What is Craniosacral Therapy also called Cranial Sacral Massage Therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on healing technique that works with the craniosacral system — the membranes and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord. Using a soft, subtle touch, this therapy helps the body release restrictions in the tissues and nervous system, allowing for profound relaxation and healing. This is not like an ordinary massage, the touch is lighter and allows the practitioner to feel the inner movements of the body and guides the tissues to help release tension. This allows the body to begin to correct itself, with our gentle help, instead of attempting to force tissue to change where it has adapted to being and functioning.
Unlike traditional massage or chiropractic care, a craniosacral therapist works on a deep, energetic level. It encourages your body’s natural self-correcting mechanisms to help relieve pain, reduce tension, and restore optimal function. This may allow for an easier adjustment by your Chiropractor once the tissues started responding. It is believed that your body may hold the adjustment longer when your tissues and fascia have released the tension, also.
What You Can Expect
Craniosacral therapy might appear to focus only on the head, neck, and sacrum, as the therapist focuses on these areas, but the effects go much beyond that. The therapy may help with pain and tension from neck pain, jaw pain, TMJ dysfunction, migraines, sinus congestion, pelvic/hip discomfort, sciatica issues, & more. This results from the fact that the craniosacral system of the body is connected to the fascia. A caniosacral therapist works to support fluid movement and fascial release throughout the body, helping the body as a whole so it can heal itself. Our bodies are miracles, always trying to correct and repair the damages that have been caused. Over time enduring abnormal rhythms and movements is difficult for the body to maintain homeostasis. Simply stated, homeostasis is the state of balance among all body systems needed for the body to survive and function. With craniosacral therapy, you are placing caring hands at the source of your bodies healing capacity & assisting homeostasis, thereby gently allowing your body to self correct.
Your first session includes a detailed intake and assessment to understand your physical and emotional needs. Your spiritual preferences are also discussed in order to word conversations in the most comfortable way for your body and mind to receive. Craniosacral therapy sessions take place in a calm, supportive environment where you’re fully clothed and resting comfortably. Loose, comfortable clothing is best. Layering allows for more comfort for varying temperatures.
You will be resting on a massage table on your back for most of the treatment. Gentle relaxing music will be playing in the background.
The practitioner applies gentle pressure — often no more than the weight of a nickel — to the head, neck, spine, and sacrum, tuning in to the subtle rhythms and imbalances in your body. Many clients enter a meditative or dreamlike state during the session. Frequently clients feel so relaxed that they fall asleep while receiving the treatment and emerge feeling rested, lighter, and more at ease. Occasionally, areas may require firmer pressure to overcome the bodies resistance to aid healing.
Most clients feel the ease of tension and increased relaxation immediately, in the first session. Anxiety seems to disappear. Frequently clients will comment that they feel taller walking out of their appointment. We feel that is due to the release of tension allowing the posture to correct. We will discuss the frequency of treatment needed after the intake history and the practitioner has experienced working with your body on that first session. Some clients experience great relief in one session. Some clients may require weekly sessions for a few weeks to accomplish their optimum. We are motivated to provide you with the best experience and earn your 5 star review.
As the session progresses you will notice that we offer a personally tailored craniosacral therapy experience. The practitioner studies cues of your body, working on them and adjusting the pressure, position, and duration of the treatment. The whole process works on collaborating to build trust between the client and the practitioner, in a trauma-sensitive and relaxing environment, which aids in allowing the client to safely release the tension or emotion held within the body. When it feels appropriate we will discuss moving into a deeper emotional release state called somatoemotional release.
Those clients in need of a much more integrative approach, or suffering from complex health issues, can benefit from our other treatment offerings also. We can discuss fascial work, somatoemotional release and Hypnotherapy and how these could benefit you. Our goal is to bring you comfort, decreased restrictions, & improved range of motion. These improvements help by promoting better alignment, emotional balance, and enhanced regulation of the nervous system.
Let’s do this…
Stop overthinking, self-criticism, and negative self-talk. Start caring for yourself now with craniosacral massage therapy!
You have this one life & this one body. Protect it, nurture it, love it! Prioritize yourself. Let’s do this – together!
Yes, in case your ailment or condition requires a multifaceted healing approach, such as emotional healing or visceral therapy, we offer an integrated healing therapy. We also offer guidance for navigating other alternative health modalities.
Book a session with us, or give us a call, and we will schedule a consultation. In the duration of your consultation, our therapist will discuss your issues and try to find which course of therapy will work best and whether or not you may need an integrated approach.
Traditional craniosacral therapy primarily focuses on the cranium (head), sacrum (low back) and cerebrospinal fluid rhythm, aiming to improve their function.
Craniosacral Fascial Therapy extends this by addressing the fascial system, which is a network of connective tissue that supports and connects all parts of the body.
Craniosacral fascial therapy combines fascial techniques with traditional methods, so being able to address the fascia or the connective tissue. This helps in targeting deeper tensions within the body and aiding in healing complex issues.
Yes, cranial sacral therapy may be available after surgery. We will consider your surgical history and determine what is right for you depending upon what surgery you have had and the amount of time that has passed since the procedure. Generally, the process does not strain healing tissues. However, careful consideration will be taken.
Stop overthinking, self criticism, and negative self talk. Start caring for yourself NOW!
You have this one life & this one body. Protect it, nurture it, love it! Prioritize yourself. Let’s do this – together!
