So you want to try some craniosacral therapy
Welcome! I’m happy you are curious to explore what this modality has to offer you.
If you come in for a session with me, here’s what you can expect.
Wear something comfortable. You will remain dressed throughout your session. No jeans or belts, please. Think about your comfiest clothes, the ones you lounge or do free movement in. That’s what I’m talking about!
What a session looks like varies greatly. Your body knows what it needs, so I always will make contact with your body before a treatment plan unfolds- the session then directs itself. Long, slow, gentle holds with some positional release are the hallmark of craniosacral work, but I don’t limit myself to those techniques. If your tissue asks for something else, that’s what I provide. I typically move from place to place, sometimes with no order that seems to make sense. I may even work inside your mouth if you are comfortable. Your system will dictate the order in which things are addressed, how long we spend in each area, and what kinds of techniques I will use. It doesn’t always seem linear or easy to place. Where a symptom is located, for example, is not always where the issue is. If you have questions about anything I am doing or noticing, I encourage you to ask- otherwise, feel free to just receive the work.
About half the people that I see prefer not to speak on the table, finding it brings them out of their process. About half need to speak in order to process. This can vary even from session to session with the same individual, so feel into what is best for you. Speaking doesn’t need to be overly cognitive and involve therapeutic dialogue (although that is something I offer)… sometimes we just need to say something out loud, and leave it be. I will take your lead.
The most important part of any session is to speak up if you are feeling uncomfortable or unsafe in any way, for any reason. This is your time and I am here to support your process. I encourage boundary setting and self advocacy, and these sessions are a safe place to practice these skills.
After your session
Change can be subtle or significant, immediate or delayed. Occasionally it takes a few sessions for someone to notice a change at all. Everyone is different, and how your body reacts and responds after a session gives us important information about how your system encounters and integrates change. It’s important to let me know what you experience after a session so we can work with your system, rather than against it- so don’t be afraid to speak up.
It’s always a good idea after having any hands on to drink lots of water, eat nourishing foods, and listen to your system. I often will recommend a mindful walk that day to help your system integrate, but the most helpful thing for you to do is tune in and respect what your body is asking of you.