How does it work?

Craniosacral therapy uses a particular kind of touch called biodynamic touch. This touch is subtle but very effective for relieving the symptoms of stress, anxiety, pain and overwhelm in the body - there is never any pressure, manipulation or force - a kind of touch and presence that allows your body to feel safe, supported and held. This sense of safety can switch your body from flight-or-fight into a more settled state, often called rest-and-digest. It is in this state that healing can begin to take place.

 When they use this gentle touch, a practitioner is listening with their hands to your body in the same way a counsellor might listen to your words, and your body responds to this by starting to listen to itself. So you might think of craniosacral as an embodied form of listening.

What is my therapist listening to in my body?

• Rhythmic movement of the tissues - you might not know it, but every ligament, bone, organ and tissue in your body is moving, all the time, which is part of how we know it is healthy and well.

• Resolution of Trauma patterns - when the body gets impacted by physical, mental or emotional stress, these healthy patterns of movement can change and become slow or frozen. This is what we call a ‘trauma pattern’ in the body. ‘Trauma’ doesn’t necessarily mean a car accident or a big loss - it might be something as simple as a few stressful days in a row that make you feel overwhelmed. Noticing where tissues have become slow or frozen can help to facilitate the body back to movement and restore your ability to cope.

• The intensity of the nervous system - as the overarching system of the body, the nervous system is like a set of alarms turned on under stress, commonly known as ‘fight-or-flight.’ When the alarms are turned on, this can impact musculoskeletal, digestive, reproductive, respiratory and immune systems, hormonal imbalances and mood/emotional shifts. Over time, living in a constant state of survival, like fight-or-flight, can lead to anxiety and depression.

• Resetting the nervous system to the social (parasympathetic) nervous system, which is the system in our body that increases our capacity to connect to others, to sleep well, to give and receive empathy and love, to improve immunity, to process food adequately, to think creatively, to restore reproductive function and to feel safe in our bodies.

Who can have Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral therapy is for everybody. It is safe for people of all ages and stages, from newborns to the elderly, to those in chronic pain, it is both gentle and effective for restoring health, increasing mobility and reducing stress.

What happens during a session?

• A full health history - in the first session, we need to take time to understand your current health concerns, how your body has been for you, and what your expectations are for craniosacral therapy.

• Gentle Touch - it’s a fully clothed, hands on practice. Clients usually lie on a massage table with plenty of pillows and blankets to make sure you are super comfortable. The therapist then makes gentle contact with your body to help release tension in your deep tissues. Often a therapist will hold your feet, your pelvis or your head.

• Body Awareness -  the therapist will encourage you to bring awareness to what you notice in your body during a session, and as your awareness improves, you may notice tensions, releases, temperature shifts, expansions or relaxations in the body. It’s okay if you don’t notice much at first, growing your awareness of your body is a slow process. In everyday life, people are often not used to talking about how 'the nervous system' or the 'gut tissue' feels on an embodied level, so that can be unusual and challenging at first. Often we only notice our bodies when they are in pain, but it’s really important that we practice feeling other sensations in our bodies too. You’ll get there, it might just take time.

• Ongoing care - your body will usually take up to three days to integrate the changes that have happened in a session, so your therapist will stay in touch with you over the week to support you through those shifts.

How often should I come?

 Every body is different - your therapist can advise you on how many sessions you might need. It might feel challenging to take the first step and ask for help, but it can be so wonderful to work with a therapist you trust to help you process life’s difficult moments. It takes enormous courage to prioritise your own wellbeing and heal from your trauma, but living a more embodied, present life is well worth the leap of faith.