WHAT IS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
WHAT IS SOMATOEMOTIONAL RELEASE
WHAT IS INTRA-ORAL CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
Manual therapies - such as massage, craniosacral, SomatoEmotional Release and more - work to facilitate the restoration of balance in the body of the client. Some apply deep pressure and strokes to realign muscle fibers which have become chaotic due to stressors and injuries; others use a barely perceptible nurturing touch to "melt" the tissues which have been holding on tightly to foreign energy left over from the force of impacts, strong emotions or other traumas. All can help the client get back in touch with their body and find clarity about their unique path to wellness.
As a therapist, my goal is to hold a safe, non-judgemental, supportive, respectful and nurturing space for my clients and to facilitate the client's conversation with their own body, as well as offering some general health education when needed. Most importantly, I offer my conviction that the key to healing, peace and clarity lies within each person. I do not believe my mission is to "fix" any one or enable unhealthy behaviors with periodic bandaids. It is up to the client to choose and pursue their own holistic health: I am privileged to encourage them along the path.
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CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
(CST)
Background:
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies from 1975 to 1983 at Michigan State University, where he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics.
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system, which has been shown to improve the functioning of the central nervous system, as well as many other systems of the body, such as digestive, musculoskeletal, respiratory, circulatory, and more. CST has also been shown to help with the physical components related to such somatic conditions as Post Traumatic Stress, depression and anxiety.
By facilitating the body's natural and innate healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and has been shown to be beneficial for people seeking help with a wide range of healthcare challenges and symptoms. (summary quoted from upledger.com)
Procedure:
This modality is typically performed with the client fully clothed, unless it is being combined with another modality that requires draping. The client is usually lying supine (face up) on a massage table; however, a client can be comfortably reclined in a low seat.​ It is important to have a quiet and safe environment. Using light touch, the therapist will assess strain patterns throughout the body and respond to them with gentle fascial-release techniques. The client is welcome to inform the therapist of any bodily sensations or mental images that come up, or to remain in relaxed silence/sleep. The therapist will occasionally check in verbally during treatment and will offer a summary at the end of the session.
It is recommended that the client schedule themselves some downtime after a session, as many people feel deeply relaxed and their system would like to continue the releasing process. Clients can expect the physical, mental and emotional benefits to unfold for several days after treatment.
SomatoEmotional Release
(SER)
Background:
SomatoEmotional Release™ (SER) is a therapeutic process that uses and expands on the principles of Craniosacral Therapy to help a person rid their body of the residual effects of past injuries and negative experiences. SER is based on university research conducted by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger and biophysicist Zvi Karni. Physical forces enter a person's body at the time of an accident or injury. The injured body may immediately begin dissipating these forces and the natural healing process will follow, or the physical forces imposed upon the person's body may be retained rather than dissipated. Drs. Upledger and Karni came to realize that very often the body retained the emotional energy along with the physical force, and called this localized and concentrated area that formed, an "energy cyst." Initially the body accommodates to the presence of the energy cyst, but over time the body weakens or tires of this accommodation, and can develop symptoms of pain, dysfunction, or emotional stress.
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SER facilitates a gentle process for releasing tissue memory, thereby helping the person to decrease the adverse effects of past traumas. There is vast research to show that a change in physical health is accompanied by a change in mental health, and it is equally documented that the reverse is apparent. SER is a holistic mind-body somatic approach that may also assist a person in gaining insight as to how that held trauma is influencing their physical and emotional health. SER can support the persons transition from dysfunction and unresolved issues towards wellness and optimal function. (summary quoted from upledger.com)
Procedure:
Due to the unpredictable nature of the SER process, which may or may not involve a great deal of movement depending on individual clients, it is highly recommended that the client be comfortably clothed for this therapy. The procedure is similar to a CST treatment, but the trained therapist will be more verbally engaged, asking the client simple exploratory questions that gently help them listen to the client's somato-emotional wisdom. This can direct the treatment deeper and even more effectively and can be an invaluable complement to medical mental health therapies. Hopefully a lasting and universal benefit is the client's increased awareness and appreciation for the many layers of their being which all have needs, desires and gifts.
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INTRA-ORAL
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
(CST)
​Distinct from oral massage, intra-oral craniosacral therapy is gentle and relaxing.
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Procedure:
The craniosacral therapist will gently palpate or massage the muscles of the throat, face and mouth, including the infra-hyoids, retrohyoids, supra-hyoids, and tongue.
The therapist will also address any fascial strain patterns surrounding the bones of the skull and mouth, including occipitals, zygomas, maxillaries, palatines, vomer, mandible, temporals, sphenoid and nasal bones, as well as the teeth.
Intra-oral therapy is soothing, especially for people who tend to hold stress in their jaw. It is also of benefit as a complement to dental and orthodontic work, to speech therapy, for alleviating pain, and for helping facial structures return to normal after impact injuries or surgeries.
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