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CRANIOSACRAL RELATED ARTICLES

Understanding Craniosacral Therapy

By Emily Anastassiadis ®RCST

Craniosacral therapy is a rapidly growing healing modality springing up in health centres all over the planet. Many people have heard of Craniosacral Therapy, but few actually know what craniosacral therapists do, or how they are trained. Craniosacral Therapy is an integrated, holistic health-care approach that employs gentle manual contact on the body to observe and interact with the patients craniosacral system. So, what exactly is the craniosacral system?

The term craniosacral describes a system of motion that cycles between the bones in our head (cranial bones) and the base of our spine ( the sacrum). This motion, which has been measured using infra-red devices, is demonstrated by subtle movements in the joints (called sutures) between the bones of the skull. It occurs as a response to the flow of spinal fluid as it is produced in the brain and travels down the brainstem to the sacrum and cycles back up again. Craniosacral practitioners and a growing number of scientists recognize the craniosacral system as a primary physiological system that regulates and distributes self-healing mechanisms of the body.

Working with the craniosacral system can be beneficial to treat a variety of acute physiological ailments from whiplash due to car accidents, head injuries, to joint and nerve damage. However, it is not limited to treating solely physical injuries.

Frequently, after traumatic accidents, illnesses or emotional crises, emotional patterns are retained in the tissues of the body. This phenomenon, often referred to as ‘tissue memory’ has been studied extensively by science and is a well known factor in organ transplants. Qualified craniosacral therapists are trained in trauma resolution and are skilled at creating a safe emotional space in which to help people release tension associated with difficult life experiences such as psychological, physical or emotional distress.

With life experiences as complex as these, it is important that health care consumers know they are in the hands of practitioners who are sufficiently trained and capable of acting as allies in a journey towards health and recovery.

What is involved in the training of a Craniosacral Therapist?

The Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America (CSTA/NA) is a central governing body that regulates the registration process of certified craniosacral therapists and provides accountability for their practices. In order to gain registration, a practitioner must complete approximately 3 consecutive years of training under the supervision of a teacher registered by the association. Training includes anatomy of the central nervous system and human skeletal system, an approach to trauma resolution, practitioner dialogue, and the methodology of assessing and working with the craniosacral system towards recovery. In addition to in- class training, practitioners must, complete a comprehensive thesis, a minimum of 150 practice sessions and attain above 70% on a standardized examination.

In order to ensure that you are with a qualified therapist, ask if they have a registration number, or look for the ®RCST beside their name on business cards or certification papers. They should be open to a dialogue with you about how they work and be willing to empower you to understand and participate in your healing process.

E-mail: emily@cranialnerd.com