CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on treatment for the central nervous system. During a session, the therapist works primarily on the cranium ("Cranio") and along the spine down to the sacrum ("Sacral").
There are various goals that can set the intention of a CST session.
One intention that is beneficial for every body, is to flush and reset the central nervous system. In this type of session, the therapist first evaluates circulation of the fluid that lubricates and nourishes the brain and spinal column, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). There is a ten-step protocol followed to identify where fluid is not flowing efficiently, release restrictions, reassess, and repeat.
Some examples of how restrictions can occur are:
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Taking a fall - landing on the buttocks can jam the spine upwards
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Being thrown or jarred as in a car accident
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Forceps used to pull an infant from the birth canal
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Compression within the spine from sitting long durations over time
CranioSacral Therapy can release restrictions and ensure nerves operate at their best. Some benefits can include:
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Reduce or halt pain signals that were previously a mystery
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Reduce or eliminate migraine headaches
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Reduce or eliminate colic
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Reduce chronic neck or back pain
Visit www.upledger.com/therapies for more.
A second intention for a CST session can be to release memories physically stored in the body tissues, referred to as Somato-Emotional Release (SER). This type session is helpful for reducing depression, reducing anxiety, alleviating PTSD, among many other benefits. It is highly recommended that for SER sessions, you have support, such as a counselor or close contact, to help you handle memories and emotions that can arise.
With SER, the therapist looks for any part of the body with pulsing or oscillating energy, spiking, throbbing, or any other odd behavior in a specific area. The therapist then works on that area with several possible techniques to remove imbalances, and can also subsequently cause release of a memory. The memory may or may not reveal itself in the session, but at a later time, which is also why it is so important to have support. Once the memory releases from the physical body the entire being can heal without recurrence. The book, "Working Wonders" contains numerous accounts of the healing power of CST and SER, and how it has dramatically improved people's lives where standard medicine could not. Another reference, "Waking the Tiger" explains the dynamic of how our body stores memories and by releasing them, we achieve persistent, not just temporary resolution.
90 Minute SomatoEmotional Release $160
As documented in Waking the Tiger and The Body Keeps the Score, we know that humans store memories in their body tissue when a significant emotional event occurs during a physical event (accidents and trauma). In CranioSacral Therapy, these stored memories are referred to as “Energy Cysts”. A fascinating aspect of this phenomenon is that the cyst can act up, or express itself, at any time. When it does express, it can appear as a twitch, ache, burning, emotional distress and more. If Western medicine tries to diagnose it, the patient may be told that it is “All in your head”, because x-rays and other diagnostics cannot view the cyst. Yet, it actually does exist and the patient’s experience is real.
SomatoEmotional Release (SER) is a manual therapy that can assist in releasing these energetic cysts from the body. The Upledger Institute where I took my training, provides this definition: “SER facilitates a gentle process for releasing tissue memory, thereby helping the person to decrease the adverse effects of past traumas. There is vast research to show that a change in physical health is accompanied by a change in mental health, and it is equally documented that the reverse is apparent. SER is a holistic mind-body somatic approach that may also assist a person in gaining insight as to how that held trauma is influencing their physical and emotional health. SER can support the person transition from dysfunction and unresolved issues towards wellness and optimal function.”
My role is to provide support in a safe environment for my clients, engaging collaboratively in the healing process. With enough support and safety, a client’s tissue will begin to change – if the subconscious mind is ready to release associated memories. As a therapist, I provide support and safety by being neutral, by being present, and by staying within my scope of practice. Because a release can raise questions and charged emotions, I highly recommend having psychological support and guidance before we begin treatment. Support can be a loving relative or professional counselor, but having a system in place is highly recommended since mental therapeutic guidance is outside the scope of my practice.
For more information on CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release visit: www.upledger.com/therapies