Connections to Healing
Body, Mind, Emotions, Spirit
What is Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy?
This is a gentle and yet powerful type of body energy work that supports the body’s innate ability to heal itself. It was practiced for centuries, under different names, in cultures of India and South America.
The modern practice developed out of Osteopathy. It is based on the work of it’s founder Dr. William Sutherland, D.O., who while a student in the early twentieth century, observed that bones of the cranium (head) do move, in contrast to anatomical teaching. This motion could be felt by trained hands and could also be encouraged by deep listening, as it revealed the body’s stories.
Dr. Sutherland was able to feel a force, which he called “the Breath of Life”, entering the body’s cerebral spinal fluid. This fluid circulates within the spinal column and the brain, bathing the whole nervous system and thus many other tissues. This potent force was observed to facilitate the healing capacity of the human body.
Dr. Franklin Sills, has further developed this work, under the name of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. Biodynamic refers to the self-healing forces within each of us.
Bettsy has completed the 500 hours of training and Examination under the auspices of the Craniosacral Association of North America in order to receive the designation as Registered Craniosacral Therapist.
What is a Session Like?
In a session with Bettsy, you will lay fully clothed on a massage table. She will gently palpate the feet, hips, back, head and other joints and tissues of the body. She deeply listens to the stories of the body and can observe patterns that arise related to both health and disease.
As she guides the tissues and fluids into states of balance and stillness, the body will begin to experience release of old patterns and reorganization into more healthy patterns. Potency (or Life Force) within the body is enhanced and there is a subsequent healthy increase in body functions, healing and vitality. As the health of the system manifests, a shift away from dis-ease can occur.
During these sessions the client will generally feel some movement and releasing in their body, their mind will quiet, and a gentle and relaxing state of rest will generally ensue. Dialogue may be part of the session, including assisting you to body/sensory awareness. Guided imagery or visualization can also be helpful with some clients.
A session generally lasts about 60-75 minutes.
How Can a Session Help?
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy works on the level of mind, body and spirit, and sessions evolve around the priority of the client's system. It is beneficial for many concerns, not limited to but including:
- stress/anxiety
- digestive problems
- headaches
- TM
- musculoskeletal problems
- nervous system problems
- chronic pain
- endocrine diseases
- immune and sensory dysfunction
- hypertension
- grief and loss
- birthing trauma
- end of life support
- personal growth
- health maintainance
- spiritual exploration
While cognitive therapy can be helpful in expression of emotional aspects of a trauma experience, there is a remaining somatic component that needs releasing. The Craniosacral process allows the body to tell its story. Through somatic experiencing, individuals are able to release physiologic responses, which relate to emotional and energetic states of helplessness, fear, or flight-or-fight that they may have experienced.
This release allows the body to come back to its fully resourced state in a safe, supported space.