​Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle form of body work focused on regulating the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) via the sutures (synarthrodial joints) of the cranium (head) and the sacrum (triangle shaped bone between the end of the spinal column & the tailbone).
The CSF surrounds, protects and nourishes the brain and spinal cord. Its job is to send and receive messages to the body via the central nervous system (CNS) and also to nourish and remove toxins from the CNS. If there is a blockage in any part of its pathway the body will adapt and compensate in a number of clever and sometimes uncomfortable ways!
As the CFS moves from the cranium down the dural tube to the sacrum it creates a wave like motion that very subtly moves paired bones externally, as the fluid travels to the sacrum, and internally, as the fluid returns to the cranium. In craniosacral therapy (CST) I will use a very light touch (usually no more than 5 grams) to assess the craniosacral rhythm via listening posts throughout cranium, sacrum and the body.
As well as balancing and relieving any restrictions in this motion I can also relieve restrictions in the fascia of the body. This is also done with a very light touch, 5-30gms of pressure at the most.
I aim to access the client's own inherent health regardless of their presenting symptoms. I act as a reflecting ground for the client's healing experiences therefore the healing process is at the client's own pace. Sessions are facilitated by me and directed by the client's own inner physician.
"What happens during a craniosacral therapy treatment?" is a question I often hear when people first contact me. Here is a brief outline of what to expect.
On your first appointment, we will first talk through your medical history and your expectations from this form of treatment.
You will then lie down comfortably - fully-clothed..
I will then use a light touch – beginning at the feet – to assess where restrictions and other related problems exist in your body. Once this is completed, I then continue to listen through other parts of your body and cranium. After I've completed the listening session I will work where the body has presented these restrictions. These could be in the cranium, sacrum, joints and /or fascial diaphrams
During the treatment most people feel a general sense of relaxation (in fact most people fall asleep early in the treatment). Some people also feel heat, cold or a stretching of tissues in a different parts of the body.
The treatment completes after 45 to 90 minutes for adults, 20 to 45 mins for children and infants. (If it is your child (under 16) or infant, you are required to be present during the entire treatment).
Following the treatment some people report that they feel as if somebody had moved things about in their body. You will normally feel tired after the treatment, but after a short rest and a glass of water, you will be well capable of driving.
Most people require 4-5 treatments with a gap of 1-2 weeks between these initial treatments.
However, maintenance treatments may be required for longstanding problems or the management of particular conditions. Although it is difficult to generalize, each individual situation needs to be assessed on it's own merits.
An example of treatment sessions and duration for people who I have treated for chronic conditions, ( back pain, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, migraines etc) would be 4-5 weekly treatments of 30-90 mins then about once a month over a period of a number of months.
Following the initial session, I will be in much better position to specify a suitable program of treatment for your individual situation.
CST has been shown to help
- Remove barriers to self-healing, whether those are physical, mental, emotional or energetic in nature.
- Assist in autonomic nervous system regulation and down regulate sympathetic overdrive.
- Release restrictions in the fascial network of the body, enabling clients to have a better representation in their somato-sensory cortex.
- Support a healthy interface between the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, where inherent tensions can be reflected up and down the spinal cord.
- Restore balance to the body’s numerous energetic and fluid systems.
- Increase ROM (Range of Motion) and strength, improve tolerance for ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), and facilitate a higher quality of life based on functional assessment tools.
- Release residual effects of trauma, illness, old injuries, and accidents.
- Improve overall wellbeing.
For more about Craniosacral therapy go to www.upledger.com.
or Ken Di Persio: https://www.youtube.com/@kjdtherapy
Ken DiPersio, (my craniosacral therapy instructor), took me through a series of five courses teaching biomechanic and biodynamic techniques to re-orient the midline, the fascial diaphragms, spinal meninges, lumbar and sacrum, hips and shoulders, and the atlas and occipital bones. I completed and passed each of the 5 levels and gained a certification of competency in craniosacral therapy in 2015.