What is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral therapy is a subtle and profound healing form.

In a typical craniosacral session, you will usually lie (or sometimes sit) fully-clothed on a treatment couch. The therapist will make contact by placing their hands lightly on your body and tuning in.

The first thing you will probably notice is a sense of deep relaxation, which will generally last throughout the session. This release of tension often extends into everyday life. Sometimes the benefits are not immediately noticeable but become obvious on returning to a familiar environment.

The work is often deeply moving and exhilarating. Craniosacral therapy developed from the work of an American osteopath, Dr William Sutherland in the early 1900s. He discovered intrinsic movements of the bones in the head and his further research revealed different rhythms in the body. He inferred, from further observation, and later went on to demonstrate to his satisfaction, that these movements are inextricably linked with mental and emotional health and that restriction of these movements corresponds to a reduction of the natural capacity to self-heal.

Craniosacral therapy has developed from clinical experience, which shows that health is something active and not just an absence of disease.

Nicola’s training was with Jonathan Lawrence, a Cranial Osteopath with his own busy practice in North Devon and Bath. Jonathan trained and lectured at the European School of Osteopathy (where cranio sacral techniques are integral to the teaching, which is unique among osteopathic colleges) and subsequently taught osteopathic, soft tissue and cranial techniques in the UK and abroad to a variety of practitioners including massage therapists, osteopaths, midwives and doctors.

She will be doing further training with Jonathan.