Therapeutic Offerings
What they are and What to Expect From Them
Your Craniosacral Session
Offered as 50 minutes, 90 minutes, The System Package or The Energetic Facial Flush
(There’s a lot of Info, but we believe in the old adage: Knowledge is Power. You can scroll thru quickly to see all the offerings, then you can just read about the ones you need.)
If you’ve never heard of Craniosacral therapy you are not alone. Many people are just beginning to discover this powerful treatment program. There is a lot of fascinating research but to cliff note it for you, Craniosacral Therapy was developed by a physician trained in Osteopathic Medicine (go ahead and click on that link or any others in these pages to learn more). There is a short article on our blog about the original development of this science. In particular, it comes from Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, a hands-on approach used in osteopathic medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent various medical conditions. OMT involves using the physician's hands to perform techniques that focus on the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.
Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive technique that resets and soothes the nervous system, brings deep relaxation, releases tension and relieves pain throughout the body, and stimulates the bodies ability to heal itself. We combine this therapy with yoga therapy and other healing modalities into a full-spectrum healing experience. To help you prepare for your first visit, here's a glimpse of what you can anticipate during your craniosacral therapy session.
Initial Consultation: When you arrive at the therapist's office, your session will likely begin with a brief consultation. The therapist will ask about your medical history, current health concerns, and reasons for seeking craniosacral therapy. This information helps them tailor the session to your specific needs.
Comfortable Attire: Unlike other therapies, you will remain fully clothed during your session. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to ensure you can relax and move freely on the treatment table. Please do not wear jewelry, belts or restrictive clothing.
Hydrate! Not surprisingly, hydrated tissue responds more fluidly to the treatment, allowing your body to make the most of your session.
Relaxing Environment: Craniosacral therapy is conducted in a serene room with soft lighting, calming music, and a comfortable treatment table creating a tranquil atmosphere. The table will have a heating mat. If you prefer to have no heat, just let your therapist know at any point in the session.
Gentle Touch: The therapist will use a very light touch during the session and may place their hands on any part of the body (except the most intimate areas or anywhere you ask them not to). The touch is so delicate that sometimes you may barely feel it, at other times, you’ll notice the practitioner has their hands on one part of your body, but you feel the impacts in a completely different part of the body. Part of the way Craniosacral Therapy works is by coaxing and facilitating the release of tense structures which encourages the fluids to flow properly through the body, encouraging the body systems to realign to their optimum forms, stimulating and enhancing the body's natural healing processes.
Sensations and Observations: You might notice subtle sensations anywhere in your body during the session, such as a sense of warmth, tingling, muscle spasms, etc. or a feeling of deep relaxation spreading through your body. Some people experience emotional releases, like tears or laughter, which are considered normal, productive reactions to the therapy.
Breathing and Relaxation: Focus on your breath and allow yourself to relax fully. Deep, slow breathing can enhance the effectiveness of the treatment and help your body release tension. You can ask questions or make comments during the session (especially if you are uncomfortable in any way) but otherwise, enjoy the opportunity to unite with your breath and relax more deeply than you may ever have before.
Open Communication: Maintaining open communication with your therapist throughout the session is essential. Your craniosacral therapist is facilitating change, but it is YOUR body that is doing the healing. Communicating what you feel and where you are feeling lets your body's healing mechanisms be the guide.
Duration of the Session: Craniosacral therapy sessions are offered as 50 or 90 minute sessions. This can vary depending on your specific needs and the therapist's recommendations. Sometimes it is possible to extend your 50 minute session to 90 minutes if it seems optimal. You and Your therapist can discuss this possibility before or during the session. Know that often there is someone scheduled for the time following yours so this may not be possible. If you know in advance you prefer/need 90 minutes, scheduling this in advance ensures that you have that time. There is additional cost for the additional time.
Post-Session Discussion: After the session, your therapist may discuss their observations and any recommendations for self-care or follow-up sessions. They may suggest things like staying hydrated, practicing relaxation or specific yoga techniques, scheduling additional sessions or recommendations to see a physical therapist, try a different or additional healing modality or a different pratitioner. Whatever is best for your journey.
Potential Benefits: Many people experience some form of immediate healing in the first session, sometimes just a little, sometimes profound. Almost everyone reports feeling deeply relaxed and experiencing reduced tension and pain after a craniosacral therapy session. Some benefits may be immediate, while others might develop over the following weeks or with regular sessions. While some use craniosacral therapy for general rejuvenation and stress reduction, many are drawn by its remarkable ability to help the body recover from injuries or illness.
After your Session: Your therapist will ask you to notice any changes following your session. Those changes could include deeper sleep, improved digestion, improvement in pain, mobility, post-concussion symptoms or other sensations. Occasionally, a client may experience some soreness or discomfort following a treatment. This is a normal part of your healing process as your body adjusts. When one part of the body moves, all other parts have to adapt to the changes. This is also why the work unfurls over a week, two weeks or sometimes longer. Pay special notice to subtle cues from your body that it wants to move in a certain, possibly strange way and experiment listening to these cues. If there is ever any pain, stop immediately and consult your physican. You may also crave certain foods, usually these are foods with dense nutrients, etc. If you crave Oreos or alcohol, that’s probably not your healthy body talking! Craniosacral therapy can sometimes complete its work in one office visit, but more often additional visits are needed. For that reason, we offer 3 and 6 session packages at a discounted rate.
In the week or two after or between treatments, support your body by drinking plenty of clean water as well as sipping on teas and eating healthy foods, including really good sources of protein and amino acids like fish, mushrooms, turkey, grass-fed beef, etc. and add more vegetables and fresh fruit to your diet. Your body will be rebuilding and will need good building materials. If you have had recommendations for yoga poses or exercises, physical therapy, etc. the work will progress much faster if you are able to follow-thru on these…after clearing them with your physician. Please communicate with your therapist any changes or questions you might have. We congratulate you on beginning this journey to health!
In conclusion, your first craniosacral therapy visit should be a gentle and calming experience to promote relaxation and overall well-being. Knowing what to expect and maintaining open communication with your therapist can make the most of this unique and soothing therapy. Ready for your Session?
The System Protocol
Otherwise known as The Full Body Tune up,
This system is based, in part, on the 10-step protocol designed by Dr. John Upledger. The System Protocol series is a profoundly relaxing process that will release deep tension or imbalances being held within your body, optimizing your innate ability to relax and heal. Think of it as a Full System Tune-up. While the treatment will focus on specific areas of the body, the effects will radiate throughout your entire system.
Session 1: Exploratory Session: This first session determines the baseline from which therapy will be based. The Therapist will check for alignment, hot spots and take a thorough history, followed by a general session.
Session 2: Releasing the Diaphragms: In the second session, the therapist works on releasing tension in key areas of the body known as diaphragms. These diaphragms are horizontal layers of tissue that play a crucial role in fluid movement and overall body function. Using various craniosacral therapy techniques, therapists can relieve tension buildup from five different diaphragms.
Pelvic Diaphragm: The therapist gently releases tension in the pelvic area, which can help with lower back pain and pelvic issues.
Respiratory Diaphragm: Releasing tension on the respiratory diaphragm muscle, improves your breathing and overall relaxation.
Thoracic Inlet: The therapist works on the area around your neck, upper back and upper chest, helping to ease tension that can cause neck pain or tightness.
Hyoid: Here the focus is under your chin on the lateral part of your neck to release tension in your throat and upper chest, which can help with issues like swallowing difficulties, neck strain and finding your voice.
Occipital Cranial Base: Here, the therapist focuses on the base of your skull, helping to release tension that can affect the entire craniosacral system.
Session 3: Settle and Full Body Check-in: A Full General Session to check-in with your system.
Session 4: Shoulders and neck: You have more than 20 neck muscles, extending from the base of your skull and jaw down to your shoulder blades and collarbone. This session focuses on relieving tension throughout this area.
Session 5: The Frontal, Parietal and Sphenoid bones This session will focus on the muscles, ligaments and bones of the Cranium and Face. Your therapist gently places their hands on these areas help release tension, which can alleviate headaches, sinus problems, and release tension between the eyes, nose and temporal bones. The technique is so gentle, many clients experience drifting into a light meditative state of rest.
Session 6: Settle and Check-in: A Full Body General Session
Session 7: Temporal Techniques The temporal techniques focus on the temporal bones located under your ears. During this part of craniosacral therapy, please do not wear earings and let your therapist know if you have sensitive ears. Treating the temporal bones continues the process of bringing balance to the skull, releasing tension, relieving headaches and may be helpful for conditions like tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or dizziness. It will also release tension in the jaw and the area around the ears, which can be especially beneficial for people with jaw pain or TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues.
Session 8: Temporomandibular joint, Zygoma and Mandible This step specifically addresses the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your jaw to your skull, and the immediately surrounding effected structures. The therapist releases tension, stimulates recovery which can relieve pain and reduce symptoms like headaches and earaches.
Session 9: Settle and Check In: A Full Body Session
Session 10: The Sacrum, Hips, Knees and Ankles
In this session the focus is on the sacrum (your therapist has probably worked on your sacrum in other sessions, but this session has a lower body focus), hips, knees, ankles and sometimes toes. The session concludes with a Return to Still Point. This still point allows your body to reset its craniosacral rhythm, promoting balance and encouraging your body’s natural healing processes.
The Energetic Facial Flush
Combining Craniosacral Therapy with Face Yoga
Many of us carry tension in our facial muscles: furrowing our eyebrows, pursing our lips, clinching our jaws or cheeks. This phenomenon often stems from stress, anxiety, or habitual expressions. Common areas where tension manifests include the jaw, forehead, and around the eyes. Over time, this chronic muscle tightness can lead to various negative health outcomes…and negative expressions. Ever heard the adage, “If you keep making that face it will stay that way.”?
Holding tension in the face can contribute to headaches, ear aches, neck issues, jaw pain and a constant state of unease. It can exacerbate conditions such as headaches or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Furthermore, persistent facial tension can create a cycle of stress. Craniosacral therapy combined with Facial Yoga can counter the effects by relaxing while at the same time strengthening the muscles of the face in ways that target specific facial muscles and muscle groups. This can help to rewire your facial responses to life’s challenges, increase circulation, stimulate collagen, improve lymphatic drainage and reduce stress. This combination not only supports the physical aspects of skin health but also fosters a mindful approach to self-care, contributing positively to overall well-being and confidence.
When individuals express emotions through their facial muscles—such as smiling, frowning, or displaying surprise—these expressions can trigger physiological responses associated with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). For example, a genuine smile engages the zygomaticus major muscles, which can initiate a cascade of neurochemical changes in the body. This can lead to a decrease in heart rate and an increase in feelings of wellbeing, as the brain interprets facial feedback as a signal of safety and contentment.
What happens when you exercise or clinch muscles? They get stronger, right? In your biceps this is usually not a problem, but what about when you are holding expressions of anger, fear or stress (furrowing eyebrows, clinching jaws, pursing lips)? These expressions (what we call stress-face) are part of your body’s response to stress situations and trigger your sympathetic nervous system—your fight, flight or freeze system—which has learned to take cues from many sources, but your facial expressions are among them. When you repeatedly trigger the Fight, Flight or Flee response expressions, these muscles strengthen in these positions and freeze your face in some variation of those expressions. This can make your sympathetic nervous system constantly respond to life not with rose colored glasses, but with apprehension, increased heart rate and heightened stress levels. Facial tension may affect one's overall well-being. It can contribute to feelings of fatigue or irritability, reducing one's capacity to engage fully in daily activities.
Research has shown that positive facial expressions can bolster mood, encourage social bonding, and activate the vagus nerve, which is a crucial component of the PNS. The vagus nerve plays a vital role in regulating heart rate, digestion, and other functions that contribute to a relaxed state. The connection between facial expression and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system underscores the intricate relationship between emotional expression, body language, and physiological wellbeing, highlighting the potential for mindful practices, like face yoga and craniosacral therapy, to enhance relaxation and reduce stress.
Addressing this issue involves helping the muscles, strengthened to hold stress-face for long periods, release and balance with the rest of the cranial and facial muscles. Your therapist may also offer additional relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices you can weave into daily routines.
Craniosacral therapy can effectively address facial issues by coaxing tight muscles to release, promoting relaxation and enhancing the functioning of the craniosacral system, which includes the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord. Combining this with Facial Yoga also helps restore facial symmetry and improves the functioning of the sinus cavities.
This combination of facial yoga and Craniosacral therapy can also be beneficial for individuals experiencing Bell's palsy (a weakening of the muscles of the face, head or neck which can be caused by trauma to the face or head as well as viral infections). This technique can enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, and improve nerve function, potentially aiding in the recovery of facial muscle control and the restoration of facial symmetry as well as help alleviate stress and anxiety often associated with Bell's palsy.
Finally, there’s the GLOW. By improving the flow of fluids and flushing the muscles and structures of the face, head and neck, tissues are revitalized, boosting collagen and elasticity. This improves your tissues ability to restore and repair, revealing your natural beauty from the inside out.
Ready for your session?
