How to Use CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral therapy is one of the lesser known healing therapies in the world of alternative and complementary health. It involves a very gentle and non-invasive approach.

Those who receive CranioSacral therapy lay face up on a massage table. The practitioner usually begins by placing her hands on your feet. This initiates the process of communication between the practitioner and your body. Next, the CranioSacral Therapist monitors the rhythm of fluid around your central nervous system. The practitioner accomplishes this with a very light and subtle touch of the hands. Once the practitioner locates weak fluid flow or tissue, she continues the process of therapy by using a light touch approach to correct problem areas.

You do not need to remove any clothing for CranioSacral Therapy. The touch is very gentle; the practitioner never applies more weight than that of a nickel. You can use CranioSacral Therapy for a several different physical and emotional issues.

Instructions

Your CranioSacral Therapy Sessions

• 1

  Identify which two or three physical or mental conditions bother you the most right now. CranioSacral Therapy has an excellent track record of improving the following conditions: Migraines and Headaches, Chronic Neck and Back Pain, Stress and Tension-Related Disorders, Motor-Coordination Impairments, Infant and Childhood Disorders, Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, TMJ Syndrome, Scoliosis, Central Nervous System Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Orthopedic Problems.

• 2

  Check with your primary care physician if you decide to use CranioSacral Therapy for a physical condition. Your primary care physician needs to be made aware of any health issues that you face, particularly issues such as motor-coordination impairments, brain and spinal cord injuries, and other serious disorders. He may want to prescribe medication or a treatment plan that you can use in conjunction with CranioSacral Therapy. He may also want to be kept abreast of how your treatments progress.

• 3

  Consult with a psychotherapist if your issue is mental. Anyone with a stress and tension related disorder, a learning disability, or post-traumatic stress disorder should consult with a mental health professional.

Find an Experienced CranioSacral Therapist

• 4

  Check ads in local health publications---particularly alternative and complementary health magazines---for a CranioSacral therapist. Many non-traditional health magazines will feature ads or articles from which you can get referrals. It is unlikely that you will find a practitioner in a traditional, mainstream health publication.

• 5

  Consult the yellow pages (print and online), as well as the Internet for referrals, recommendations, and resources. Another option is to check with local massage schools. Most CranioSacral therapists also offer a few different types of massage therapy. If you do have the opportunity to get a recommendation from a massage school or massage therapist, ask for a CranioSacral therapist who has experience working with people who share your condition.

• 6

  Make an appointment with the CranioSacral therapist. Give the practitioner as much information about yourself as possible. Make certain to tell him or her what you would like to work on, and also about any particular places that your body feels discomfort. There is no such thing as "too much information" when it comes to CranioSacral Therapy. The more information you share, the more the practitioner can help you. Pay attention to your body during all of the sessions and communicate as much as possible. This will help you gain the most benefit from using CranioSacral Therapy for your physical or mental health.