Starting at $75
About Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy was first developed in 1970, during a neck surgery in which he was assisting, that osteopathic physician John E. Upledger first observed the rhythmic movement of what would soon be identified as the craniosacral system. None of his colleagues nor any of the medical texts at the time could explain this discovery, however.
His curiosity piqued, Dr. Upledger began searching for the answer. He started with the research of Dr. William Sutherland, the father of cranial osteopathy. For some 20 years beginning in the early 1900s, Sutherland had explored the concept that the bones of the skull were structured to allow for movement. For decades after, this theory remained at odds with the beliefs of the scientific and medical communities. Dr. Upledger believed, however, that if Sutherland’s theory of cranial movement was in fact true, this would help explain, and make feasible, the existence of the rhythm he had encountered in surgery.
It was at this point that Dr. Upledger set out to scientifically confirm the existence of cranial bone motion. From 1975 to 1983 he served as clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics at Michigan State University, where he supervised a team of anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers in research and testing. The results not only confirmed Sutherland’s theory, but led to clarification of the mechanisms behind this motion — the craniosacral system. Dr. Upledger’s continued work in the field ultimately resulted in his development of CranioSacral Therapy.Few structures have as much influence over the body’s ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord that make up the central nervous system. And, the central nervous system is heavily influenced by the craniosacral system – the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord.
Every day your body endures stresses and strains that it must work to compensate for. Unfortunately, these changes often cause body tissues to tighten and distort the craniosacral system. These distortions can then cause tension to form around the brain and spinal cord resulting in restrictions. This can create a barrier to the healthy performance of the central nervous system, and potentially every other system it interacts with.
Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. With a light touch, the CST practitioner uses his or her hands to evaluate the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in any tissues influencing the craniosacral system.
By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body’s ability to self-correct, CranioSacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunctions, from chronic pain and sports injuries to stroke and neurological impairment.
Jennifer Bull, Michon Lowe, Jennifer Rowe, Amber Gilderoy, and Colette French are the Practitioners at Unlocking The Body who utilize Craniosacral Therapy in their sessions. Each Provider has completed a different level in their Craniosacral training. For more information check out the FAQ's below or read the Bio Page of each Therapist, then email your favorite at the address provided on their page.
FAQ's about Craniosacral Therapy:
In what way is Craniosacral Therapy different from other forms of Massage?
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics. Using a soft touch which is generally no greater than 5 grams – about the weight of a nickel – Practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it''s effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
How long are the sessions?
Each session is typically 1 hour. However, clients may be seen from ½ hour up to 2 hours.
What is a typical session like?
First, a history is usually taken and the client’s condition is reviewed by the Pracititoner. The client stays fully clothed and usually lies on a treatment table. The Pracitioner then evaluates the client by placing their hands on various points on the body to locate the areas of restrictions. Once the specific areas are located the Pracitioner will begin working on one of the places of greatest restriction. During the session, the Pracitioner may work exclusively in this one area or move around the body as required to release and ease the competing tensions and restrictions within the body.
How does it feel, should I feel anything?
During the session clients may feel nothing except the therapist’s hands on their body, or they may feel like things are moving inside their body. They may also feel tingling, pains arising in different parts of their body that quickly disappear, heat, pulls within the body, or pulses. Following the session some clients feel a deep sense of relaxation while others may find immediate relief of pain. Others may at times feel nothing or an increase of pain for a period of time up to 24-48 hours, after which a relief of pain or discomfort improves significantly.
What conditions can Craniosacral Therapy help with?
- Migraines and Headaches
- Chronic Neck and Back Pain
- Stress and Tension-Related Disorders
- Motor-Coordination Impairments
- Infant and Childhood Disorders
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
- Chronic Fatigue
- TMJ Syndrome
- Central Nervous System Disorders
- Learning Disabilities
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Orthopedic Problems
- And Many Other Conditions
How many treatment sessions will I need?
Response to CST varies from individual to individual and condition to condition. Your response is uniquely your own and can''t be compared to anyone else''s — even those cases that may appear to be similar to your own. The number of sessions needed varies widely — from just one up to three or more a week over the course of several weeks. Your Practitioner will discuss your specific plan with you at the end of your first session.
What should I feel after a CST treatment session?
Just as individual experiences can differ, so can the immediate results. This relaxed state may cause some to sleep for many hours after a session. Others may experience an increase in energy. Some people report that they feel as if somebody had moved things about in their body. Reduction of pain or an increase in function may occur immediately after the session or it may develop gradually over the next few days. For some there may be a reorganization phase as the body adapts to the release of previously held patterns. Occasionally, certain CST techniques will dredge up “old emotions, memories, or pains” that had gone away. This is a good thing! The old emotions or pains hadn't disappeared; they were simply dormant and waiting to reappear at another time. Our bodies help us by storing away traumatic events so that they can be processed at a safe time later on. By allowing these old emotions and pain to resurface opens the path to healing and release function.
Here is a video about brain trauma and the benefits of Craniosacral Therapy in NFL players specifically.
For More Information About Craniosacral Therapy Check Out This Link to the Upledger Institute's Website: www.upledger.com