How Does CranioSacral Therapy Work?
Few structures have as much influence over the body’s ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord that make up the central nervous system.  And, few systems have as much impact on the central nervous system as the craniosacral system — the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord. This fluid can be felt throughout the fascia (the soft tissue component of the connective tissue) of the body.

CranioSacral Therapy is a highly effective and gentle form of therapy that enhances the functioning of the craniosacral system and thus, the central nervous system. As our bodies endure and absorb daily stresses and strains, and they can only handle so much, causing tension to form around the brain and spinal cord. The resulting tension becomes a barrier to the healthy and natural performance of your central nervous system.

Through CranioSacral Therapy, the therapist uses a gentle touch - generally about 5 grams, or a nickel’s worth of pressure - to evaluate where there are tissue restrictions and tension in the body as indicated by the pulsing of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Using soft touch techniques, the restrictions are released, and there is improved functioning of the central nervous system, naturally eliminating stress and pain, strengthening resistance to disease, and enhancing health and well-being.


"What I understand about CranioSacral Therapy would 'fit on the head of a pin' as the saying goes. What I do know is that after my sessions with Maureen, I have a deep sense of wellness in my body, mind and spirit. With CranioSacral, I had relief from chronic neck pain for days and eventually the relief lasted weeks. This is in contrast with massage, where the physical relief is typically momentary. Maureen's gentle touch works to open the flow of cranial sacral fluid - the relief has been profound and lasting." - Kathleen Dowd

Who Can Benefit From CranioSacral Therapy?
Because CranioSacral Therapy is so effective as a preventive health measure, almost anyone can benefit from a session. CST has proven especially effective on puzzling cases that have not responded well to other therapies.  It’s particularly helpful for those with head, neck or back pain.   
 
By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body’s ability to self-correct, CranioSacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunction, from chronic pain and sports injuries to stroke and neurological impairment.  


Some symptoms that CranioSacral Therapy has been shown to improve are:

•     Headaches
  
•     Neck and Back Pain
  
•     Chronic pain anywhere in the body
  
•     Dizziness
  
•     Low Energy
  
•     Sleep Disorders
  
•     Numbness
  
•     Temporal Mandibular Joint Pain (TMJ)
  
•     General nervous tension
  
•     Poor digestion or elimination
  

The extremely light touch also makes CranioSacral Therapy a safe approach for children and infants who have experienced early stress, including birth trauma.

"Maureen was so reassuring and helped me to know what was going on during our CranioSacral session. I had 3 or 4 treatments from Maureen and over time the pain from my herniated disk abated and I was relieved. I am really grateful to Maureen for these treatments which gave me relief from pain and helped to make me feel better in general. Maureen gave me the boost that I needed when my body wasn't doing it for itself. I would recommend CranioScacral Therapy from Maureen to anyone!"  - Carol T.

During a CranioSacral Therapy session, the client is fully clothed, reclining on a massage table in a quiet, private setting. A treatment is typically one hour, but you may request a one and a half hour treatment. Maureen will sit or stand positioned at various points of your head, torso or feet. At times, she will support your limbs and spine, while helping your body release accumulated tension. 

What you experience during a CST session is highly individual.  Some say they feel deeply relaxed and grounded, while others describe feeling unwinding sensations as the body releases tension.  You may even recall circumstances surrounding a past trauma or injury that caused your body stress.  While it doesn’t occur in every session, this aspect of the process is perfectly normal, and helps the body reverse dysfunction and restore optimal levels of mobility. 
 
Because each individual response to CST is unique, the number of sessions needed to resolve any particular condition varies widely.  While one session may give you the relief you need, your situation may require more therapy before it’s completely alleviated.

After the Session
Just as each individual experiences CST sessions differently, the results can be diverse as well.  You may leave in such a relaxed state that you feel like sleeping for hours.  Or you may leave full of boundless energy.  You may feel a decrease in pain or an increase in function immediately after the session, or the effects may develop gradually over the next few days.   
  
Since CST helps the body resume its natural healing processes, it’s common for your improvements to continue weeks after the session.  You may also experience a reorganization phase as your body releases previously held patterns and adapts to a new state of wellness. 
 
(Adapted from the Upledger Institute. For more information, go to www.upledger.com)

"I have had ALS for two years.  I began receiving CranioSacral Therapy from Maureen over a year ago. I look forward to her treatments every week, because after each session I feel totally relaxed. I also feel more energized. My anxiety and panic leave me, and my pain is eased. Also, my body is better aligned after each treatment. I very much appreciate Maureen's treatment and highly recommend her to others." - Julie G.