Both Craniosacral therapy and Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy can be integrated and work effectively with psychotherapeutic understanding, theory and practice, particularly Core-Process Psychotherapy which enquires at depth into the nature of our suffering and opens us to our potentiality that emerges through presence and relational mindfulness. And Somatic Trauma Therapy with its focus on working with the impact of trauma on the body, somatic memory and the practice of embodying emotions.

What is Craniosacral Therapy?

The beauty of this therapy is its simplicity. The therapist takes up a position of being neutral and allows the process of the treatment to unfold. The therapist is interested in facilitating the body towards intrinsic reorganisations across the body’s tissues, its fluid matrix and its energetic and emotional layers, so that there is a holistic movement towards greater health. The therapy also creates a safe space for traumatic experiences to emerge steadily and move towards resolution and integration in the body without being overwhelming or re-stimulating for the bodymind.

Craniosacral theory is a holistic approach to treatment and proposes that natural forces within the body establish order for the creation, development, and maintenance of the body’s systems. There is a subtle ebb and flow motion in the body’s tissues, fluids, and bones that works intelligently to keep the body functioning properly.

What Is Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy?

The approach to the work also includes a developed model of working with trauma processes. The therapists embodied experience, touch and presence are the key components in creating a ‘Relational Field’ that generates a deep sense of safety and capacity to heal from within in a client led and paced approach. 

Internal and external factors have the potential to interrupt this primary respiration. When an individual is exposed to long-term stress or experiences some form of trauma or shock, it can overwhelm the bodymind’s coping mechanisms and resources. The defence processes in the autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine systems imprint themselves and interrupt the body’s natural flow of energy. As such, the physical body holds on to these traumatic memories in the form of bodily held tensions and frozen residue of energy.

Because it focuses on both physiological and psychological health, biodynamic craniosacral therapy is used to trigger the body’s healing response to interruptions to primary respiration, caused by conditions associated with stress and trauma. According to this theory, all beings are born with this innate healing power as a part of the body’s self-preservation mechanism. When a person cannot access this inner healing force on their own, a therapist can help in a non-invasive way to help regain balance and regulation of the nervous system and the bodies other systems through reconnection of the bodymind and its primary respiration.

How Does Craniosacral Therapy & Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Work?

Sessions are 1 hour. While some individuals may notice an improvement after a couple of sessions, it often takes several sessions for the client to achieve their therapeutic objectives. At the beginning of treatment, the client and therapist discuss physiological, psycho-emotional and psycho-physiological presenting concerns and intentions for the therapy sessions.

The client lays comfortably on a massage table, fully clothed. Once the client feels comfortable, relaxed, and safe, the therapist will begin with a light, gentle, and still touch. Common start points are the feet, head, and base of the spine. The therapist listens and feels for subtle cues within the client’s body expressing primary respiration as specific patterns of movement at a level of cranial rhythmic impulse, and moves on from there, always ensuring that the client remains aware, at ease and deeply relaxed throughout the process. The client can guide the therapist on what part of their body requires work and what level of therapist touch, or contact, they are comfortable with.

Although no intrusive manipulation is involved, the therapist uses light touches and holds on certain parts of the body to stimulate individual structures that move like wave-forms that ride on deeper tidal forces and flow and promote healing from within. Clients become deeply relaxed and feel they can let go of tensions held in the body so that energetic forces can flow more freely. Clients commonly respond by feeling as if they are in a wakeful but dreamlike state, experiencing insights and a certain stillness, feeling warm and soft as if floating. Clients may release unresolved and unexpressed energetic build up held in the body and frozen residues of energy that have not been resolved or discharged. In an unexpressed state, these unresolved conditional forces and histories have physical, psychological and emotional impact on the bodymind. Once expressed, the body can find calm and important homeostasis and regulation.

How I work

I offer craniosacral therapy sessions for adults and young people at my private practice in a peaceful, warm and calming therapy space. Sessions are 1 hour. Sessions can range from a couple to several sessions depending on the therapeutic objectives.

1 hour Craniosacral Therapy Session £50

‘When the human mind-emotion-body continuum comes into alignment with life's intrinsic order, there is an avenue for the release of an immensity of power’.

 Michael Burghley

.