CranioSacral Therapy

What is CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a bodywork modality which employs gentle pressure on structures supporting the nervous system to enhance form and function. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in overall health aiding in nourishment, cleansing, and protection of the nervous system. By optimizing fluid dynamics and tissue balance, CST can effectively address various nervous system-related conditions such as headaches, migraine and pain syndromes.

Our bodies naturally possess self-repair capabilities, but dysfunction within the CranioSacral system can hinder daily activities and lead to debilitating symptoms. CST uses therapeutic pressure, equivalent to the gentle touch you would comfortably apply to your own closed eyelid (around 5 grams), which acts as a supportive barrier—redirecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to build pressure internally against dysfunctional tissue. By leveraging the body's innate intelligence and trust in itself, corrections occur from the inside out.

How Can CST Help Me?

Life throws challenges our way – it's inevitable. These challenges can be big or small, ranging from major events like accidents, injuries or trauma to everyday stressors. The key to good health isn't about avoiding adversity, but about your ability to bounce back from it. The resources we have available to deal with adverse experiences vary from person to person. A good therapist interrupts cycles of dysfunction and adds resources to your recovery.

Few structures have as much potential for creating health (or pain) as the brain and spinal cord. In times of overwhelm, our bodies are working diligently to mask symptoms and keep us going. Sometimes these adaptations create unconscious distortions and tension which can result in irregularities in the craniosacral system. This response will create dysfunction of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. In the beginning this may be barely noticeable, however accumulated insults lead to less ability to adapt until finally we have symptoms such as pain, acute or chronic disease, physiologic and emotional dysregulation.

When we become overwhelmed, our inherently self-correcting mechanisms fail to operate fully. At such a time it is productive to work with a therapist who will objectively support our return to full health by creating balance in the tissues of the craniosacral system, thus restoring function. CST is appropriate for individuals of all age levels, and often helps people get to the root of their issue rather than only masking symptoms.

How Many Sessions Until I feel better?

Individual response to CST is going to be different for each person. Your response to CST will be uniquely yours, and likely different each time as your body heals. Depending on your goals for treatment and the nature of your condition it’s possible to see dramatic results after just one treatment, while others might need multiple treatments each week for a few weeks to maintain progress.

Some factors which inform this response include the underlying health of the person receiving therapy as well as the chronicity of the condition for which you seek help. Lifestyle factors such as stability in the home and proper nutrition are also important, as the body needs to be able to feel safe to continue the rest/digest/repair (parasympathetic) cycle after treatment. You should be able to collaborate with your practitioner to build a plan which meets your needs. We will absolutely do our best to meet you where you are.