What is Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy? (BCST)

BCST is a safe, gentle approach to healing through touch, with special attention to settling the nervous system and the treatment of the results from trauma. It directly supports the body's ability to regenerate using the developmental forces at work in us since conception.

Craniosacral Therapy is derived from the approach to health developed in the first half of the twentieth century by osteopath William Sutherland. His students continued to develop his work and now, thanks especially to John Upledger, Hugh Milne, and Franklyn Sills, it has become more widely available outside of the medical treatment room.

What especially distinguishes the biodynamic approach to craniosacral work is trust in the slowest most stable rhythm found in the body, Primary Respiration. Dr. Sutherland observed how his work became more precise and effective when he allowed this subtle rhythm to guide treatments of his patients rather than imposing his own judgements. This led to a deep understanding of health, as actually inherent and never lost in the human body.

Trauma = Overwhelm

Trauma occurs when we become overwhelmed beyond our ability to respond. This is well-studied in our nervous systems, and seems to happen right down to the cellular level. This creates tension in the body and contributes to illness and injury. BCST slows things down and creates space for the body to decompress and return to its inherent blueprint for health. As overwhelm is resolved from the inside out, rather than just coping with life, clients are able to thrive again.

Who Can Benefit?

BCST is suitable for most people of all ages, including infants, children, and the elderly. It provides excellent support for pregnant women and babies in the womb.

What to Expect?

In a typical BCST session, clients lie fully clothed on a massage table while I sit beside them. After receiving permission to do so, I will put my hands in various positions lightly on their body. Often I find in a first session this will be at the shoulder, the upper leg, the feet, the head and neck, and the sacrum at the base of the spine. Note that I don't simply focus on the head, or even just the spinal column. It is possible to work with Primary Respiration from anywhere on the body. Clients are usually on the table for 50-60 minutes and the total time for a session is 65-75 minutes.

Anecdotal reports from clients suggest that BCST is an effective form of work for a wide range of health concerns, such as:

  • Colic

  • Asthma

  • Infertility

  • Birth Trauma: Infants and Adults

  • Back, neck, and shoulder pain

  • Dizziness

  • Proprioception trouble

  • Immune System Conditions

  • Anxiety and Stress-related disorders

  • Post Surgery Recovery

  • Digestive Disorders

  • Depression

  • Scoliosis

  • Headaches

  • Chronic Fatigue

  • Insomnia

  • Earaches, Tinnitus

  • Discomfort during pregnancy

  • Support after birth

  • Hormonal issues

  • TMJ / Jaw disorders

  • Visual Disturbances

  • Dyslexia

  • Spinal Curvature

  • Nerve pain, neuralgias

 

What does BCST Cost?

$150  for a 75 min session.

Payable by cash, check, credit card, Venmo, or Zelle. A package discount of 20% is available for 5 sessions.

*  Unfortunately, health insurance companies do not recognize craniosacral therapy so I am not able to bill your insurance company. 

 

“Somebody suggested Craniosacral therapy. I said, “What the hell is it?” But by the fourth visit I was feeling better….”

— NYT interview with Mark Bertolini, CEO of Aetna, about his recovery from a near-death experience