Frequently asked questions
~ about craniosacral therapy
Who can benefit from craniosacral therapy?
The focus of craniosacral therapy is to help the person regain connection with their inner health and vitality rather than about treating specific conditions. However by uncovering the source of the 'inner cause' of a condition, symptom relief is also achieved for the outer manifestation. In this way craniosacral therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions.
However you don't have to be ill or have any particular symptoms to benefit from craniosacral therapy. The increased sense of vitality and wellbeing that may result from treatment can be benefitial to most people.
Is craniosacral therapy suitable for me?
Given that treatment involves no discomfort or disturbance to the client, craniosacral therapy is safe for people of all ages. It is often an appropriate form of treatment when other therapies may be unsafe, such as during pregnancy, or after an operation or injury.
Craniosacral therapy may also be useful in treating longstanding and difficult conditions or where there has been poor response to conventional techniques.
What happens during a therapy session?
You will be asked to lie fully-clothed on the treatment table or whatever position is most comfortable. The therapist will tune in to what is happening with a sensitive 'listening touch' by placing his hands lightly on particular points of the body, and then will use specific 'light touch' skills to balance the craniosacral system.
Therapy is a generally relaxing and enjoyable experience and it is not unusual for the client to fall asleep.
How many treatment sessions will I need?
The number of treatments required will depend on the condition being treated. Although in some cases only one session can make a dramatic difference generally an adult will respond well in about 3-8 sessions. Usually these will be taken at weekly to bi-weekly intervals. However, for long standing or chronic conditions regular treatments may be required over an extended time period with the gap between treatments increasing.
Is therapy suitable for babies and children?
As craniosacral therapy is a gentle, non-invasive form of treatment it is particularly suitable for working with babies and young children. For example, babies can be treated whilst lying on pillows on their mothers lap or on a comfortable treatment table, and they can even be treated while asleep. Some problems that may be treated include:
- Collic
- Feeding difficulties
- Disturbed sleep
- Constant crying
- Irritability
- Restlessness
Are there any conditions that can′t be treated?
There are very few cases where the use of craniosacral therapy is not recommended.
Your first visit will involve a detailed case history review which is partly used to identify situations that are not recommended for treatment. These are conditions where slight changes in intra-cranial pressure could have a negative impact. These include: recent skull fracture, acute aneurysm, and cerebral haemorrhage or other severe bleeding disorders.
If you have any concerns you should consult your doctor prior to treatment.