Craniosacral Therapy ~ A Gentler Approach to Physical & Emotional Ease

Having practiced Craniosacral Therapy for 27+ years, clients have told me of results as individual as they are, some surprising. What I have noticed is a predominant response to easing pain and emotional distress.

As a Massage Therapist I use to turn to Massage first when a client came to their session with pain, and only apply Craniosacral Therapy if, after a few sessions, the client was not responding. Clients were and are often amazed that a treatment that is so gentle, in the end actually brings them the ease they seek.

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Currently I tend to turn to Craniosacral Therapy sooner in assisting clients to meet their goals. I've always understood that Relaxation Massage can be therapeutic (no, it doesn't have to be deep and should not be painful), but Craniosacral Therapy in it's gentle approach, can often bring incredible results.

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One particular client's experience comes to mind as an example (shared with permission). A diehard Massage only fan, this client at different times had dislocated both shoulders. Anxious about a repeat of the injury, instability in the joint and feeling sore through both shoulders, a decision was made to try Craniosacral Therapy "just this one time" to the neck, upper chest and shoulders, rather than Massage. Pain was gone, mobility improved and the client felt less anxious and tense. YAY!

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Other experiences client's have shared (with permission) continue to inspire my desire to learn more about Craniosacral Therapy. Following are some of the changes and results that they have noticed. Results change and shift from session to session and are as unique and different as each individual client is.

Injuries and Concussion from accidents can at times feel as though they are unwinding in a kind of repeat scenario of the cause. My own experience with this was after a severe Whiplash injury after a Car accident. Hit from behind with enough force to push me into the car in front my head swung forward and back at least twice, possibly more. During a Craniosacral session 3 months after the accident, I felt a sense of my head swinging forward and back again while lying on the table. It wasn't in actual fact moving at all, but the muscles and fascia were gently unwinding the injury from the accident. After the session the feeling of my head being too heavy for my neck to support was gone, I had greater range of motion and muscle tension was eased considerably.

While some clients will feel their body respond during the session, most will notice changes through the days following.

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Clients who come in with a headache will usually say that it's gone during, or by the end of the session. Those with sinus issues will often feel their sinuses begin to drain during the session or very soon afterwards.

Trauma, PTSD, Anxiety... are often calmed during the session and at times clients will feel safe in that calm space to begin unraveling the cause of their emotional upset, making it less predominant in their responses. 

Many clients report a feeling of deep meditative calm, feeling light or weightless, relaxed and peaceful. These are great indicators that the Nervous System is responding to the opportunity to calm.

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After 27+ years the stories of client responses could go on and on. I'm always amazed with how each person's responses are so unique to that individual and rarely do 2 people with the same symptoms have the same response. A continual journey of learning about clients and the human body inspires me to learn more.

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