells in the body express a rhythmic movement which is fundamental to life and which has been called craniosacral motion.  At the core of the body the cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes and cushions the brain and spinal cord express this motion in a tide like ebb and flow, (like the tides in the sea)  while bones, organs and other structures in the body follow their own particular patterns of movement.  This motion is very subtle but a trained therapist is able to perceive this motion.  Development of these discoveries has evolved and refined the therapy into the unique style of deep listening it is today.

My Work as a Craniosacral Therapist

  • I understand that the body has an innate capacity to self-regulate and heal itself.
  • I believe that symptoms arise when the body is unable to build and maintain a state of balance and equilibrium.
  • The treatment I offer aims to enhance the healing processes already operating within the body.
  • I aim to offer effective treatment. I am committed to engaging in professional development and to maintaining my professional registration.
  • I receive regular sessions of craniosacral sessions myself and I believe it helps to maintain my own health.
  • I work within the limits of my knowledge and skill and refer clients to other professionals where I consider it appropriate

Conditions Suited to Craniosacral Therapy

Many conditions may be successfully treated with Craniosacral Therapy because it works with the bony structures of the body, the nervous system, the internal organs and the muscles and connective tissue. If one realises that the mental and emotional aspects of our lives cannot be separated from our bodies and that one affects the other particularly at the level at which Craniosacral Therapy operates, one can see that Craniosacral Therapy is indeed a profound healing system.

Because the touch which is used is very gentle, it can be applied where other more direct interventions are too invasive, for example with elderly people. With babies this approach is particularly appropriate in helping resolve the effects associated with a difficult birth.

Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy

Treatment is designed to meet individual needs and is considered within the context of a person’s overall health. General benefits may also include increased vitality; improved sleep; better concentration; improved mobility, greater capacity for relaxation and increased capacity to deal with stress

What is it like to receive craniosacral therapy?

You will usually be lying comfortably on a treatment couch – fully dressed with shoes removed. Your therapist will be standing or sitting beside you and will place his or her hands very lightly on or under your body. Your body will set the pace of work, so you will remain comfortable and in control.  Your therapist listens, via the hands, to what is going on in the body and allows the client’s body to make its own adjustments. You may feel a deep sense of relaxation and become aware of heat, tingling, pulsations or other sensations. You may find that the reason you came for treatment is not what changes first.  Some people find that it can take a few sessions to get used to what they are feeling.