Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands on approach that assists in the easing of tension in the body. The CST practitioner’s hands assess the body’s Craniosacral rhythm. This rhythm is typically explained as the pattern of flow of the cerebrospinal fluid. My interpretation of the rhythm is describing it more of an energy pulse that runs between the cranium and the pelvis. This energy pulse is also transmitted through the fascia of the body. The energy pulse through this extensive network of fascia gives the practitioner a lot of information. Through understanding of the tensegrity model, this is how I use CST to make positive changes that can influence my client’s entire body.

Another way to understand how Craniosacral therapy works is to imagine the sensitive hands of the trained trained practitioner as a spotlight. The hands brings awareness to the client's body, areas of the body that are restricted or not moving in its normal rhythm. Through this example, CST allows me to give your body this information, provide the support and guidance it needs to shift, unwind, release, return to its normal rhythm, and thus promote healing. Our body is an amazing vessel and has the ability to respond to information and restore itself to a more steady state. CST is a safe and effective alternative for clients who are more sensitive to touch and do not respond well to manual therapy, massage, or manipulation. Other populations that respond well with CST are infants, children and those who are dealing with challenges of being neurodivergent.

CST and Infants:

The world of infants and breastfeeding medicine has grown and evolved since I had children. I wish I had known about CST when my first son was born. Due to the inspiring practitioners who were an integral part of my Craniosacral journey, I have found a genuine interest in supporting families with infants and babies with feeding difficulties, birth tensions and trauma, and children having difficulties w integrating sensory input. It is such a priviledge that infants and babies that I see let me feel into their system to find tension within their bodies. Many infants I see have difficult with breast feeding and general body tension; whether its tension in the mouth and lips; lip, cheek, or tongue ties; head preferences; birth traumas; or general tension in their body, respond so well to CST. The light non invasive touch allows their body process the information my hands are noticing and respond by relaxing, releasing tension, and improve flexibility in the mouth, heads, and body. Even though great feeding changes may be the last functional change to be experienced, most parents notice a calmness and reduction in body tension after their first session. I am overjoyed to be holding babies again as well as supporting them using CST as they figure out how to navigate their new world.

CST can be helpful on babies and children with:

• Feeding difficulties: Sometimes tension within the mouth and jaw of a baby can make it hard for the breastfeeding mom and infant. Especially when breast feeding is painful, there is non ideal seal around the nipple, inefficient suck, or difficulty transitioning to a bottle. Releasing the tension in the mouth can make it less effortful for the baby to feed.

• Pre and post lip, cheek and/or tongue releases: If the tension within the mouth is related to a lip, cheek or tongue tie, CST can help reduce tension related to these areas and distal areas that can affect these ties. For example, the deep front line of our fascial layers tend to influence where the tongue attaches to the floor of the mouth. Releasing these areas makes for optimal prep work for the surgical procedure. Once the procedure is complete, infants can benefit from CST to help reduce tension out surgically and recover from the procedure through a non invasive and gentle technique.

• Head preferences: Many factors can cause head turn preferences in babies. Tension within the fascial system is one of them. As a PT, I can help determine if the limited ROM is muscular, joint or fascial, then release as appropriate.

• Tension in the mouth and body (including head): Depending on how the baby was positioned in the womb, tension can result in different parts of the fascial system. Tension or tenseness can be on one side, both sides, arms, legs or in the head and sutures of the head.

• Sleep regression: CST can be used to influence the sleep centers in the brain and improve overall body relaxation to help improve sleep patterns.

• Birth traumas: including but not limited to: C section deliveries, breech deliveries; shoulder dystocias, etc: such experiences can leave a infant’s body disorganized and their nervous system on alert. CST can balance out the infant’s nervous system to aide in reducing the resulting tension; irritability level, and improve overall comfort.

• Emotional releases: infants do not have memories but their bodies can store emotions. Sometimes those emotions are trapped in certain body parts or organs. When these areas are “treated” it can cause the infant to feel the trapped emotion and cause and tearful/emotional release. Often these emotional releases are helpful and part of the therapeutic process and recovery from tension in their body