To Perform Craniosacral Therapy (CST) at a High Level, takes many years of training. Personally, I studied at the Upledger Institute. I believe that they teach with skill, and provide a great foundation for Craniosacral Practitioners to help their clients heal and feel better. Developing true skill though takes experience. The more hands on we get with people, the more we learn. Our clients are our best teachers, as we listen and support with our hands and our Presence.
Probably the most well known originator of the Craniosacral work started with Dr. William Sutherland, an Osteopathic Physician who discovered, not only that the power to heal lives within the body, but also many manual approaches that are still practiced today.
Later in the 1970’s and 80’s, Dr. John Upledger took the reins, and further researched and Co-Created the Upledger Institute. Now there are many thousands of students taking classes at the Institute, and learning how to tap into the Power of the Craniosacral System. A once unfamiliar manual approach is now becoming well known through much word of mouth, based on the great success stories, as well as studies done with, for example, brain trauma experienced on the football fields.
In order to practice Craniosacral Therapy professionally, a practitioner needs to have some type of license for manual work in most places. But this does depend on the state or the country. From an Upledger perspective, classes are taught, building one on top of the other to help the practitioners deepen and widen their skill set. We learn about the brain, the cerebral spinal fluid, and quite a bit about the whole Central Nervous System. As a student advances through the curriculum, the work gets more detailed, and when a practitioner is interested, they can begin to dialogue between the body sense and the client mind. It’s genuinely a beautiful experience to be with, and observe the body’s own inner wisdom help a person to re-connect with the body with grounding, integration and embodiment.
There are many people who take one course, and they may add it into massage, physical therapy or in their field of practice. It’s a fine accompaniment to many practices. However, if you truly want to get a real feel for the work, it’s useful to look for a practitioner who is certified. The first level of completion at the Upledger Institute takes a lot of commitment and thorough understanding of the techniques. This is when a practitioner becomes a “therapist”. The highest level is the Diplomate. The work to accomplish this takes dedication and a passion for sure. It’s a lot of work, and it means a lot to get this Certification. Any Therapist who meets this criteria knows the work well and is quite experienced.
If you are looking for the best therapist who is certified in your area, check out reviews, testimonials, and also how many classes they have studied. If you go to www.upledger.com, you’ll get an idea for the area of specialties they offer. Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, yet powerful manual approach with trust the intelligence of your body. If you want to find out more, contact a therapist in your area with questions. Most of us would be glad to take some time to see if it is a good fit for you!
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
703 509-1792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com
