CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
WHAT IS CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY?
“A gentle touch that listens to the body”
Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle, non-invasive hands-on treatment that is founded on the body’s inherent ability to heal and self-regulate when given the right conditions and support.
It relies on the engagement of the therapist with the nervous system – the brain, the spinal chord and the sacrum – and the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds it. It’s a way of ‘listening’ to the body’s natural rhythms, depicting what it’s feeling, in a way that words cannot necessarily convey.
WHAT DOES CST DO AND WHO'S IT FOR?
“Nervous system regulation and reintegration of body, mind and spirit”
Most people are drawn to CST for a specific issue, such as migraines, lower back pain, an injury or a life event. The beauty of craniosacral therapy is that it doesn’t 'fix' things treating by symptoms in isolation. It addresses the root of the cause by looking at the whole person in the context of their life and the events that have shaped it.
CST is indicated for a variety of conditions, and it’s suitable for all ages - adults and the elderly, children and teenagers, babies and expectant mothers.
Stress & Burnout
For those feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or unable to switch off. To support sleep disturbances CST helps the nervous system find its natural rhythm and rest.
Anxiety & Low Mood
By supporting the parasympathetic nervous system, CST can reduce anxiety, emotional tension, lift mood, and restore a sense of groundedness.
Chronic Pain & Unease
Headaches, migraines, neck and back pain, sciatica, jaw tension (TMJ), frozen shoulder, digestive issues, IBS, tinnitus, asthma. Recovery from illness, injury or surgery. CST works gently to release the restrictions that contribute to persistent physical pain.
Pregnancy & Postnatal
Gentle support for the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy, and for mothers and newborns after birth.
Deeply Gentle
Light touch, no manipulation, just attentive listening
Deeply restorative
Supports the nervous system's shift from stress to rest
Whole person, whole body
Works with the person as a whole and the entire body, not just the site of symptoms
Non invasive
Fully clothed, no pressure, no need to talk
Trauma
CST offers a safe, somatic approach to healing that does not require verbal processing, making it ideal for stored or pre-verbal and birth trauma.
Babies & Children
Babies and children respond beautifully to CST, which can help with birth tensions, colic, sleep difficulties, and developmental support.
FASCIA UNWINDING
“The soul of a man seems to dwell in the fascia of the body” - Andrew Taylor Still
In simple terms, the fascia can be described as a vast web of connective tissue that holds us together. It surrounds, supports and connects all the different structures within the body – including muscles, bones, organs, blood vessels, nerves – creating a continuous network throughout the whole system.
Given its close connection to the nervous system, patterns of stress, tension and past experience – such as injury, illness or trauma – may become held within the tissues over time. Sometimes referred to as ‘tissue memory’, these patterns can be experienced as stiffness, pain, restricted movement, postural imbalance, chronic tension, or a feeling of being emotionally or physically ‘stuck’.
Since fascia forms a continuum throughout the body, patterns of tension and restriction can be transmitted from one area to another. Sometimes the place where pain is felt isn’t necessarily where the original imbalance or strain began. For example, discomfort in the hip may relate to long-held tension patterns involving the neck or the jaw.
Within Craniosacral Therapy, fascia unwinding may arise spontaneously or be offered by the therapist as deemed appropriate to the treatment process during the session. It often involves working with the limbs, neck, diaphragm, abdomen and other areas where tension and emotional holding are commonly carried.
Working with the fascia offers a gentle and effective way to reach the deeper restrictions – addressing the root cause, releasing trauma, easing pain, restoring ease of movement and broader sense of balance and wellbeing throughout the body.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL SESSION LOOK LIKE?
1. Creating space to arrive
The first session typically starts with an open conversation about what brings you to CST as well as a collection of your medical history and any significant life events, to provide some context around you and your life situation. You only need share as much as you feel comfortable sharing. Subsequent sessions usually open with an invitation to share how you've been feeling since your last treatment or any significant updates.
2. The treatment
You will lie down on a massage couch, fully clothed, typically on your back, getting comfortable and settled. The treatment will start with a soft touch usually at the feet or at the shoulders, moving on to other areas of the body, depending on what the body brings up - the spine, the torso, the abdomen, the sacrum, the head. You may feel a change in temperature, in your breathing, a twitch or tingling, or just a sense of deep relaxation. It is not unusual for people to fall asleep.
3. A gentle return
An opportunity to pause, notice how you're feeling and what you've experienced during the treatment, share any thoughts or reflections, or ask any questions you may have.
The full session lasts 1 hour.
If English is not your first language and you feel more comfortable speaking in your native language, you're welcome to talk to me in Italian, Greek, German or French.
Click here to find out about other people's experience
Note:
Craniosacral Therapy is a complementary practice aimed at supporting your wellbeing. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, but is intended to work alongside the care you may receive from your GP or other healthcare professionals. If you have any concerns about your health, or are currently under medical care, I warmly encourage you to speak with your GP or relevant healthcare provider before beginning sessions.