What is SomatoEmotional Release?

SomatoEmotional Release (SER) is a therapeutic process based on Craniosacral Therapy that helps clear unresolved trauma stored in the body by working through emotional and physical layers.

What can I expect during a session?

You’ll lie fully clothed on a massage table while the therapist uses light touch to assess and release restrictions. Many clients feel relaxed or even fall asleep during the session.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on your individual needs. Some people feel better after just one session, while others benefit from a series of treatments over time to support deeper healing.

Is Craniosacral Therapy safe?

Yes, it is a very gentle and non-invasive therapy. It is considered safe for people of all ages, including infants and the elderly.

Can Craniosacral Therapy help with anxiety or trauma?

Yes. Many people with anxiety, PTSD, or unresolved trauma find that Craniosacral Therapy helps calm the nervous system and release emotional tension held in the body.

How to Free Yourself through Breath

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jun 7, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy, fear, grounding, healing, healthy, mindfulness

The Breath: A Path to Healing and Inner Calm

By Sharon Hartnett CST-D | Craniosacral Therapist in Columbus, Ohio

🌬️ The Sacred Breath of Life

Why do so many of us hold our breath—or barely breathe at all? As a Craniosacral Therapist in Columbus, Ohio, I’ve asked this question for years. I see it daily in my clients… and I’ve seen it in myself too.

Shallow breathing has become the norm in our fast-paced world. But our breath holds the key to a more relaxed, resilient, and nourished life.

🌱 My Journey to Breathing Better

Years ago, I enrolled in a yoga teacher training course, partly to deepen my understanding of breathwork. I enjoyed it, but honestly—I didn’t keep up with the practices. They didn’t quite stick.

Later, I read Breath by James Nestor, and it sparked something deeper in me. I tried mouth taping at night (as he suggests), and noticed my jaw relaxed, and I breathed through my nose more often. But again… I fell off the routine.

Creating new habits takes effort, and I’ll admit—like many of us—I didn’t always make it a priority.

✨ A Turning Point: Breath & Awareness

Eventually, I discovered a breathwork teacher who helped me realize something important:
My exhale was restricted, and the pause after exhaling was even harder. But through consistent practice, I noticed improvement. My breath began to shift, my awareness deepened.

More recently, I took a five-hour course on The Breath and Digestion with Nikki Kenward and another brilliant teacher. This time, it landed differently. The experience was informative and embodied—helping me understand how deeply the breath is connected to our digestive health and nervous system regulation.

With mindful breathing, gentle touch, and a calm presence, I could feel my body soften and re-energize.

🧘‍♀️ Breathing in My Craniosacral Practice

I’ve shared simple breathing techniques with clients for years, but this workshop gave me new insight. Breathing—especially with awareness—can support digestion, emotional healing, and a balanced nervous system.

Now, I’m weaving breathwork more intentionally into my Craniosacral Therapy sessions. When clients tune in to their breath, it opens the door to inner wisdom, subtle motion, and profound relaxation.

💡 Why Breathing Efficiently Matters

Efficient breathing means slow, intentional, and diaphragmatic breathing. Here’s why it’s so powerful:

🌿 Physical Benefits

Better oxygen flow: Nourishes tissues and supports healing

Improved posture: Strengthens the diaphragm and core

Lower blood pressure & heart rate: Activates the parasympathetic response

Enhanced digestion: Calms gut tension and supports regularity

More energy: Oxygen supports every cell in the body

🧠 Mental & Emotional Benefits

Reduces anxiety: Signals safety to the nervous system

Increases focus and clarity: Breath calms the mental chatter

Supports emotional balance: Builds capacity to respond, not react

🛌 Nervous System & Sleep Support

Moves you from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest”

Improves sleep quality and supports gentle recovery

🌼 A Simple Practice to Begin: The 4-6 Breath

This is one of my favorite practices to return to—especially when feeling anxious or disconnected.

The 4-6 Breath

When to use: Morning, bedtime, or anytime you need calm.

Sit comfortably or lie down

Inhale gently through your nose for 4 seconds

Exhale slowly through your mouth or nose for 6 seconds

Repeat for 2–5 minutes (or longer if you’d like)

Optional: Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly. Let the belly rise more than the chest. This signals the nervous system to soften.

💗 Closing Reflections

I still return to this truth: Breath is medicine.

Breathing mindfully—especially with longer exhales—helps us release fear, calm anxiety, and reset the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our system. I can feel it shift my mindset and open space for healing.

If you’re on a healing journey, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, try reconnecting with your breath. And if you need support, I’m here.

Let’s explore how Craniosacral Therapy and mindful breathing can help you feel more whole, more connected, and more at ease in your body.

With breath and presence,
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
Craniosacral Therapist Columbus Ohio
📍 Worthington, Ohio
📞 614-653-8111
🌐 www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

What does Craniosacral Therapy Do?

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jun 5, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy, upledger institute

What Does Craniosacral Therapy Do?

Supporting the Body’s Innate Wisdom for Healing in Columbus, Ohio

People ask “what does Craniosacral Therapy do?” This is the best way I can think to describe it: Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on method that works with the body’s deeper wisdom to promote healing, balance, and well-being. Rooted in the understanding that structure and function are deeply connected, CST focuses on the craniosacral system and the fascia—the connective tissue that weaves the body together from head to toe.

When a skilled craniosacral therapist places their hands on the body, they’re not applying force. Instead, they’re listening. With highly trained sensitivity, they tune into the subtle rhythms and signals within the tissues, especially the fascia and the craniosacral rhythm—a gentle flow linked to cerebrospinal fluid movement. These rhythms reflect the state of the nervous system, and through them, the body communicates.

This light, intentional touch supports the body’s natural ability to self-correct. By working directly with the craniosacral system and the fascia, Craniosacral Therapy helps:

Balance the nervous system
Improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid
Support better nutrient delivery and waste removal
Encourage smooth gliding between muscles, organs and joints
Release physical restrictions and tension
Reduce stress and promote deep relaxation
Allow emotional expression and integration
Enhance body awareness and connection to self

Fascia plays a key role here—it’s a network that connects all parts of the body, creating communication lines between organs, muscles, and systems. By freeing restrictions within this network, CST allows the body to restore movement, function, and harmony.

Ultimately, what does Craniosacral Therapy do: it helps the body move toward homeostasis—its natural state of balance. As motion and fluid flow improve, so does overall health. From relieving chronic pain to supporting emotional healing, CST offers a powerful yet subtle path for transformation.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

Find a Craniosacral Therapist Near Me

FAQ

What Should I Expect in a Craniosacral Therapy Session?

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jun 3, 2025 | craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, fear, mind body & spirit, mindfulness

Craniosacral Therapist Columbus vs. head massage

What Should I Expect in a Craniosacral Therapy Session?

Craniosacral Therapy in Columbus, Ohio

If you’re curious about craniosacral therapy in Columbus, Ohio, you have come to the right place. Many people are looking for natural and organic ways to feel better in their bodies—and craniosacral therapy (CST) offers a deeply relaxing and effective option. Some of the things that you can expect to have in a professional space:

A Neutral and Compassionate Space

This creates a safe therapeutic relationship with your Craniosacral Therapist—one that is compassionate, neutral, and professional.

Especially when fear is being held or recycled in the body, having a calm and peaceful therapeutic space and presence can help the nervous system settle. This sense of safety supports the mind in letting go and allows the body to begin healing more deeply.

A Gentle Yet Deep Experience

Craniosacral therapy uses very light touch to release tension in the nervous system. The body responds well because the approach is so gentle—it doesn’t resist the change, it welcomes it. This allows the healing to ripple through all systems in the body: muscular, skeletal, digestive, and emotional.

Many clients report feeling calm, centered, and more connected after just one session.

What Happens in a Session?

Sessions are typically 60–90 minutes, depending on the therapist. You’ll lie fully clothed on a comfortable treatment table. The practitioner uses gentle hand placements to encourage the release of restrictions and integration in the tissues, and to hold a space for embodied healing.

Because the body holds cellular memory, it’s not uncommon for emotions, images, or old thoughts to arise during or after a session. This is part of the body’s natural healing process. You can check into Somatoemotional Release to find out more.

Choosing the Right Craniosacral Therapist Matters

Not all craniosacral therapy is the same. Every practitioner brings a different level of training, experience, and personal approach to the table. Some may weave craniosacral work into other bodywork modalities, while others have made it the core of their practice through years of advanced study.

Before booking a session, take time to learn about a therapist’s background. Ask about their certifications, where they trained, and how long they’ve been practicing. For example, practitioners certified through the Upledger Institute have completed extensive hands-on education rooted in the foundational principles of this gentle, powerful work.

Because this is such subtle and deeply transformative therapy, finding the right match can make all the difference. Sometimes that means traveling a bit farther to work with someone whose approach truly resonates with your needs.

Your healing journey is personal—choose a therapist who brings presence, skill, and heart to the table.

Feel Better in Your Body

Clients often seek craniosacral therapy for chronic pain, stress, trauma, or simply a desire to feel more at ease. Over time, CST helps you feel more grounded, resilient, and balanced.

Looking for Craniosacral Therapy in Columbus, Ohio?
Reach out to a certified practitioner in your area to experience the value of feeling better in your body—gently and naturally.

If you are local to Columbus, Ohio, call:

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

FAQ

How Does Craniosacral Therapy Work?

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | Jun 3, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy, healing

What is Craniosacral Therapy Columbus Ohio?

How Does Craniosacral Therapy Work: A Gentle Approach to Deep Healing

By Sharon Hartnett, CST-D | Craniosacral Therapist in Worthington & Columbus, Ohio

If you’re dealing with chronic pain, anxiety, headaches, or tension that won’t go away, you may want to consider Craniosacral Therapy (CST). This gentle but powerful bodywork helps your body release deep patterns of stress by working directly with the central nervous system.

What Is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy is a hands-on technique that uses light touch—often no more than the weight of a nickel. It works with the craniosacral system, which includes the membranes, bones, and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord.

The goal is to support your body’s ability to self-correct by relieving restrictions around the brain, spinal cord, and fascia (the body’s connective tissue).

How Does Craniosacral Therapy Work in the Body?

A skilled CST therapist gently assesses the rhythm and movement of the craniosacral system, using techniques to encourage balance and release. Areas of focus often include:

Cranial bones and sutures (especially helpful for TMJ and headaches)
Spinal segments and sacrum (important for lower back and pelvic issues)
Fascial restrictions throughout the body
The dural tube (which protects your spinal cord)
The vagus nerve (key for calming the nervous system)
The diaphragm Release (opening the body)
10 step protocol (Using a structured listening plan and addressing key areas)

By enhancing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and relieving pressure around the brainstem and nervous system, Craniosacral Therapy promotes deep relaxation, pain relief, and emotional release.

Who Can Benefit from CST?

Many people in Columbus and Worthington, Ohio come to craniosacral therapy for help with:

Chronic pain and tension
TMJ and jaw problems
Headaches and migraines
Anxiety and emotional stress
Post-surgical recovery
Trauma and PTSD
Digestive or pelvic issues

A Safe, Non-Invasive Therapy

Because it’s so gentle, CST is safe for people of all ages—from newborns to older adults. Each session is personalized and supportive of your body’s healing needs.

Ready to Experience Craniosacral Therapy in Worthington or Columbus?

With nearly 30 years of experience and the highest level of certification, I offer sessions that combine anatomical precision with compassionate care. If you’re looking for a natural, non-invasive way to reconnect with your body and release tension, I invite you to book a session today.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

FAQ Page

How Much Does Craniosacral Therapy Cost?

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | May 31, 2025 | craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, healing, trauma

Understanding the Value and Craniosacral Therapy Cost of a Session.

Craniosacral Therapy Cost Answered

CST is offered by a range of licensed professionals, including massage therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and physicians. Pricing can vary depending on their level of training, experience, and location.

Highly trained craniosacral therapists—especially those certified through respected schools like the Upledger Institute—often dedicate many years to mastering this work. Many bring additional expertise in manual therapy or healthcare, which deepens the quality of care they provide.

When choosing a craniosacral therapist, it’s important to consider more than just cost. You’re investing in a practitioner’s education, clinical experience, and ability to hold a safe, skilled presence. Healing is personal, and it’s worth finding someone who has taken the time to study anatomy, refine their techniques, and truly support your body’s process. In this case, experience makes a difference.

Lastly, when it comes to your health, nobody counts more than yourself. You have a choice to be proactive and live with healthy body responses, and you also have a choice to come into Integrative Holistic care when your’e not feeling as well. More often when you choose the first, you’ll probably need to come in less often-getting tune ups. If you are feeling sick or experiencing chronic pain, there is more of a chance, coming in more frequently and longer-term would be the better option. A Craniosacral Therapist can’t diagnose, but once a session is completed, they can describe and give you a better picture what they are feeling, and make suggestions how they can help you.

The Main Cost Answer

The range of prices could be anywhere from about $60.00 for a student learning to about $250.00 based on experience and location. In the Columbus, Ohio area, I have seen prices range from about $90.00 to $175.00 per hour.

Craniosacral Therapy helps you connect with your own inner healing resources. Think how great it would be to mindfully take charge of your own life!

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

614 653-8111

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

FAQ Page

How to Take Care of Your Toes

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | May 22, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy, grounding

Let’s Talk Toes!

Today, I want to bring a little attention to a part of the body we often ignore: your toes!

They’re easy to take for granted, aren’t they? But these little digits do so much more than we realize. Without them, standing, walking, even balancing would be far more difficult. Your toes quietly support you every single day.

Here’s just a glimpse of what they do:

Help you balance
Push off the ground with every step
Absorb shock
Adapt to different surfaces
Support the arches of your feet

When we’re younger, toes are usually flexible and mobile. But over time, especially with certain shoes (yes, high heels—I’m looking at you!), they can stiffen or even conform to unnatural shapes. I’ve seen it with many clients. One woman’s feet eventually took on the shape of her heels after years of wearing them.

The truth is, how we stand, move, and hold ourselves all starts at the ground level—your feet. And when your toes are tight or misaligned, it affects everything above them. Your ankles, knees, hips, spine, and even your neck can be impacted.

So here’s my suggestion: spend a few minutes every day moving your toes.
Point. Flex. Curl. Spread them. Move them up, down, in, out. Let them explore.

Try lying on your back and using the wall to gently stretch your toes and feet into flexion and extension. Afterwards, give your toes a little traction—gently pull each one. It can bring immediate relief to tired feet and, believe it or not, even ease tension in your neck or help with headaches.

That’s the magic of fascia—it’s all connected. When your toes feel more alive, your whole body benefits. It makes a difference in how you move, how you rest, and how grounded you feel in the world.

Just because we’re aging doesn’t mean we have to give up flexibility or stability. We can choose to stay connected—mindfully, from the ground up. Grounding is important for keeping us healthy.

P.S. I love working with the Craniosacral rhythm of the toes. It’s subtle, powerful, and deeply renewing.

Cetified Diplomate Upledger at the Highest Level of Expertise in Columbus, Ohio

Warmly,
Sharon Hartnett CST-D📞 614-653-8111
🌐 www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

How Craniosacral Therapy Helps Your Nervous System heal from Chronic Stress

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | May 22, 2025 | Craniosacral Therapy, healing, healthy, Healthy Body, mind body & spirit, mindfulness, upledger institute

How Craniosacral Therapy helps the Nervous System

Your body has an innate intelligence which knows how to heal. But when stress is constant, your ability to function optimally decreases. Craniosacral Therapy can help the body get out of the fight-or-flight response that can occur after a stress overfload. By encouraging the parasympathetic system to shift louder so to speak, the body can create a space for self-repair.

My clients often report:

A noticeable release of jaw or neck and head tension
A sense of inner stillness and calm as the nervous system calms down.
Improved sleep and digestion
Fewer stress-related flare-ups
Deep relaxation throughout the whole mind and body.

Why Chronic Stress Needs a gentle approach

Stress is not taking space only in your head, but it affects the whole body as well. The tissues, the organs and all those miraculous things that keep you alive and well do better when they come into balance. Craniosacral Therapy is considerate, welcoming and the techniques are very supportive to good health. The nervous system has the chance to optimize and create harmony in the whole body.

Find Relief in Columbus, Ohio

At Lighten Up Therapies in Columbus, craniosacral therapy is offered with skill and care. Whether you’re living with long-term anxiety or just feel like your body needs a reset, CST can help restore your nervous system to feel a deeper sense of safety and ease.

Ready to reconnect with calm?

Contact Sharon Hartnett CST-D at 614 653-8111.

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

To find a Craniosacral Therapist anywhere in the world, check out the Upledger Institute.

Nothing Exists Alone: Embracing Connection as a Path to Wholeness

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | May 19, 2025 | change, craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy, healing, healthy, Healthy Body, mindfulness

Through mindfulness and the recognition that everything exists with connection, we begin to heal. Not just ourselves. But also our relationships in the world around us.

When we become mindful of how everything lives in connection, the universe shifts into a deeper mutual place of compassion. Truly discovering that we are not isolated objects is a powerful realization. That’s something we could all use just about now.

It’s not so simple that we are just individuals moving through separate experiences. From the breath we take to the words we speak, our lives are constantly woven into a larger web of interdependence. From the quantum level to how the butterfly effects of one choice changes everything.

I bring this up because as a Craniosacral Therapist, working in Columbus, Ohio, I find that awakening to the bigger picture brings about deep healing, growth and evolution.

Because we are so ingrained to believe in separatness and individuality, we forget that there is more richness in inter-dependence and mutual help and support. Yes, we have a sense of independence, but we are also here in mutuality and connection.

When I work with clients, often I feel that there seems to be a “part” that is dysfunctional. yet as my hands listen, and notice- the other fluids, tissues and systems come into play in the healing process. Nothing can heal in separation or parts. What seems like a problem is actually an expression of something waiting to change and move toward connection, Mostly, I manually wait for the deeper inner intelligence of the body to reconnect and remember the innate wholensss that lives in everything. Other times, the client may speak about past experiences of trauma that are ripe enough to heal. I trust whatever happens to bring the “pieces” back together into the present.

There is always more to us than we ever imagined. To self-realize and discover the value of reaching beyond is a compassionate and wise way to live and grow. Not only for our own personal journeys, but also knowing that each choice we make ripples across the Universe. We all matter. Everything we do counts. Being mindful changes everything.

To learn more about Mindfulness and Connection, check out: www.hakomi.com

To find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, check out: www.upledger.com

Sharon Hartnett CST-d

703 509-1792

www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com

Relearning how to Feel Warm and Cozy in Your Body

by TheMediaCaptain@gmail.com | May 8, 2025 | craniosacral, Craniosacral Therapy

Columbus Craniosacral Therapy: Finding Comfort

Each of Us Can find Comfort in ourselves through listening to the internal stirring of Life inside.

With an open mind and a direct connection to our bodies, we can focus on comfort and pleasure. However, sometimes the complexity of our composition and life experiences can close gateways to discovering our authentic Self.

Working with a Craniosacral Therapist can help to re-build trust and develop better Dialogue with SomanoEmtional Release techniques. We do this by connecting and melding with the Craniosacral System, and inviting the present moment to upwell and bring awareness to the body gently and with compassion. There is no pushing or going for solutions, but rather an invitation to exploration of Self through the Nervous System and how it relates to our very unqiue and human experience.

One Way to look a this:

You might be surprised how much your breath can help you heal.
Gentle touch can invite subtle movement inside your body.
Quiet conversation can bring new clarity.
In craniosacral therapy, we weave these three gifts together.
We follow your breath.
We listen to your inner motion.
We honor what you want to say.
This gentle focus can ease tension and invite deep calm.
If you’re open to exploring, let’s set up a time to try it together.

Finding the meaning in your life purpose and inner landscape is up to you. It’s about remember that everything is interconnected, and that the fullness of the whole Universe is accessible to you. Sometimes we must pull off all the masks and the repressing beliefs to meet the Love We Are, but it is possible. The body is the doorway to transformation. At Lighten Up Therapies in Columbus Ohio, we use the techniques of the Upledger Institute to awaken the access to your Inner Sense of Self.

In the meantime, bringing love, comfort, and welcoming intention to a Craniosacral Therapy Session can open the doors again to every shade with warmth and comfort.

Sharon Hartnett CST-D

703 509-1792

Find Me Craniosacral Therapist Columbus Ohio

www.craniosacraltherapistcolubmus.com