A Typical CranioSacral Therapy Session

A CranioSacral Therapy session usually takes place in a quiet, private setting and does not require the client to remove clothing. The client is generally most comfortable in loose clothing and no shoes. The client reclines on a massage or treatment table during the entire session. The practitioner stands or sits, positioned at the head, middle or feet of the client at any given time during the session.

Experiences during a CranioSacral Therapy session are as individual as the clients and practitioners themselves. They also may differ from session to session. At times, the client may talk a great deal, recalling hidden memories or expressing emotions. At other times, he or she may deeply relax or even fall asleep. The client may remain quite still during the entire session, hardly noticing the practitioner’s evaluation, he or she may experience sensations within the body as the evaluation process is carried out. At times, the practitioner supports the client’s limbs and spine as they spontaneously release accumulated tension. This process is called energy cyst release or tissue release. During this release, the client might recall circumstances of past shock, trauma or injury. Releasing and re-experiencing past hurts assists the body in reversing dysfunction and restoring the previous level of mobility. This entire process has been named SomatoEmotional Release.

Just as individuals experience CranioSacral Therapy sessions differently, the immediate results can be diverse as well. This relaxed state may cause some clients to sleep for many hours after a session. Others may experience an increase in energy. Reduction of pain or an increase in function may occur immediately after the session, or it may develop gradually over the next few days. Since CranioSacral Therapy helps the body resume its natural healing processes, it is not unusual for improvement to continue weeks after the session, nor for there to be some discomfort as the body adapts from previous tension-holding patterns.