CRANIOSACRAL FAQs

How does CranioSacral Therapy Work?

Few structures have as much influence over the body's ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord that make up the primary anatomical structures of your central nervous system. Your central nervous system is heavily influenced by the craniosacral system - the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord.

Every day your body endures stresses and strains that it must work to compensate for. Unfortunately, these changes often cause body tissues to tighten and distort the craniosacral system. These distortions can then cause tension to form around the brain and spinal cord resulting in restrictions. This can create a barrier to the healthy performance and flow of the central nervous system, and potentially every other system it interacts with. (EVERY system!!)

Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. With a light touch, the CST practitioner uses his or her hands to evaluate the craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in any tissues influencing the craniosacral system.

By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body's ability to self-correct, CranioSacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunctions, from chronic pain and sports injuries to stroke and neurological impairment.

How many sessions will I need ?

Every body is very different. It is difficult to predict how many sessions would be most beneficial to you. Because each person is unique, the number of treatments needed to achieve desired results will vary greatly. Factors like seriousness of condition, length of time it has existed, number of surgeries/trauma, and many other personal factors can affect the length of your treatment. Initially, I recommend one or two sessions/week for 6-8 weeks to break through patterns and assess your response to this approach. After a more intensive series of sessions, I recommend follow up appointments, as needed, to support the integration and maintenance of the benefits. Deepest, fastest results come from frequent sessions.

Will my insurance cover CST?

Yes. When appropriate and indicated, CST is a manual therapy modality that can be integrated into physical therapy sessions to reduce pain, tension, and restrictions in your tissues. In order to receive physical therapy services and have them reimbursed, you must have functional limitations (difficulty with mobility or work related duties etc.) that necessitate medical intervention. CST will be integrated with actively learning how to move, exercise, and return to functional activities when it is covered by insurance. Please feel free to call Caitlin to discuss your particular case and if the use of medical insurance is appropriate.