Craniosacral compared to Energy Work
Craniosacral Therapy has been around for a long-time, and while people across the globe have been receiving it, CST is not as widespread as I would hope. So, I love that when potential clients call, they are so excited to learn. This work is terrific and I do my best to let people know that! I have also studied Energy Work for a long time. That has probably been undestood for even longer. I’ll address that too.
Mostly, people have heard about Craniosacral Therapy from a friend, colleage or family member who has experienced great results with this soft touch therapy. Often they are referred to the Upledger Institute. With urging they give me a call full of questions. I give a basic informative talk and offer a free 10 minute phone consulation to help them to understand how Craniosacral Therapy work and can help them!
One of the main questions is “Is this energy work”? It’s important for me to make this easy to understand because there is a big Difference. Yet there are also some similarities. First of all, Craniosacral Therapy is focused on the Craniosacral System. This is a system where craniosacral fluid is created in the vetricles of the brain, circulated there and around the spine and is then reabsorbed back into the venous system. So it is an actual physiological process. This fluid nourishes, helps protect and clears the Central Nervous System (CNS). When there are restrictions in the CNS, this fluid can release tension and help it to optimally support healthy functioning. This is important because the CNS connects to basically everything in the body. It is the Superhighway of communication for all the things that our body does. Craniosacral Therapy also works with the fascia which is a three dimension web of connective tissue. Working with fascia is quite transformative for posture and the whole body as well.
Energy Work is based on working with the vibrations of differet levels of consciousness. Energy runs through all things. It’s universal. When we kiss our children, we are running energy through our systems and then touching the other. Sometimes that energy causes a response in the other person. When an athlete football player runs across a football field, he/she is using his/her body’s energy to do so. Lasers use energy and are now in our medical system in so many ways. Each energy has it’s own unique way that it manifests. It can be used for healing and awakening too.
In the last 15 years, I have focused much of my pracice on Craniosacral Therapy as taught at the Upledger Institute. Before that I studied at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing of 8 years. I taught there as well, and Supervise students still. So I know a lot about both of these modalities. What is in common is that everything is made out energy. Whether someone believes in hands on energy healing or not, science shows us that relational interaction does create change between two organic beings. Faith healing and even intention does affect others. Same thing with prayers and medidation. So when a Craniosacral Therapist is working, of course energy is going to be running through both the systems of the therapist and the client- just as with any two people connecting and melding. If a Craniosacral Therapist has an interest with working with energy too, this can be incorporated into the session. But the intention between these two fields of healing are different: one of the Craniosacral System, and the other on working with energy.
Craniosacral Therapy is based in science, and was brought to many people through the work and education of Dr. John Upledger. The best energy work system that I know was taught at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, created by Dr. Barbara Brennan. While Reiki is more well know- it is a much more basic energy model. These two modalities of CST and energy work go hand in hand, but the focus is very different.
I hope that I have answered any questions you may have had on this topic. If you are interested in finding out more, I do offer a free 10 minute phone consult at 703 509-1792
Warmly,
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com