Our primary treatment modalities are gentle and non-invasive, yet they work deeply in the body. Though the therapies are each distinct, they blend together in the treatment process to create a holistic form of therapy and a whole-person approach. At the foundation of this approach is an understanding that your body possesses an inherent self-correcting and self-healing intelligence. We need only connect with that intelligence, listen to and follow its guidance.
Treatment Modalities
Treatment Modalities
Craniosacral Therapy
Deeply relaxing, self-healing, light-touch modality
Craniosacral System: environment of the central nervous system
Core information system in the body
Whole-body treatment activating natural self-correcting mechanisms
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a calming and balancing modality that works with the physical environment of the central nervous system. The craniosacral system includes the brain and spinal cord, the dural membranes that surround them, the cerebrospinal fluid inside the membranes, and the bones of the cranium and sacrum. This is the core structure in our bodies, holding the information system that effects our functioning from head to toe.
As such, the craniosacral system may be considered the central integrating system in the body.
CST is a whole-body treatment where the practitioner works, through this system with your inherent self-healing intelligence and body wisdom.
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Rhythm and dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid
Balancing bone and membrane structures of the head
Activation of inherent self-correcting movement
Decompression, mobilization-relief of pressure and strain
Treatment is largely initiated by working with the rhythm and flow of the cerebrospinal fluid inside the dural membranes. This activates self-correcting movement from these core membranes outward through the connective tissue (fascial) system. The ripple effect can travel anywhere in your body through the three dimensional fascial matrix. The rhythmic dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid are also used to work specifically with the bones of the head.
Like the inner workings of a wrist watch, the twenty-two bones of the cranium move intricately in relation to each other, and in coordination with cerebrospinal fluid movement.
The cranial bones are also structurally connected with the dural membranes surrounding and partitioning the brain. Therapeutic techniques often involve relaxing, mobilizing, decompressing and balancing these bony and membranous structures. This provides space for the anatomy of our brain and spinal cord to reorganize around homeostasis and improved function. Increased blood flow and nerve conductivity help maintain a healthier environment for your central nervous system to heal itself.
Bring balance to Autonomic Nervous System
Drop into a Still Point: deep, core relaxation
Move from “fight or flight” to “rest and repair”
Body’s natural self-healing capacities awaken
Because CST addresses specific anatomy in the cranium, it is a go-to treatment for headache, head trauma, jaw pain, sinus problems, balance and equilibrium issues, ear or eye conditions and more.
By working with the environment of the central nervous system, Craniosacral Therapy directly affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates our stress response.
The autonomic nervous system has two divisions: sympathetic (stress response/fight or flight), and parasympathetic (relaxation response/soothe and settle). For most of us, the sympathetic response is overactive, and due to this imbalance our stress levels are higher than we’d like.
Craniosacral Therapy brings balance to the autonomic nervous system by quickly awakening the parasympathetic response.
During treatment, the rhythmic motion of cerebrospinal fluid may cease its movement, inviting the body into a Still Point. The Still Point creates a deep, core relaxation in the body and mind—a shift in our autonomic nervous system that moves us easily from a stressful state to a calm and balanced state. As we move into homeostasis, our body’s natural self-correcting, self-healing capabilities are awakened.
Sound Healing
Blends beautifully with Cranioscral Therapy
Creates deep relaxation and a core shift in the nervous system
Induces self-correcting, balancing activity
On the treatment table, Sound Healing works synergistically with Craniosacral Therapy, as it awakens the parasympathetic response in our autonomic nervous system. Tones and harmonics from sound instruments down-regulate the fight or flight response, soothing and settling our body and mind.
Through frequency and resonance, we invite attunement and coherency into the nervous system and throughout our body.
As with the Still Point in Craniosacral Therapy, healing frequencies create a core shift toward homeostasis and equilibrium, along with self-correcting tissue release. Sound instruments are used in this holistic way to work in harmony with your inherent healing intelligence. The instruments are also used with more specific applications. Some examples include:
Didgeridoo
With its low frequency tone and vibration, the didgeridoo has a centering and grounding effect. Depending on how it is used, it can be deeply calming, or powerfully energizing. Sometimes it can be both! It works quite well to mobilize bony joints, including the sutures of the cranium. It also helps move fluid through the tissues, particularly the lymphatic fluid. This aboriginal instrument is very effective at deconstructing unwanted patterns in the body, be they physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.
Singing Bowls
Singing bowls can be used in relation to the seven energy centers on the midline of the body known as Chakras. Each chakra is represented by an individual note on the musical scale. Seven quartz crystal bowls, each matching a chakra note, are used to bring coherency to the energy centers and to the body as a whole. Singing bowls are also used to create a perfect fifth frequency. This frequency corresponds to the Still Point in CranioSacral Therapy, inviting equilibrium and deep core relaxation.
Tuning Forks
We use tuning forks calibrated to the perfect fifth/Still Point frequency. These can be held on the body in strategic locations. Vibration from the tuning forks resonates directly into the tissues, inviting relaxation and release in anatomically specific areas. This can be very effective on individual vertebrae and nerve roots, joints, cranial sutures, lymphatic vessels etc.
Monochord
The monochord is a rectangular instrument with thirty-two strings, and a thin, delicate wooden underside. This delicate surface is placed on the body and the 32 strings are strummed gently, bringing nurturing vibrations and harmonics directly into the tissues. This instrument resonates deeply into your core, calming the body, transporting the mind and inviting the autonomic nervous system into a deeply peaceful, restorative state.
Chimes
Chimes are used to soothe and settle, to nurture and nourish. Their exquisite, ethereal tones are lovely and enchanting. We often use them to begin a treatment session, gently inviting a holistic shift—a transition into healing awareness. We may use the chimes to end the treatment session, bringing integration and balance into body, mind and spirit.
Somato-Emotional Release
Treatment for past traumatic experience
Tissue memories: traumatic imprints holding fear, anger, grief, etc.
Emotions maintain powerful tensions in the body
May contribute to pain, dysfunction, health-related issues
Somato-Emotional Release is a deepening of the Craniosacral Therapy treatment process. As the body releases tensions in the tissues, there may be an element of past injury or trauma involved. Traumas will often leave experiential, energetic imprints inside us in the form of tissue memories. These can result in tension patterns that are layered and reinforced over time, with significant effect on our physiology. When hidden in the body, traumatic imprints can create deep holding patterns in the tissues, beneath our conscious awareness.
Tissue memories frequently have emotions associated with them. In order to fully release the tissue memory and its tension pattern, your body may also need to release the attendant emotion.
This may have significant consequences, as emotions can be potent and maintain powerful tensions in the body. Releasing these tensions can create substantial improvement in physiological function. Many times, if the emotional component is not addressed and the tension pattern not released, the body simply may not heal.
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Somato-Emotional Release happens naturally, never forced or created
Safety and compassionate support are foundations of the work
Images, memories, sensations, insights may all occur
Therapist gently facilitates with open-ended questions
There is no formula for Somato-Emotional Release. This process cannot be “created.” It happens naturally—with consent and agreement from you—when your body deems it appropriate. Your safety and trust are essential components of this work.
Somato-Emotional Release is a co-creative process with you and the therapist invoking guidance from your innate healing intelligence.
The therapist begins a session using fundamental, non-invasive skills of Craniosacral Therapy, with no agenda on your behalf. As treatment evolves and tissue release deepens, images, memories, sensations, feelings or emotions may arise within you. These perceptions are seen as possible healing messages from the body, and addressed respectfully. The therapist may engage you in dialogue, offering simple open-ended questions to help you explore more deeply within yourself. This is an inquiry and potential discovery of healing information in your tissues. The therapist may also remain quiet, checking in occasionally, but allowing the process to unfold in silence. This depends on what works best for you, and you are ultimately the one who decides.
Therapist listens and follows–does not lead or guide
Therapeutic support is offered in a neutral and grounded manner
Emotional release is a body process occurring in the tissues
Traumatic memory-experience is always held in a healing context
Practitioners do not lead, guide or force the treatment process. They facilitate in a neutral manner–listening–and following your cues, and those of your body. Throughout the session, the therapist pays close attention to the tissues and your craniosacral rhythm (the motion dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid). Cessation of this rhythm: the Still Point is used for guidance, as a “significance detector”, indicating which direction to follow and how to proceed with treatment.
This is a body-centered, somatically-oriented process—your body wisdom leads the way.
Should past traumatic experiences or emotions arise in treatment, they are always approached and framed in a healing context, through the prism of your innate healing intelligence, as something your body may want to address. However, the Somato-Emotional Release process is only continued if it feels healing for you. Should challenging memories or emotions arise in treatment, the therapist will carefully check with you to be certain the process is safe and healing for you. Your conscious awareness, trust and permission are paramount in this therapy.
Glial Cell Therapy
Recent research and technology > new discovery of glial cell function
Glial cells > regulatory, cleansing, healing, homeostatic, metabolic
Vital to health of brain, spinal cord, nervous system, entire body
Treatment works synergistically with Craniosacral Therapy
This modality was developed by visionary practitioner Tad Wanveer, LMBT, CST-D, following years of research and clinical exploration. Spanning over a decade, he worked intimately with Dr. John Upledger, developing this innovative method for interfacing with the miraculous glial cells in our body.
Only within the last two decades has enhanced research and technology begun to reveal the vast and integral healing influence these cells hold for us.
Glial cells are the most abundant cells in our central nervous system (CNS). They form a matrix in the CNS that is interdependent with connective tissue, neurons, blood vessels, cerebral spinal fluid, other glial cells and so much more, orchestrating the biochemical symphony that sustains our core information system in a mind-boggling number of ways. Glial Cell Therapy blends seamlessly with Craniosacral Therapy, as both work intimately with the environment of the central nervous system.
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In the brain and spinal cord are star-shaped glial cells: astrocytes
They have astounding multi-tasking abilities
Performing vital functions in the nervous system
Invaluable healing allies living in our microanatomy
Within the central nervous system, billions of star-shaped glial cells known as astrocytes connect with each other to form a three-dimensional grid-like matrix. This network of cellular stars is a structural support system within the brain and spinal cord that is interconnected with the fascia (connective tissue) from head to toe. It’s also a vast communication system that supports information flow within the brain and spinal cord and out into the body.
Within this matrix, each individual astrocyte performs more than fifteen vital functions.
Astrocytes are joined by a variety of other glial cells throughout the body, performing vital functions with the same phenomenal multi-tasking capabilities. These glial cells support the health of our peripheral and autonomic nervous systems, our sensory system, our visual system and the enteric nervous system of our gut. Living inside us, in the realm of our microanatomy are these miraculously intelligent and capable allies–regulating, cleansing, balancing, energizing and healing us–supporting us in our quest for health and wellbeing.
Accessing glial cells through a state of balanced tension – equilibrium
Activating their intelligence and healing capabilities
Awakening self-correcting activity in cellular environment
Treatment process reflects throughout tissues and systems of the body
Glial therapy provides an opportunity to access the vast potential of these healing allies living inside our cellular environment. The therapist uses grounded, neutral touch to invite the body into a state of balanced tension and equilibrium. This state of equanimity provides a portal to connect with the intelligence and healing capabilities of glial cells.
Emerging from the state of equilibrium is a dynamic therapeutic process, as glial cells work in synchrony with the body’s natural self-correcting activity.
The hallmarks of this self-correcting activity are improved symmetry of structure and enhanced physiological function within the micro anatomy and throughout all the tissues and systems of the body. This form of therapy is deeply relaxing and restorative.