Gentle hands-on support for the body and nervous system
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive hands-on approach that works with the body and central nervous system.
Using light touch, I listen to subtle patterns of movement and restriction within the body rather than forcing change.
The aim is to support nervous system regulation, encourage greater balance and create an opportunity for the body to respond in its own way.
I offer CranioSacral Therapy at Middlefield Wellness Centre in Fife.
What Is CranioSacral Therapy?
CranioSacral Therapy, often shortened to CST, is a gentle hands-on approach with roots in osteopathy and cranial osteopathy.
The craniosacral system includes the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, together with the structures to which those membranes connect. However, CranioSacral Therapy is not simply about working on the head.
Because the body is interconnected through fascia and other tissues, I may work gently at different areas of the body during a session.
The touch used in Upledger CranioSacral Therapy is very light, traditionally described as around five grams of pressure. You can read more about CranioSacral Therapy in my earlier article.
The work is subtle, but subtle does not mean that every session feels the same. Each person and each session can be different.
Why I Look at the Whole Body
Where you feel something is not necessarily the whole story.
Posture, movement, physical tension, previous experiences and the nervous system can all influence one another.
This is why I do not begin a CranioSacral Therapy session by assuming that the area where you feel discomfort is necessarily the only place that needs attention.
I listen through my hands and follow what I notice within the body. Sometimes my work may remain around one area. At other times I may work at the feet, pelvis, spine, shoulders, head or elsewhere.
The session is guided by the individual rather than by a rigid sequence that is identical for everyone.
CranioSacral Therapy and the Nervous System
Balance rather than simply “calm”
The nervous system plays an important role in how your body responds and adapts to what is happening both within you and around you.
Its job is not simply to keep you calm. A responsive nervous system needs to be able to react when something requires your attention and then adapt when the situation changes.
My work is centred around supporting regulation and helping the nervous system move towards greater balance.
This is also why I work gently. I am interested in listening to what the body is communicating rather than imposing change upon it.
What Happens Before My First Appointment?
Your Telephone Consultation
Before your first CranioSacral Therapy session, I arrange a telephone consultation with you to take a detailed history.
This gives us time to discuss what has brought you to see me, relevant health information and anything else that may be important for me to know before we begin the hands-on work.
Taking your history beforehand means that when you arrive at Middlefield Wellness Centre, we can spend your appointment focusing on CranioSacral Therapy rather than using a large part of the session gathering background information.
If anything in your history suggests that CranioSacral Therapy may not be appropriate, or that medical advice should be sought before proceeding, I can discuss this with you beforehand.
What Happens During a CranioSacral Therapy Session?
Because I have already taken your history during our telephone consultation, we can begin the hands-on work without spending a large part of your appointment going over the same information again.
You remain fully clothed throughout your appointment, so comfortable clothing is ideal.
You will usually lie on your back on the treatment couch, although your position can be adapted if necessary for your comfort.
I use gentle contact with my hands in different areas of the body. This may include the feet, pelvis, spine, shoulders, neck and head.
Your Appointment
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: £60
There is no need for you to make anything happen. You can simply rest while I work.
I listen through my hands and allow what I notice within the body to guide where I work rather than following an identical sequence for every person.
Your experience of CranioSacral Therapy may be different from someone else’s, and responses can also vary from one session to another.
What Might I Experience?
There is no particular sensation that you are supposed to feel during CranioSacral Therapy.
Some people become deeply relaxed. Others remain very aware of what is happening throughout the session.
You may notice sensations such as warmth, pulsing, softening, movement or changes in how you are aware of different areas of your body. Some people notice very little during the session itself.
All of these responses are individual, and I do not use a particular sensation as proof that a session has “worked”.
SomatoEmotional Release
When physical restrictions and emotional experiences appear connected
SomatoEmotional Release, often called SER, developed from Dr John Upledger’s work with CranioSacral Therapy and may form part of a CST session.
During hands-on work, there are times when a physical restriction appears to have a connection with an emotional experience. SomatoEmotional Release provides a gentle way of exploring that connection if it arises naturally during the session.
It is not counselling, psychotherapy or psychological treatment, and I do not begin a session expecting an emotional release to occur.
There is no requirement for you to remember, explain or revisit a particular experience. Sometimes very little needs to be said. At other times, dialogue may form part of the process as we gently explore what your body appears to be communicating.
Nothing is forced. SomatoEmotional Release is simply another aspect of CranioSacral Therapy that can be used when it is appropriate for the individual.
My Approach to CranioSacral Therapy
I began training in CranioSacral Therapy in 2008, while I was still working as a nurse within the NHS.
As my understanding and experience of CST grew, I became increasingly interested in the connections within the body and in looking beyond symptoms alone.
By 2010, I knew that this was the direction I wanted my career to take. After 27 years in nursing, I left the NHS to develop my work in CranioSacral Therapy and complementary healthcare.
Since then, CranioSacral Therapy has remained at the heart of much of what I do. I have continued my training through the Upledger approach and am Upledger CranioSacral Therapy Certified.
My nursing background has not been left behind. It continues to influence the way I listen, observe, work within my scope of practice and recognise when conventional medical assessment or care may be appropriate.
Before your first session, taking your history by telephone gives me useful context about what you are experiencing and any relevant health information. When you arrive for treatment, I can then focus on listening to the body through the hands-on CranioSacral Therapy work.
A Little History of CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy developed from earlier work in cranial osteopathy, particularly the work of osteopathic physician Dr William Sutherland.
Dr John E. Upledger later developed CranioSacral Therapy as a distinct approach. After observing rhythmic movement of the dural membrane while assisting during surgery, he went on to lead research at Michigan State University involving anatomists, physiologists, biophysicists and bioengineers.
His work during the 1970s and early 1980s contributed to the development of the approach now known as Upledger CranioSacral Therapy. The Upledger Institute International was established in 1985 and has since taught CranioSacral Therapy to healthcare practitioners internationally.
Is CranioSacral Therapy Right for Everyone?
CranioSacral Therapy is gentle, but that does not mean it is automatically appropriate for every person or every situation.
There are circumstances in which CranioSacral Therapy may not be recommended, particularly where changes in intracranial pressure could present a risk. Upledger Institute guidance gives examples including acute aneurysm, cerebral haemorrhage and certain severe bleeding disorders.
If you have a medical condition, have recently had surgery or an injury, or are unsure whether CranioSacral Therapy is appropriate for you, please let me know before your appointment.
Where appropriate, I may suggest that you seek advice from your GP or another healthcare professional before proceeding.
CranioSacral Therapy is a complementary approach and does not replace appropriate medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
There is not a standard number.
Some people come for a single session, while others choose to work over a longer period. How you respond is individual, so I do not recommend a fixed number of sessions simply because another person with similar concerns had a particular experience.
We can discuss how you are responding and whether further sessions feel appropriate as we go.
For people who may benefit from a more concentrated period of work, I also offer an Intensive CranioSacral Therapy Programme.
CranioSacral Therapy in Fife
I offer CranioSacral Therapy from Middlefield Wellness Centre in Fife, Scotland.
My clients come from across the whole of Fife, as well as Tayside, Perthshire and surrounding areas.
You do not need to know whether CranioSacral Therapy is the right approach before contacting me. If you are unsure, you can arrange a free 15-minute consultation or explore my Holistic Wellness Assessment for a broader look at where you might begin.
CranioSacral Therapy for Children Under 12
CranioSacral Therapy is also available for children under 12. Sessions are gentle, unhurried and adapted to the individual child, with a parent or guardian involved as appropriate.
This is a complementary wellbeing service and does not replace medical assessment or care.
30 minutes | £30
Ready to Explore CranioSacral Therapy?
Choose the appointment length that is right for you.