Is Craniosacral a good fit for you?
Let's start by saying what Craniosacral Therapy is: it supports the Craniosacral system of the body which takes care of the central nervous system. It buffers, delivers nutrients to and removes waste from the major coordinating glands in the brain: the pineal, pituitary, and thalamus. It also facilitates what we call the "body wisdom" and how the major coordinating glands order and distribute instructions to the entire body via the fluids (interstitium), lymph, nerve, immune systems. It works hand in hand with the fascia, or connective tissue system of the body as well as the spinal cord, peripheral nerves and musculoskeletal system. There are three main types of contemporary Craniosacral Therapy which I discuss here.
People generally come for chronic pain, chronic health conditions and for nervous system regulation. For complex medical conditions and health concerns, Craniosacral Therapy can be a wonderful adjunct that helps decrease pain, instill ease, and fill in the dots alongside a mainstream medical approach or within a team of alternative therapies.
I do not recommend using Craniosacral Therapy as a stand-alone to address serious medical issues. Think of it as the support for your body, and your mental and emotional parts to find ease within complexity and to integrate your entire experience at progressively more profound levels - so you feel more connected to your body, and life itself. This is essential for the support of anxiety, traumas, disassociation, and other nervous system maladies. The more connected we feel, the more resilient, and the more choice we experience.
Please also consider the following:
Recent significant injury?
Please wait about 2 weeks after an injury or surgery before an appointment.
And in the case of falls, accidents, concussions, get checked out by medical professionals before a Craniosacral appointment.
Acute onset of moderate to severe, debilitating back or neck pain in recent days or week?
Moderate to severe pain not caused by an accident of some kind is often a spasm. In the case of a spasm please wait two weeks to come in. While very difficult, spasms have to complete their life cycle. Craniosacral Therapy will be most helpful after the spasm ends and then we can get in and look at why those particular muscles and what patterns are trying to change.
In the meantime, consider cold or ice applications not heat. Move gently only. Keep walking, gently, throughout the day. No exercise, no heavy lifting for at least a week. Spend time on the floor if you can, rolling gently. Moving gently often, managing pain and waiting is the way through.
New to Therapy as a whole?
If you are new to healing work, bodywork, massage, any of the natural healing arts, Welcome!
However, as I wish you the best possible introduction to this field, take a moment to assess if you are prepared that healing is a process not an event, especially in natural therapies. Consider if you have time for the homework and lifestyle adjustments that will likely come. There is no judgement if you do not; only, it may serve you in the long run to receive massage or acupuncture for a while as your body gets used to the attention, and, potentially wait to receive Craniosacral until space opens up in your life for you to have more time to take care of yourself.
More questions? Call or text 509-846-9286 to set up a free 15 minute consultation.
In support of your unique healing capacity and path, Broehe Ballman, CCSP, LMT
