
Craniosacral Therapy
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, non-invasive, hands-on technique that helps to balance the nervous system, promote relaxation, boost the immune and endocrine systems, relieve pain, and more. CST was established by doctors of osteopathic medicine in the 1940s, and today is practiced by both osteopathic doctors and massage therapists.
Craniosacral focuses on understanding the continuous, subtle movements of the cranial bones in the skull, and how they impact the natural rhythm and flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the spinal cord. These natural rhythms are often disrupted by traumatic or stressful experiences, leading to imbalance in the body and difficulty accessing inherent resilience needed for optimal health.
Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy
CST promotes the body’s natural ability to heal and can be especially helpful for:
​
Stress
Anxiety
Trauma
Insomnia
ADD, ADHD
Autism
Developmental delays
Concussion
Headaches
Reoccurring ear infections
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
TMJ pain (jaw pain)
Many neurological conditions
and pain disorders
​
What to Expect
During a Craniosacral session, the client lays fully clothed on a massage table while the therapist works to gently cradle the head, and place hands upon the spine, sternum, diaphragm, and feet to detect disturbances in the Cranial Rhythmic Impulse (CRI). During this process, the therapist listens to the body and helps to restore natural rhythm and coherence.
Please let your therapist know if you feel uncomfortable being touched on any of the above-mentioned parts of your body so accommodations can be made or alternate therapies discussed. Parents of children may be asked to remain in the room during sessions.