Craniosacral Therapy Sessions
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is a form of gentle clothes-on bodywork that supports body-mind balance, increased resilience, and overall health. In the Biodynamic method we treat all aspects of your body and mind as an interconnected and deeply intelligent whole.
We’ll work with your nervous system, endocrine system, the tissues, fluids, and skeletal structure. Each session is a dynamic process that we’ll engage together, supporting your system to resolve patterns of pain, stress, and trauma.
I also bring in somatic exercises and mindful verbal guidance from other modalities to further support the work we’re wanting to do together. Each session is tailored to your present intention and needs.
Craniosacral Therapy is particular good for:
Nervous system and body settling for the relief of stress, fatigue, overwhelm, anxiety, pain, insomnia, and chronic nervous system activation.
Headaches and neuralgia.
Structural or tissue injuries and compensations (even from long ago), including shock, pain, and dissociation.
Supporting reconnection to inner resource when you feel depleted, alone, or depressed.
Gently rekindling connection with where the body is holding trauma from injuries (physical or emotional), or the patterns of early trauma.
Supporting the body/mind/spirit integration and rebalancing after intense or expanded consciousness/non-ordinary state experiences. This may be a meditation retreat, vision quest, psychedelic work, breathwork, other).
Sessions Details & Rates >
Other modalities I practice with Craniosacral:
Polarity Therapy
Rocking or stretching techniques that bring movement and energy flow to areas that may be tight, constricted or congested. Polarity Therapy is a great way to improve your sense of embodiment and soften chronic tension patterns. I often use these techniques when starting table work, and may come back to them at different points to bring movement and flow to different parts of the body.
Acupressure
Jin Shin Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, just without the needles! Founded in Traditional Chinese Medicine, we activate points along the body’s energy meridians to promote energy flow and balance. I may bring acupressure into a session when we’re working with a frequent pattern of imbalance - such as headaches, indigestion, insomnia, excess heat, or tightness in the neck, shoulders, back. Once your system is already well settled from craniosacral work I may offer deep pressure at specific points to support release of tension and increased energy flow. I will also teach you to do this acupressure on yourself so you can continue to support yourself at home.
Mindful Somatic Therapy
It often feels good to spend time at the beginning of a session dropping into mindfulness together. I’ll guide you to turn your attention to your internal landscape, noticing what is present within different parts of your body, just being with the sensations or emotions. With gentleness and curiosity we can choose to explore more details of your experience, allowing an opportunity for insight and a sense of present-time connection with yourself. This exploration can also provide an intention for the following bodywork. , or move to a rebalancing exercise if the experience is activating. The therapy modalities I work with are Hakomi Mindful Somatic Therapy, Internal Family Systems, as well as exercises from Gary Peterson, Peter Levine, and John Chitty.
What does a one of my Craniosacral sessions look like?
We’ll meet in my beautiful office, and I’ll have you silence your cell phone. Then we’ll spend a little time connecting about your current state, health conditions, and any questions or needs you have at this time. I may guide you in a mindfulness exercise to help you arrive and begin to access what is present in your body and if there is emotional material present. Based on what comes up, I may offer further exploration of material that needs support, or guide resourcing activities. Once it feels like we’ve settled in together, I’ll invite you to get comfy on the massage table. I often begin bodywork with a few minutes of Polarity Therapy, which is rocking or gentle stretches on your feet, legs, hips, torso. (I will be asking your permission prior to touching/working on any part of your body.) I’ll then move to your feet and hold them for 5-15 minutes, inviting your nervous system to discharge and settle, and your body to relax more and more. From there I will work up your body, providing gentle touch where support and movement is needed. In most sessions I will hold your sacrum, respiratory diaphragm, base of the neck, and head, along with other areas requested by your body. I am usually silent while working other than checking in with you or guiding support exercises. You’ll likely find yourself in a state of deep and quiet relaxation too, but please do speak up if needs or questions arise for you. I’ll provide several minutes of final integration work before letting you know that our bodywork is complete. I’ll invite you to take your time sitting up, stretching, and coming back to normal. I’ll encourage you to take good care of yourself after your session - hydrate, rest, know that your system is going to be slower than usual for the next hours (nurture this if you can!) so please drive with extra caution.
Some key practical points:
You are the expert on your own body and our work is a collaboration. Please be communicative about your needs and comfort level at all times. Your comfort comes first.
Our sessions take place fully clothed. Wear something comfortable and stretchy if you can.
My practice is scent-free. Please limit scents on your clothes and body for our sessions. Avoid perfume & perfume oils, strongly scented body products, Meyer’s Clean Day products, scented laundry detergent & dryer sheets.
When possible give yourself a few hours after our session to continue being in a relaxed, slow, and gentle state.