Craniosacral Therapy
with Nicola Usher RMT
Please contact me at 519-949-3822 or
email: nicola.acalmretreat@gmail.com for more information or to set up an appointment.
Fees:
$70.00 - 30 minutes
$85.00 - 45 minutes
$105.00 - 1 hour
Prices include HST and a receipt is given that can be used for extended health care benefits.
What is Craniosacral Therapy?
Craniosacral Therapy emerged from the lifelong work of William Garner Sutherland (1873-1954), an osteopathic physician. He discovered that the cranium, the sacrum and every cell of the body expresses a rhythm and a potency that is present in all of nature as it supports movement and vitality.
This feel of vitality and the freedom in the body to function with ease and express health, comes through 5 components of what Sutherland called the
Primary Respiratory Mechanism:
1. The Inherent Motility of the Brain and Spinal Cord
2. Fluctuation of the Cerebral Spinal Fluid
3. Mobility of the Intracranial and Intraspinal Membranes
4. Articular Mobility of the Cranial Bones
5. The Involuntary Mobility of the Sacrum
During a Craniosacral Therapy treatment, my approach as a therapist is to gently support through a neutral or subtle pressure as the body resources and brings an ease to the soft tissues, joints and cranial sutures. This helps to support cerebral spinal fluid health, internal / external rotation in the paired bones and flexion / extension of the single bones of the body. Overall there is a gentle settling in the nervous system if this type of treatment resonates with the client.
My personal experience with Craniosacral Therapy
Over 30 years ago when I studied Massage Therapy, I had a supervisor in my student clinic do a cranial hold supporting my head. I noticed right away, the difference in the touch that he used - it was incredibly gentle, seemingly subtle, and I immediately felt an increased freedom in my neck.
Many years later I sought cranial work from an osteopath to deal with recurring neck spasms due to traumatic injury from 2 bicycle accidents that had occurred in my early 20's. These traumas had included 2 concussions within a month of each other and then while receiving treatments over 3 years, I incurred another significant head trauma with acute symptoms that resolved quickly with the regular cranial work.
It was the relief from pain and the felt-sense in my body of calm stillness that started me on a journey of Craniosacral training that began in 2004. I took many courses and I am grateful for my teacher's along the way: Grace Chan of Sutherland-Chan School of Massage Therapy, Fred Mitchell Jr. DO (an elder in the field of Osteopathy) and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist Jan Pemberton who introduced me to the trauma work of Somatic Experiencing and the importance and skill of negotiating safe space with clients. Jan also helped me to trust the pace as you check in with the client and the inner wisdom of the body to lead and guide the practitioner.
Some Craniosacral Therapy Applications:
Treatment of musculoskeletal and fascial pain / restrictions
In both acute and chronic conditions, craniosacral therapy can support the body to heal. As our body compensates for physical and emotional stress the treatment helps our system to resource, adapt and integrate these changes. In my experience bodywork in general helps to support increased circulation, increased range of motion, and decreased pain and restriction. When there is a feeling of safety and rapport with the therapist this supports rest and relaxation physiology of the autonomic nervous system.
Promotes healing post trauma & pre/post surgery
Even a simple fall can strain our body and prevent us from moving freely – craniosacral therapy supports the body as it deeply resources to bring healing. Our body is working 24/7 for us as it finds its way to maintain function, balance and adapt to change as best it can. In craniosacral therapy the therapist is joining and supporting the innate movement toward health that is always present. In more extreme trauma, the body can be overwhelmed and so this gentle and slow-paced therapy can reflect the person’s ability to receive and integrate treatment without further taxing the system.
In preparation for surgery, craniosacral therapy may help to bring a felt-sense of connection to this innate health before, and then post-surgery treatment helps the system adapt to changes from the procedure again enhancing healing.
Helps youth & adults adjust to dental/orthodontic work
Braces, dentures, appliances, night/day guards, can take time to get used to at first or when adjusted - craniosacral treatments support the body in this process to adapt to these new forces on the cranial structures of the face, head and neck. In my practice I have seen relief for people from headaches, speech impairments, and neck pain. Sometimes just a few minutes of treatment may be enough to help balance the craniosacral system and bring relief.
Deepens contemplative and meditation practices
For beginners in meditation: the session facilitates a ‘felt-sense’ in the body of a meditative awareness and then this experiential awareness gives us a body memory for future practice.
For experienced meditators: there is a knowing and pleasure in our body to receive treatment from a place of deep ‘being’ and stillness. Treatment further supports the already known ‘peace of being’ and helps our body to make specific adjustments supporting health and postural balance.
A portion of the treatment may be received in a seated position supporting the seated position of a meditation practice.
Use to support inner spiritual / psychological work
Bodywork provides the ability to access inner wisdom that comes through the body in the process of exploring our soul and psyche work. Craniosacral work is particularly effective at helping to integrate growth and awareness deep into our entire being in a non-verbal way. Supportive bodywork also helps to integrate the transformative process of inner work.
Trauma-informed
Nicola uses a trauma-informed approach with all modalities
We are becoming more aware in the world of the reality of how trauma has impacted many of us in our lives, in our relationships and in our larger social structures. The field of trauma work is growing and there is an evolving understanding in many disciplines of how to support people and deliver services in a way that supports communication, compassion and choice. Using a trauma-informed approach means for me that I use consent in the clarity of the description of services; in the nuancing of adjusting contact during a session; in the negotiation of a treatment plan; and in responding to any change moment to moment and session to session. I approach trauma-informed work with the knowledge that there is tremendous strength and resilience in each person and that their system will innately work toward healing and regulation. My intention is to join and support the process that is always at work in each of us to find some ease and balance in the body.